As an independent Scottish medical research charity, we have an impressive track record in and remain committed to supporting promising young people wishing to pursue a career in biomedical research. We know we make a difference to them and also to the health of the nation.
We are not restricted to funding research into any one disease or condition, so our grants support research which aims to improve: the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of all diseases, including stroke, diabetes, cancer and arthritis; understanding of basic disease processes; medical technology.

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Chairman moves to St Andrews

Professor David Harrison, Chairman of Medical Research Scotland since 2009, has moved from Edinburgh to the University of St Andrews, where he has taken up a Chair in Pathology with effect from 1 May, 2012. Professor Harrison will, however, retain some of his long-standing Edinburgh connections, including his clinical commitments as Director of Laboratory Medicine and Honorary Consultant in Lothian University Hospital Division and an Honorary Professorship in the University of Edinburgh.

Cancer research donation

The Trust recently received a donation of £200 to be used to support research into cancer.

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Meet the Researcher Showcase

The 2012 Showcase took place in Edinburgh on the afternoon of Friday, 9th March. Senior school pupils from schools throughout Edinburgh, the Lothians & Borders were able to meet 12 of our current or recently-funded young researchers and talk to them about their work, their careers and the options available to those thinking about a career in biomedicine.

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February Trustees' meeting

The Trustees met on Friday 24th February and among the items discussed were the following:

• Funding Applications: The advice of the PhD Studentship Panel on the awards to be offered had been approved informally by the Trustees in the late autumn 2011 and was formally ratified by the Trustees, whereby 10 awards had been offered. It was noted that four have formally accepted so far and are now in the process of advertising for/interviewing potential students.
  After consideration and discussion of 20 applications received and comments received following independent review by the scientific/medical Trustees, it was agreed to award 18 Vacation Scholarships. Seventeen of these were awarded unconditionally; the last was subject to conditions. It was also agreed that, henceforward, the conditions of these awards would be amended to prevent the same student and supervisor pair from receiving an award in more than one year.
• Reports from grantholders: Having previously scored a number of Progress and Final Reports submitted by current and recent project grantholders, the Trustees were pleased to note that all but one of the Progress Reports had been scored as being Satisfactory; the Chairman and Scientific Adviser would follow up on the one scored as Unsatisfactory. The Final Reports were again of high quality.
• Governance & Trustees: The resignation, in August 2011, of Professor Allan Mowat as Trustee was noted formally. It was agreed that the recruitment and appointment of new Trustees should await the outcome of the structural review.
  The Trustees discussed a paper proposing changes to the organisational structure, aimed at enhancing the charity's strategic, administrative and operational efficiency. This will be taken forward by the Chairman and the Audit & Investment Committee.
• Investments: The Trustees had received a report from the Investment Managers on investment performance for the three-month period to 31st December 2011. The Investment Managers attended the meeting to update the Trustees further. It was agreed that the Audit & Investment Committee should continue to monitor the investments very closely and to review some of the investment issues raised during discussion, in light of future income requirements given the strategic funding changes now in progress.
• Secretarial/Administrative matters: the topics discussed included a number of disease-specific legacies & donations received and, noting the current values of the several specific funds held, agreed not to seek to make disease-specific calls for research funding applications at present. The updated Procedures and Statement of Internal Controls & Operational Procedures and other related documents were noted and it was confirmed that these will continue to be reviewed annually. The Trustees noted that the 'Meet the Researcher Showcase' for senior school pupils in the Edinburgh area would take place on Friday 9th March at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.