Lack of research 'patient risk'

Doctors say funding bodies are to blame

Patients are suffering because not enough basic clinical research is being done, a senior doctor has warned.

Professor Peter Rothwell, a neurologist at Oxford's Radcliffe Infirmary, blamed bureaucracy, lack of NHS resources and an over-reliance on biological studies.

Observational research - monitoring groups to identify people at risk of certain diseases - was most needed, he said in the British Medical Journal.

Other doctors agreed, but said research topics were driven by funding bodies.

Bench-to-bedside research, used to translate lab trials on animals into practice that works on humans, and randomised control trials of drugs or surgery ahead of their introduction were also lacking, the report said.

Medical academics at the BMA share exactly these concerns about the lack of basic-level medical research in the UK Dr Anita Holdcroft, of the British Medical Association

But it added the greatest need was for more observational research, whereby large groups of patients are monitored to try to establish key markers to identify people at risk of certain diseases.

Professor Rothwell cited the field of neurology. He said little was known about the reliability of diagnosing stroke and, until very recently, no reliable data existed on the early risk of stoke in certain patients.

He said: "Countless patients have suffered as a result, yet much of this research is easy and relatively cheap to do, so why has it not been done?"

And he added: "The lack of basic clinical research on the issues that matter most to patients and practising clinicians inevitably calls into question whether medical academia is properly fit for purpose.

"Whatever the causes medical academia must improve its performance or, less preferably, be forced by politicians to prioritise appropriately."

Other doctors agreed with Professor Rothwell's criticisms.

Funding

Dr Anita Holdcroft, deputy chairman of the British Medical Association's medical academics committee, said: "Medical academics at the BMA share exactly these concerns about the lack of basic-level medical research in the UK.

"But the editorial has got the wrong target in blaming academics - since they have little control over the type of research they can undertake."

She added funding for biomedical research was often drive by funding bodies such as drug firms, charities and the Medical Research Council (MRC).

The MRC was unavailable for comment.

But Joe Korner, of the Stroke Association, added: "For a long time stroke has been the poor relation when it comes to medical research.

"Yet, stroke has a greater disability impact than other chronic diseases. Little has been done to raise the status of stroke in line with other conditions such as heart disease and cancer both in terms of medical research and prominence within the health service."