Abstract
An annual sum of approximately £2.8 billion is spent on academic medical research in the UK – £1.2 billion of which is sourced from medical charities. Despite only being a fraction of the amount spent on medical research in the US, the UK is second only to the US in terms of research output, with more articles and citations per researcher than any other country. But how much research with a medical aim is actually converted into a benefit for patients? Is it all money well spent? These are the questions being asked as we endure an economic downturn, while patients seek the next miracle cure.
Highlights
Are scientists doing enough to translate their findings to the clinic? When it comes to investigating a medical problem, the mindset of a scientist can be somewhat different to what a layperson might expect
Publication bias has been extensively studied with regard to clinical trials but less attention has been paid to basic scientific studies, which experience the same kind of discrimination and whose results are the first step in producing potential therapies
The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) has several aims: funding research for the benefit of patients, such as public health research or the development of innovative medical technologies; increasing the reliability and open access to medical research literature to better inform patients, clinicians, and policy-makers in their decision making with regards to medical practice; and improving the healthcare infrastructure
Summary
Are scientists doing enough to translate their findings to the clinic? When it comes to investigating a medical problem, the mindset of a scientist can be somewhat different to what a layperson might expect. These sources award funding to researchers with the hope that they will make the discovery or innovation to improve prevention, diagnosis or treatment of disease and save lives. Publication bias has been extensively studied with regard to clinical trials but less attention has been paid to basic scientific studies, which experience the same kind of discrimination and whose results are the first step in producing potential therapies.
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