Scientists' collaboration will increase effectiveness
Six Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs) recently signed a co-operation agreement that will see the laboratories working closer together to increase their effectiveness. Acting in the best interest of the public, the agreement promotes knowledge sharing on topics of strategic and operational importance, for instance emergency response and disease control. The members of this PSRE partnership, which is known as the Interlab Forum, are:
- The Central Science Laboratory (Defra)
- The Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Defra)
- The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (MoD)
- The Health and Safety Laboratory ( HSE/DWP)
- The Health Protection Agency (DH)
- Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Defra)
Chief Executive of Dstl, Martin Earwicker, said, ”Work is already underway to harmonise emergency response and crisis management capabilities. For example, in the event of a crisis at one laboratory where facilities, equipment and staff are incapacitated, the others will endeavour to provide assistance. Although each PSRE is distinctive in its remit, the scope for mutual support is considerable.”
The co-operation will bring together the expertise of over 9,000 scientists, technologists and engineers. They will be using their complementary skills and resources to enhance their effectiveness through the sharing of best practice and collaboration on strategic activities and projects. The immediate areas for consideration include:
- Emergency response – covering response modes to emergency situations, capabilities and surge capacity
- Modelling and simulation – of disease control, climatic change and resource management
- Detection, decontamination and remediation – of hazardous materials, dangerous pathogens and ionising radiation
- Animal health research facilities and Telemetry
Interlab Forum members are committed to scientific excellence and to transferring the knowledge created by the PSREs’ scientists into the economy. The signatories of the agreement will share best practice in people and capability development, relationships with universities, managing and exploiting intellectual property and managing conflicts of interest.
For further information, please contact:
Media Queries
Annabel Mead
PR Manager, Dstl
asmead@dstl.gov.uk
01980 613933
07766 134768
Interlab Forum Secretary
David Harris
Head of Technology Transfer, Dstl
djharris@dstl.gov.uk
023 9233 2305
About CSL
The Central Science Laboratory (CSL) is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). We specialise in the sciences underpinning agriculture for sustainable crop production, environmental management and conservation and in food safety and quality. Arising from the research we carry out is a wide range of analytical, diagnostic and consultancy services designed to support the international land-based and food industries. Founded by the then Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in April 1992, CSL moved to a new purpose-built site outside York in 1996. The organization employs c650 staff with a turnover in 2001/2 of c£40 million. For more information visit: www.csl.gov.uk
About Cefas
The Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas) is multidisciplinary scientific research and consultancy centre established in 1997 as an Agency of what is now the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Our origins date from 1902 when a research station was established to investigate declining fish stocks and Cefas has remained at the forefront of fisheries science ever since. Cefas has a strong and active research and monitoring programme covering all aspects of marine, coastal and freshwater environments and their living resources, including pathways to man. We also assess the impact and interaction of factors, both natural and man-made, such as fishing, pollution, disease and climate change upon fisheries and the general aquatic ecosystem. For more information visit: www.cefas.co.uk
About Dstl
Dstl (the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) is the centre of scientific excellence for the Ministry of Defence, housing one of the largest groups of scientists and engineers in public service in the country. Its 3,500 strong workforce includes some of the nation’s most talented and creative scientists with the brief to ensure that the UK Armed Forces and Government are supported in-house by world-class scientific advice. Dstl delivers defence research, specialist technical services and the ability to track global technological developments. Its capabilities compare with the best in the world, supporting defence policy making and operations and procurement decisions. For more information visit: www.dstl.gov.uk
About HSL
The Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) is Britain's leading industrial health and safety facility with over 30 years of research experience across all sectors. Operating as an agency of the Health and Safety Executive ( HSE), we support their mission to protect people's health and safety by ensuring risks in the changing workplace are properly controlled. HSL employs over 350 people including scientists, engineers, psychologists, social scientists, health professionals and technical specialists. HSL's capabilities encompass a wide range of topics including: fire, explosion and process safety; human factors and risk assessment; occupational and environmental health; safety engineering; work environment; and specialist photographic and technical services. For more information visit: www.hsl.gov.uk
About HPA
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is an independent body that protects the health and well-being of everyone in England and Wales. The Agency was created in April 2003 to provide better protection against infectious diseases and other dangers to health, including chemical hazards, poisons and radiation. We also prepare for new and emerging threats, such as a bio-terrorist attack or virulent new strain of disease. In April 2005 we became a United Kingdom-wide body, when we merged with the National Radiation Protection Board to form a comprehensive health protection service. About 2,700 people work for the Health Protection Agency. For more information visit: www.hpa.org.uk
About VLA
The Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. We provide a specialist veterinary resource to the UK Government to help fulfil its aims and objectives in veterinary public health and developing sustainable agriculture and food industries. VLA is a regional network of 16 veterinary laboratories, including one in Scotland, two in Wales, and a central facility near Weybridge in Surrey. Additionally there are two Surveillance Centres at the Liverpool and London Veterinary Schools. VLA provides all sectors of the animal health industry with animal disease surveillance, diagnostic services and veterinary scientific research. For more information visit: www.vla.gov.uk
