§ Mr. Peter Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what fundamental research into the origins, spread and treatment of legionnaire's disease has been conducted by the Medical Research Council in the last five years; and what research is planned for future years.
§ Sir Keith JosephI understand that since the beginning of 1980 the Medical Research Council has funded four projects on Legionnaire's disease. The total cost of these projects is approximately £136,000. The details of the work are as follows:
- Pathogenesis, pathology and disease processes in experimental infection with legionella pneumophila
- Disease processes and mechanisms by immunity in experimental legionella pneumophila infection
- The use of gas liquid chromatography in the identification of
127 legionella pneumophila - Monoclonal antibodies to legionella pneumophila and related organisms.
The MRC is also funding other research on respiratory infections which could be relevant to our understanding of Legionnaire's disease. The council is always willing to consider soundly based research proposals for support through its research grant scheme in competition with other applications.