A new £44 million Brain Research Imaging Centre is to open on the 7th June 2016. The centre, based at Cardiff University, is said to be significant for the university, Wales, the UK and the whole of Europe. The centre is said to house some of the most powerful scanners in the world and has the potential to significantly contribute towards neurological and psychiatric conditions.
Of the £44 million, more than £27 million was provided by funders, part of which was funded by the European Regional Development Fund. So one has to wonder what leaving the EU would potentially mean for the scientific world: would projects like this be affected? The UK further benefits from the European Research Council in attaining funding for UK science and UK researchers currently have priority access to scientific facilities across Europe.
The headquarters for the European Medicines Agency (EMA), based in London, has allowed us to benefit from numerous investments in the life science sector and its little wonder as to whether relocation would be considered following a Brexit vote. Currently, global pharmaceutical companies investing in the UK also have access to the EU market: Will this remain if Brexit goes ahead?
For our pharma regulatory world, the EMA can grant pharma companies a single Marketing Authorisation for products thereby allowing access to the whole EU market. Based upon the conditions granted following Brexit, there could potentially be delays in the UK attaining separate authorisations and inspections unless a sweet deal is established of course!
Brexit involves lot more than migration and the European Convention on Human Rights. An ‘out’ vote could possibly have devastating consequences for research and development, the economy, business and many more sectors!
Written by Puveshni Pillay