§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what research has been done by the Medical Research Council to find a vaccine for necrotising fasciitis;434W what were the dates on which each project (a) began and (b) ended; and what were the considerations which led to the ending of each project.
§ Mr. WaldegraveAlthough no work has been funded specifically for the development of a vaccine for necrotising fasciitis, basic research has been, and continues to be, funded by the Medical Research Council which could underpin the development of a vaccine.
The MRC microbial pathogenicity research group—which was part of the council's clinical research centre, Harrow and has since moved to Nottingham—carried out a study into necrotising fasciitis as part of its programme of research. This study was carried out between 1982 and 1987. The results were published in scientific journals in 1987 and 1988.
The council continues to support major programmes in bacterial infection including those being carried out at a new Centre for Bacterial Infection and Immunity in Nottingham. This centre, which will cost £2.6 million over the next five years, was opened on 11 May 1994. The MRC is always willing to consider for support soundly based scientific proposals in competition with other applications.