The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded organisation dedicated to improving human health. It supports research across the entire spectrum of medical sciences, in universities and hospitals, in its own units and institutes in the UK and in Africa. The MRC works closely with key stakeholders and research funders - UK health departments, other departments and agencies, the six sister research councils, industry, and the academic and charity sectors - giving a high priority to research that is likely to make a real difference to clinical practice and the health of the population. This annual report describes progress in 2008-09, highlights key awards and partnerships, and outlines plans for the future.
Academic and professional publishing represents a diverse communications industry rooted in the scholarly ecosystem, peer review, and added value products and services. Publishers in this field play a critical and trusted role, registering, certifying, disseminating and preserving knowledge across scientific, technical and medical (STM), humanities and social science disciplines. Academic and Professional Publishing draws together expert publishing professionals, to provide comprehensive insight into the key developments in the industry and the innovative and multi-disciplinary approaches being applied to meet novel challenges.This book consists of 20 chapters covering what publishers do, how they work to add value and what the future may bring. Topics include: peer-review; the scholarly ecosystem; the digital revolution; publishing and communication strategies; business models and finances; editorial and production workflows; electronic publishing standards; citation and bibliometrics; user experience; sales, licensing and marketing; the evolving role of libraries; ethics and integrity; legal and copyright aspects; relationship management; the future of journal publishing; the impact of external forces; career development; and trust in academic and professional publishing.This book presents a comprehensive review of the integrated approach publishers take to support and improve communications within academic and professional publishing. - Brings together expert publishing professionals to provide an authoritative insight into industry developments - Details the challenges publishers face and the leading-edge processes and procedures used to meet them - Discusses the range of new communication channels and business models that suit the wide variety of subject areas publishers work in
The implementation of a project to create a centre to streamline back-office functions - such as finance, HR and procurement - for the seven research councils has so far not been good value for money. When finally operational 15 months late, the Centre was delivering services across the five functions planned but some services, particularly finance, are not yet where they need to be. By the end of March 2011 the project was £51 million over budget. Available evidence indicates that to date the project has underachieved against total expected savings by at least £73 million. The original business case, which led to the decision to opt for the shared service centre, was flawed. The projected savings to be made from better procurement were uncertain and a proper financial analysis should have prompted a re-evaluation of the available options. The reasons for the overrun and delay included complex governance arrangements, slow decision making and the lack of a clear vision for the project from the outset. The contract with Fujitsu, the supplier of the Centre's ICT systems, was terminated wasting £13 million because some elements of the system then had to be rebuilt in-house. When the project did start to go off-course, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, as sponsor Department, did not intervene. A single shared service platform has the potential, if managed effectively, to offer broader benefits through streamlined processes. The report concludes that there is significant scope for further savings.
Pharmaceuticals companies, biotech companies, and CROs, regardless of size, all face the same challenge of managing costs and operational execution associated with bringing a valuable drugs and devices to market. Because of timeline pressures and cost as well as the growing interest in "neglected diseases" and diseases affecting the emerging nations, clinical trials are increasingly conducted in emerging markets and developing countries where infrastructure, leadership, skilled personnel and a governance are at a premium. Working with academics, regulatory professionals, safety officers, experts from the pharma industry and CROs, the editors have put together this up-to-date, step-by-step guide book to building and enhancing global clinical trial capacity in emerging markets and developing countries. This book covers the design, conduct, and tools to build and/or enhance human capacity to execute such trials, appealing to individuals in health ministries, pharmaceutical companies, world health organizations, academia, industry, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who are managing global clinical trials. Gives medical professionals the business tools needed to effectively execute clinical trials throughout the world Provides real world international examples which illustrate the practical translation of principles Includes forms, templates, and additional references for standardization in a number of global scenarios
Occupational Therapy: Performance, Participation, and Well-Being, Fourth Edition, is a comprehensive occupational therapy text that introduces students to core knowledge in the profession and the foundations of practice—the occupations, person factors, and environment factors that support performance, participation, and well-being. Editors, Drs. Charles H. Christiansen, Carolyn M. Baum, and Julie D. Bass, are joined by more than 40 international scholars who bring students, faculty, and practitioners the evidence that supports occupational therapy practice. The PEOP Model 4th Edition is featured as an exemplar of a person-environment-occupation model and provides a valuable roadmap for understanding key concepts and developing strong clinical reasoning skills in the occupational therapy process. Features: Examines the theories, models, frameworks, and classifications that support contemporary knowledge of person, environment, and occupational factors. Presents detailed chapters on the occupations of children and youth, adults, older adults, organizations, and populations Provides extensive coverage of the person factors (psychological, cognition, sensory, motor, physiological, spirituality) and environment factors (culture, social, physical, policy, technology) that support occupational performance Includes exceptional content on the essentials of professional practice - therapeutic use of self, evidence-based practice, professionalism, lifelong development, ethics, business fundamentals, and critical concepts Builds clear links with the AOTA’s Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, Third Edition; International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, and accreditation standards for entry-level occupational therapy programs. Introduces emerging practice areas of self-management, community-based practice, technology, and teaching/learning and opportunities to work with organizations and populations Incorporates international and global perspectives on core knowledge and occupational therapy practice. Documents assessments, interventions, resources, and evidence in user-friendly tables Uses simple and complex cases to illustrate key concepts and ideas. New and Updated Sections in the Fourth Edition: Individual chapters on each person factor and environmental factor and occupations across the lifespan Expanded coverage of approaches for organizations and populations and entry-level professional skills Consistent framework of tables and language across chapters and sections. Included with the text are online supplemental materials for faculty use in the classroom including PowerPoint presentations.
This is a primary, comprehensive textbook for people who are considering undertaking a piece of health-related research. It is an accessible companion with the aim of getting the reader to think broadly about all of the issues that need to be considered when embarking on a project. This is a pragmatic book, a step-by-step guide to research which mirrors the structure of a research project, taking you through the thought process for designing and conducting your study from formulating the right research question at idea inception, ascertaining what methodologies and analysis can answer what type of questions, right through to dissemination, all presented in an easy, digestible style. The book is full of case study illustrations and practical tips such as how to work out a research budget and obtaining funding for your project, discussion of what permissions need to obtained when conducting research with people, and how to involve public and patients. The authors are all experienced researchers and so this book is an accumulation of collective wisdom on common research challenges and issues.
Global Handbook on Noncommunicable Diseases and Health Promotion David V. McQueen, editor A scan of health challenges around the globe readily brings to mind a range of infectious illnesses, from HIV to influenza. Yet chronic non-contagious conditions--heart disease, asthma, diabetes, cancer--are more prevalent, and their rates soaring, across the developed and developing worlds. The Global Handbook on Noncommunicable Diseases and Health Promotion is an important resource for understanding and approaching chronic illnesses and their prevention. This timely text balances theory and strategies to provide an integrative context for health-affecting behaviors regarding tobacco use, food choices, and physical activity. Coverage expands on current medical/clinical public health perspectives, arguing that closer attention to social context is crucial to better use of health resources and more relevant preventive efforts. Possible roles for hospitals, the workplace, government agencies, NGOs, and other institutions are analyzed, as is the potential for addressing larger underlying health factors (e.g., inequities and poverty) at the societal level. Topics covered include: The nature of causality: beyond traditional evidence Learning from the social sciences in chronic disease health promotion Contextual factors in health and illness Understanding and applying a social determinants of health framework for addressing NCDs Public health, NCDs, health promotion and business partnering NCDs and civil society: a history and a roadmap As the authors of the Global Handbook on Noncommunicable Diseases and Health Promotion make abundantly clear, opportunities are as numerous as the issues, and researchers and graduate students in global public health, health promotion, and chronic disease epidemiology will find these chapters positive and realistic.p>
