Doubts over UK research head

An influential British parliamentary committee has expressed serious doubts about the suitability of John Chisholm, chair of the Medical Research Council since last October, to lead the research agency.

In an unusually scathing report released Tuesday, the House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology described Chisholm as "vague" and "evasive" and said that he showed "a lack of focus and clarity."

"We had very serious doubts about whether Sir John is the right person to guide the MRC at such a critical time," Phil Willis, chair of the committee, told The Scientist. "It is now important that the government follows up on our report."

The MRC is facing significant changes as it adapts to a new umbrella structure governing basic and clinical research, as well as coming to terms with new departmental structures brought in by new Prime Minister Gordon Brown. It will also soon appoint a new chief executive.

The committee's role is to scrutinize science policy, a remit that includes assessing senior appointments made by the health minister. The 11-member committee interviewed Chisholm in late June.

The report arising from that interview shows that Chisholm couldn't provide details of how he was recruited, saying at first that he was invited by Sir Keith O'Nions, the director-general of science and innovation, but later saying he was actually approached by a recruitment firm.

Later, when discussing the process of appointing consulting firm Ernst & Young to help with a review of the MRC's activities, he could not explain some details, such as how MRC staff and other stakeholders were consulted.

The committee listed other areas where they considered his responses inadequate. "His explanation for the policy decision to increase contingency funding was unsatisfactory and he lacked the necessary knowledge to discuss the MRC's relationship with the other Research Councils," they said.

Such a personal attack is an unusual move for the committee, said Peter Cotgreave from the Campaign for Science and Engineering. "One has to take it seriously," he told The Scientist. "They don't say that kind of thing gratuitously."

Cotgreave said he didn't have anything against Chisholm, but acknowledged that the MRC is at a critical juncture. "It is going to be important that whoever is leading the MRC is completely on top of all the issues," he said.

A spokeswoman for the MRC said the council would not be commenting immediately. "The government will make a response to the report and we will feed into that response," she said.

Stephen Pincock
mail@the-scientist.com

Links within this article:

P. Hagan, "MRC unveils changes at the top," The Scientist May 11, 2007.
http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/53189/

Select Committee on Science and Technology Eighth Report
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmsctech/746/74603.htm#a1

S. Pincock, "Protect basic research: UK scientists," The Scientist March 15, 2007.
http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/52939

S. Pincock, "MRC head to step down," The Scientist March 8, 2006
http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/15387