HC Deb 08 May 1990 vol 172 cc47-8W
Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research is being undertaken on contraception; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson

The main agency through which the Government support medical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC), which receives its grant-in-aid from the Department of Education and Science.

The Medical Research Council is funding major research projects into contraception at the following establishments:

(a) MRC establishment 1. MRC reproductive biological unit, Edinburgh Project title:

  1. (i) Identification and characterisation of gamete specific antigens. Immunological infertility and contraceptive vaccines.
  2. (ii) Clinical evalulation of new methods of contraception and menstrual induction, and new treatments for menstrual disorders and impotencey.

(b) Grant holders in University Departments etc.

1. Dr. C. R. Kay, Royal College of General Practitioners, Manchester: Study of oral contraception

2. Profesor M. P. Vessey, Social and community medicine, Oxford university: Joint perspective study of the effects of different methods of contraception

3. Dr. K. McPherson, community medicine and general practice, Oxford university: Investigation of oral contraceptive use in early life and subsequent breast cancer risk

Subject Group 1987–88
University Education Medicine Dentistry and Health Engineering and Technology Agriculture Forestry and Veterinary Science Biological and Physical Sciences Administrative Business and Social Studies Architecture and other professional and vocational subjects Language Literature and other area studies Arts other than languages Total
Aberdeen 0 77 2 0 5 7 0 1 4 95
Dundee 0 281 29 90 18 49 0 449 0 917
Edinburgh 10 239 6 1 21 133 1 13 17 442
Glasgow 0 0 0 1 37 21 0 2 23 84
Heriot-watt 0 0 0 0 53 50 0 0 0 104
St. Andrews 1 59 90 0 35 49 9 57 1 300
Stirling 8 80 36 0 3 5 0 2 0 133
Strathclyde 0 0 39 0 0 55 7 8 0 109
Scotland 19 736 202 91 172 370 17 533 45 2,185
Subject Group 1988–89
Aberdeen 0 64 1 5 0 9 0 5 0 84
Dundee 4 262 35 21 62 53 0 163 1 601

In addition, the Medical Research Council supports the following range of projects which are related to, or include in part, studies of contraception.

(a) MRC establishments

1. Clinical research centre, section of medical statistics, Harrow Project title

  1. (i) Provision of statistical collaboration and support to clinical research centre (and other) research programmes

2. MRC child psychiatry unit, London Project title

  1. (i) Childhood experiences as predictors of life events in early adulthood

3. MRC laboratories, Kingston, Jamaica Project title

  1. (i) Effects of oral contraceptives on haematological and clinical features of sickle cell disease

4. MRC reproductive biology unit, Edinburgh Project titles

  1. (i) Role of neuropeptides, inhibin and gonadal steroids in the differential secretion of pituitary gonado-trophins
  2. (ii) Lactational amenorrhoea in women. Implications for contraception and family planning
  3. (iii) Application of neuropeptide analogues and steroid antagonists in the regulation of the pituitary gland
  4. (iv) Endocrine, paracrine and autocrine regulation of the ovary, with reference to physiology of the follicle and corpus luteum
  5. (v) Sexuality and wellbeing of women. Relationship to the menstrual cycle, lactation, contraception and disorders thereof
  6. (vi) Prostaglandin biosynthesis in the female reproductive tract. Interactions with steroid hormones and their antagonists.

5. Institute of Cancer Research, London Project title

  1. (i) Epidemiology and biostatistics in cancer research

(b) Grant holder in University Department

1. Dr. E. Chantler, obstetrics and gynaecology, Manchester university: Spermicides as a local control for HIV type I transmission.

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