Physiological research has a central role as the UK Government seeks to ‘build back better’ from the COVID-19 pandemic, the President of The Physiological Society has said this week at a parliamentary event alongside government and industry.
The Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, chaired by Stephen Metcalfe MP, met on Monday 17 May to discuss science’s role in delivering the Government’s ambition to recover from the pandemic by investing in skills, infrastructure and innovation.
The President of the Physiological Society and Head of Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics at the University of Oxford, Professor David Paterson, spoke alongside the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, AstraZeneca and the Confederation of British Industry.
Following the event, Professor David Paterson said:
“Physiological research has a central role as the UK Government seeks to ‘build back better’ from the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether it is climate change or the ageing population, physiologists are working on the big challenges facing the world today.
“We’ve seen the power of science during the pandemic, but you can’t turn science on and off like a tap. Scientific research operates in a complex ecosystem. Medical research charities account for half of publicly funded research but have been hit hard by the pandemic, with charities forced to cut on average 41% of research spend.
“We need to learn the lessons from the pandemic and the importance of investing in a strong science base. While the COVID-19 vaccines were developed in record time, they built on decades of previous research.
“The UK punches above its weight in R&D but if we want to be a science superpower we need a sustainable funding model. The Government’s stated ambition of growing R&D expenditure to 2.4% of GDP by 2027 is welcome, but we need stability of public investment and clarity on plans to attract private investment. The Government needs to combine funding commitments with a skills strategy that brings young people through the pipeline.
“As countries across the world turn their attention to post pandemic life, the UK should seize the opportunity to put R&D front and centre of it’s economic and social development.”