Tom Matheson

UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation Seven in ten Britons say it is important for top scientific institutions to be independent in exclusive new polling.

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The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.

Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

1/11

While the call primarily focused on human health benefits, our expertise ensured that the animal replacement potential of the work was considered as part of the grant assessment process. We look forward to working with the teams to ensure that the 3Rs impacts of these models are exploited.

NC3Rs grant holders receive funding in MRC call £15.9M awarded to develop human in vitro models of complex disease.

The NC3Rs has a strong track record in investing in in vitro models of human disease that replace the use of animals. We have recently partnered with the MRC, Wellcome and Innovate UK on a £15.9M funding call to develop human in vitro models of complex disease.
nc3rs.org.uk/news/nc3rs-g...

Animal testing to be phased out faster as UK unveils roadmap for alternative methods New plan backs researchers to seize on new and developing opportunities to phase out animal tests with specific commitments for the coming years.

Today the UK government has released a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods.

Read more: www.gov.uk/government/n...

Trussed Up

Zelenskyy should have worn a suit: a HAZMAT suit.

The Trump/Vance attack on Zelenskyy and decency has left me revolted. Every day the Trump administration plunges new depths of depravity and pushes the world closer to the brink. Europe must take the lead on peace.

Dear Volodymyr Zelenskyy, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone.

My girls? Indigo.

My Kinks? None of your business 😁

My underground? Velvet!

My hooker? John Lee.

All true. I need to up my game on wobbly bits though. Thanks for the entertainment and insights.

Tom Sharpe’s Porterhouse Blue and Grantchester Grind are fantastically silly but have a lot of resonances for academics - particularly if you have ever had dealings with Cambridge or Oxford!

I bet the police arrived well prepared with a Glock & spiel

It will be nothing but divisive and detrimental to the mental health of all staff, and will likely exacerbate the wider crisis. I will also destroy my ballot.

I think UCU has lost the plot, and I say this as someone who has not only been targeted for redundancy in the past but also actively supported strike action over pensions and pay. It is inconceivable that strike action will have any positive benefit for staff in the current climate.

Happy to announce that, as of today, I am free of X. I feel a lightness! Thank you for your insights!

Leicester this morning. Nice bike ride in to work.

King Charles inherited £650m tax free, gets £125m a year tax free from the tax payer and has an estate worth £22bn that’s never taxed.

But he still needed a 45% pay rise.

Like if he needs a pay cut.
RP if you want the Monarchy gone.

#AbolishTheMonarchy