Day 1198: "Brexit, Stage III, Stage IV cancer Even..."

Day 1198: "Brexit, Stage III, Stage IV cancer Even..."

The world is trying to figure out what to make of Brexit. I have mixed feelings, I guess because of my own history and heritage. Many people were not happy with the British Government, they left and formed something we call America. America, is pretty cool, despite our own issues.

British Americans make up the largest 'ethnic' group in America.

So, I will take another approach, how might this exit impact cancer research in the EU, UK, and Globally (i.e. here)?

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/why-brexit-is-dire-news-for-research-into-cancer-34800883.html

Why Brexit is dire news for research into cancer

Published June 15, 2016

A vote to leave the EU would lead to decreased funding for studies to fight the killer disease as well as diminished international cooperation, writes Queen's University's Professor Mark Lawler.

Cancer is the leading cause of premature death in more than 50% of European countries. In the UK, more than half our citizens will develop cancer at some stage during their lifetime, with a significant proportion of patients dying of the disease.

<snip>

Scientists and clinicians in the UK, including Northern Ireland, have made world-leading contributions to our understanding of the complex biology that characterises a cancer cell, and have translated this information into more effective preventative and therapeutic interventions for cancer patients. This is strongly supported both by UK charities (eg Cancer Research UK) and the Government, with a £500m-plus spend on cancer research annually.

However generous this figure might seem, it is not sufficient on its own to support a world-class cancer research effort. Therefore, English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland researchers compete with cancer researchers from other EU countries in order to expand the "funding footprint" in UK universities and research institutes.

The results have been impressive. In the EU 7th Framework Programme (FP7), which funded EU research and technical development from 2017-2014, more than €1.5bn was spent on cancer research. UK cancer researchers were extremely successful, being involved in more than 80% of funded projects.

If we consider all research in FP7 and not just cancer, more than £4bn of funding was achieved by UK researchers, with Northern Irish scientists and clinicians gaining a considerable slice of that pie.

<snip>

Lack of free movement of researchers would potentially stifle innovation. The benefits of the various EU collaborative approaches outlined above would surely be compromised if the UK's role in Europe were to change. A lack of involvement in EU debate and decision-making would also mean that the powerful voice of the UK in health and research policy would be lost.

Initiatives such as the Queen's University, Belfast-led European Cancer Patient's Bill of Rights, which mean so much to cancer patients across Europe, would be much more effectively implemented through the involvement of the UK within the EU.

It is incumbent on us as global citizens to ensure that, whatever the result of the referendum, we continue to contribute to the European debate in important domains such as clinical trials, data-sharing and clinical best practice, while also delivering the highest-quality research that leads to the best possible outcomes for cancer patients in the UK, the EU and globally.

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Me: Uncertainty brings discomfort, however, without change, we stay stagnant. This may be great for Britain or it may suck, but it is change. I imagine there were a lot of naysayers and uncertainty when those boats from Great Britain landed in America, if they survived the trip. A lot of smart people, made it across the big pond, we need a few more boatloads of people like that to help us again.