§ Sir David PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research he is supporting into infectious mononucleosis—known as glandular fever; arid what are the prospects of developing a successful anti-body to the Epstein-Barr virus.
Mr. JacksonThe Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from this Department, is currently supporting a virological study of Paul-Bunnell negative glandular fever at the communicable diseases division of the MRC clinical research centre. In addition, the MRC and university departments and medical schools support a range of basic research which may have relevance to glandular fever.
The council's sub-committee on herpes virus vaccines has recently concluded that it is now possible to undertake studies of whether an Epstein-Barr virus antigen will stimulate immunity in humans. Proposals for such studies are presently being formulated.