§ Mr. RendelTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the future of the Edward Jenner Institute at Compton; and what funding he as allocated to the institute for future years. [162227]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 18 March 2004]: The Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research (EJIVR) was established in 1995 to develop programmes in basic research relevant to human and animal vaccines. GlaxoSmithKline, the Medical Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Department of Health contributed a total of £6 million per annum to establish and fund the EJIVR for an initial 10 year research programme.
The four sponsors remain committed to supporting basic and applied vaccine research through to the end of the current term in October 2005. However, they have agreed that the existing joint funding model for the EJIVR is not the best way forward beyond 2005.
The sponsors are working actively with the board of the EJIVR to progress vaccine research beyond October 2005. The sponsors have recently completed a scientific review of the EJIVR's research programmes. The outcomes from this are assisting the board in its development of future plans to build on the best programmes, scientifically and strategically. Until the board's plans have progressed further, it is not possible to be more specific about the future.