Research – could it be our route to recovery?

Published on Tuesday 6 January 2009 20:49

AMID the gloom of international financial crisis and the proliferation of "To Let" signs hanging in the high streets, there is a glimmer of hope for Scotland. The nation is excelling in at least one area – world-class research.

A seven-year investigation of university research departments across the UK found Scotland is punching above its weight in this vital area of academic study.

The Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) found institutions north of the Border even increased their share of academic effort rated as internationally excellent.

The independent assessment of research quality in UK universities was measured by panels of experts, including leading figures from academia and industry from around the world.

In the previous RAE, conducted seven years previously, Scotland took an 11.6 per cent share of the UK research rated internationally excellent or better. In the latest results, that figure rose to 12.3 per cent.

Of all the research Scotland put forward for assessment, 86 per cent was judged to be internationally excellent, of which 15 per cent was deemed not only internationally excellent but world-leading. In total, 1,000 Scottish researchers and their teams were found to be leading the world.

Universities Scotland, which represents university principals, said the figure was remarkable, given that the nation has only 8.5 per cent of the UK population.

Professor Anton Muscatelli, the convener of Universities Scotland and principal of Heriot-Watt University, said that, at a time of poor world economic news, the RAE was encouraging about something Scotland did exceptionally well.

He said: "These results have reinforced Scotland's reputation as one of the world's centres of discovery and innovation.

"As we try to work out what strengths we can build on when we rebuild our economy, none offers us the opportunities our world-class research does."

Research in cardiovascular medicine at Glasgow University was rated in the top three in the UK, with 95 per cent of its research deemed of international quality by the RAE. Of this, 15 per cent was in the highest category of world-leading, putting the university behind only Imperial College London and Oxford.

Professor Anna Dominiczak is the head of the British Heart Foundation's cardiovascular research centre at Glasgow. Her latest research has involved formulating a urine test to identify proteins which can indicate whether a patient is suffering from heart disease, before symptoms occur.

She and her team also found that after a 14-week intensive exercise programme by physiotherapists, the level of proteins diminished, reducing disease symptoms.

This is still a preliminary study, but because the test is non-invasive and easy to carry out, it could save thousands of lives in Scotland each year.

Official figures showed that in 2007 there were 12,026 deaths from coronary heart disease in Scotland.

If the team can conclusively prove this technique works, it could pave the way for identifying other health problems via urine tests, such as pre-eclampsia and cancer.

Prof Dominiczak said: "Heart disease is one of those areas where prevention is better than cure. In Scotland, I see heart disease happening too early, when people are still young. Any advances mean we can prevent heart disease, or recognise it early enough so it can be controlled."

Research, she said, was not simply about test tubes in a lab; it was about treating patients and providing new knowledge for the world. And at a large university like Glasgow it was possible to work with experts in a variety of fields.

"It's like a collaboration without walls where you can access the knowledge and expertise of a great many people, from within the university, nationally and internationally," she said.

One of the country's most senior university principals previously warned that, if academics discovered medical cures, Scotland would not make a penny out of them.

Dr Brian Laing, who has recently retired, said the infrastructure was not in place financially for our small nation to take such discoveries forward and make them a life-saving reality.

"Business in Scotland would probably admit that it has not been good at taking up ideas that emerge from Scottish universities," he said.

"If we discovered a cure for the common cold tomorrow, it's doubtful whether Scotland would be able to do anything with it. Experience suggests we lack the appetite and infrastructure to be able to successfully translate ideas from the bench to the marketplace."

Scotland has one of the lowest research-and-development spends in the developed world, which effectively made Scotland's universities the country's scientific research base.

It may be a difficult time for businesses at the moment, but the way out of the financial downturn in the UK could be through financial investment in the world-leading research emanating from our universities.

Prof Muscatelli said: "The work these findings measure will result in major breakthroughs in health, energy, culture, information management, environmental technology and many other fields which will change people's lives for the better."

Scotland's leaders in the field

Christopher mackie

• EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY: Was found to have 370 world-class researchers over 39 assessed subjects. Some 22 per cent of the researchers were deemed to be of world-leading quality, and 40 per cent were graded of international excellence.

&#149 ST ANDREWS UNIVERSITY: Over 26 subjects, St Andrews was judged to have 94 world-class researchers, with 19 per cent of its research deemed to be world-leading and 40 per cent of international excellence.

&#149 GLASGOW UNIVERSITY: Was judged to be home to 179 world-class researchers working in 49 subjects.

Fifteen per cent of its research was assessed as world- leading, and 41 per cent of international quality.

&#149 ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY: Assessed over 33 subjects, was found to be home to 85 world-class researchers. Fourteen per cent of its research was deemed world-leading and 40 per cent of international excellence.

&#149 DUNDEE UNIVERSITY: Thirteen per cent of its research was judged world-leading, and 41 per cent of international excellence. This was based on 22 subjects in which 65 world-leading researchers were found to be working.

&#149 HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY: Forty world-class researchers were found in 19 subjects. Twelve per cent was deemed world-leading and 39 per cent internationally excellent.

&#149 STRATHCLYDE UNIVERSITY: In 26 subject areas, 72 world-class researchers were found to be working. Twelve per cent of its research was named world-leading and 36 per cent internationally excellent.

&#149 STIRLING UNIVERSITY: Twenty-nine world-class researchers were found to be working across 18 subjects. Ten per cent of Stirling's research was deemed world-leading and 36 per cent internationally excellent.

&#149 ROBERT GORDON UNIVERSITY: Across 11 subjects, ten world class researchers were found. Six per cent of its research was judged world-leading and 25 per cent was internationally excellent.

&#149 GLASGOW CALEDONIAN UNIVERSITY: Eight of its researchers were assessed as being world class and they were found in 14 subjects. Five per cent of its research was deemed to be world-leading and 23 per cent of an internationally excellent standard.