New taskforce to harness 'miracle' of vaccine roll-out to fight cancer

Top government adviser Patrick Vallance will lead new science and technology taskforce to harness the ‘miracle’ of the vaccine roll-out to fight cancer and climate change

  • Sir Patrick Vallance will head a new National Science and Technology Council 
  • Tasked with ensuring the UK’s innovations are used for the benefit of the nation
  • PM said jab scheme proved ‘what the UK can achieve at scale and at speed’

The Government’s chief scientific adviser is to lead a new taskforce that will seek to apply the success of the UK’s vaccine roll-out to help beat cancer and climate change.

Sir Patrick Vallance will head a new National Science and Technology Council tasked with ensuring the UK’s innovations are used for the benefit of the nation.

Boris Johnson said that the ‘miraculous’ development of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine in the UK almost did not happen at all and said the nation had to have a renewed focus on science.

The new group will be chaired by the Prime Minister and will be asked to review which prospective technologies the nation focuses on.

‘It is a wretched fact that British firms are investing a fraction of the OECD average on research; and though the speed of the discovery of Oxford AstraZeneca was little short of miraculous, it was also something of a miracle that it took place here at all,’ he told the Daily Telegraph.

‘Before Covid, the UK domestic vaccine industry had almost perished out of benign neglect. Had a couple of investment decisions gone the other way, this country might not have possessed the skills or practical capability to make vast batches of the vaccine that has been so indispensable to our success. 

‘So this is the moment to learn this stark lesson of the pandemic – our daily dependence on high-quality scientific research. It is also the moment to abandon any notion that government can be strategically indifferent, or treat research as a matter of abstract academic speculation.’

Sir Patrick Vallance will head a new National Science and Technology Council tasked with ensuring the UK’s innovations are used for the benefit of the nation.

Boris Johnson (pictured today) said that the ‘miraculous’ development of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine in the UK almost did not happen at all and said the nation had to have a renewed focus on science.

The Prime Minister will ask the whole of government to work with Sir Patrick to develop on the UK’s successful approach to coronavirus vaccines and apply it to other priorities.

Downing Street said these will include developing technology to combat the climate crisis by reaching net zero and to cure, rather than just treat, cancer.

Alongside his current roles that have seen him play a leading role in the pandemic response, Sir Patrick will also become the national technology adviser.

Mr Johnson is also tasking Sir Patrick with running a new Office for Science and Technology Strategy to drive Whitehall’s science strategy.

Mr Johnson said: ‘From discovery to delivery, our vaccination programme has proven what the UK can achieve at scale and at speed.

‘With the right direction, pace and backing, we can breathe life into many more scientific and technological breakthroughs that transform the lives of people across the UK and the world.

‘That’s why I’m establishing a new ministerial council and office at the centre of government, so we can realise the limitless possibilities that research and technology has to offer and cement the UK’s place as a global science superpower.’

Sir Patrick said: ‘The new Office for Science and Technology Strategy will put science and technology right at the heart of policy-making and strengthen the way we work across government to reinforce the position of the UK as a science superpower.

‘I look forward to working with the National Science and Technology Council to help identify cutting-edge research and technologies that will deliver strategic advantage for the UK.’

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