§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use of human tissue in drug research; and if he will make a statement. [70621]
§ Ms JowellThe use of human tissue in drug research can provide valuable information, in combination with information from other studies, when assessing the quality, safety and efficacy of medicinal products. The use of human tissue in drug research, along with other screening tests, may also help pharmaceutical companies to select a drug from a range of developmental drugs for further development.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the institutions funded by the Government to carry out research using human tissue. [70622]
§ Ms JowellIt is likely that each National Health Service provider, medical school, and some universities and other research institutes in receipt of research funding or research support funding will be undertaking research using human tissue (including blood and cells). The precise list would change all the time as research is commissioned and ceases. It is likely to include all large teaching hospitals and medical schools at most times.
Details of projects directly funded by the Department or supported through the NHS research and development levy can be found on the National Research Register (NRR). This is available in the Library and most medical libraries on CD Rom, and on the Internet: http://www.doh.gov.uk/nrr.htm. The NRR also contains many details of projects/trials funded by the Medical Research Council and other funders.