At the opening of its new London offices on 21 May, Hodgkin Huxley House, by the Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister for Universities and Science, The Physiological Society has announced the initiation of a major investigation into the state of physiology in the UK.
At the opening the President, Professor Jonathan Ashmore, said:
“Physiology is the cornerstone of UK biomedical science. Historically the UK has been a global leader. The environment for physiology as a discipline has changed dramatically over the last 15 to 20 years as both the scientific and the funding environments have evolved. Emerging new areas of physiology and related sciences, coupled with the move from dedicated ‘departments of physiology’ to integrated biological, medical and life science faculties, have affected the visibility of the discipline. This directly affects its funding both for its research and how it is taught.
“The Society is asking whether physiology – the core of the life sciences – is under threat. Is our approach to education in life sciences still sound? How do we compare with our global competitors?
“The review, entitled the Health of Physiology, will be led by a steering group comprised of Society Members and external stakeholders. It will be chaired by the Society’s Deputy President, Professor Richard Vaughan-Jones, and will report in 2014.
“The report – the first of its kind – will explore the strength of physiology in the UK, its role in supporting UK life and biomedical sciences and, most importantly, the impact the changing landscape for education and research has had on the discipline in both academia and industry. The report will identify strengths and weaknesses of the discipline and provide recommendations to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of physiological research worldwide.”
ENDS