§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the research projects currently paid for by his Department being carried out by (i) private agencies, companies or organisations and (ii) the NHS Executive or other public body reporting directly to his Department and, in each case, the date when this work will be completed. [6789]
§ Ms JowellThe Department, through its Policy Research Programme (PRP), funds a range of research. Listed are the titles and end date of the projects being carried out by private agencies, companies and organisations within the PRP, chiefly as part of the MedLINK and LINK Medical Implants programmes. Most are carried out in partnership with universities:
Project End date Vaccination, juvenile onset diabetes and autoimmunity 31 December 1997 Temperature rise from pulse doppler ultrasound equipment 31 December 1997 Use of Embroidery Techniques in the Manufacture of Textile Surgical Implants 30 April 1999 Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgical System 31 August 1999 Suspended Image Systems for Endoscopic Surgery 31 August 1999 3D Vision for Endoscopic Procedures 30 September 1999 An Integrated Multi-disciplinary Approach to the Development of a New Type of Heart Valve 31 January 2000 Development of a Rear Support Walking Frame 31 December 1999 Development of MRI Compatible Endoscopes 30 April 1999 Electronically Guided Knee Surgery 28 February 1999 Development of DLC Coated Prostheses 31 October 1998 Hydraulically Controlled Implantable Devices for Incontinence 30 April 1998 Tissue Regeneration by TOPOGEN 30 June 1998 Advanced Glaucoma Filtration Implant Development 31 August 1999 Medical Implants Exploitation Contract 28 February 2002 A full list of PRP projects is being prepared for publication. This will include all projects funded in the public and private sector and copies will be placed in the Library.
The NHS Executive funds over 39,000 research projects throughout the service. It is estimated that over 3,500 of these projects are carried out in partnership with industry.
The Department also oversees the research programmes of sponsored Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs). This research supports the NDPBs in performing their statutory functions.