National Institute For Medical Research Taskforce
In 2003 the MRC announced plans to consider moving the National Institute for Medical Research, its largest research facility, from its current location in Mill Hill to a new site in central London. As part of the consultation process a taskforce was convened, with Blakemore as chairman, to consider options for the size and location of the new NIMR. During the process a number of senior staff at NIMR, including the then Director, Sir John Skehel, opposed a move being proposed as the only option believing "staying at Mill Hill should be considered."
Robin Lovell-Badge, a scientist at NIMR who was a member of the taskforce, proposed this option be included in the official publication of the taskforce, something that Blakemore and the majority of other members were opposed to. After disagreeing on the issue, Lovell-Badge alleged that Blakemore had twice attempted to "coerce" him into agreement by threatening his job. Blakemore denied the allegations, describing them as "pure invention".
A House of Commons select committee investigated the claims. They found "no specific credible evidence" to support the complaint, reporting the allegation "would have carried more weight had it been made at the time rather than in public during the final stages of the decision making process when relations between NIMR and MRC management had fallen into mutual animosity."
The committee did criticise Blakemore for "heavy handed" lobbying of other taskforce members and reported that a "more independent" figure than Blakemore should have chaired the taskforce. However, the report also criticised unnamed senior NIMR staff for an attempt at "undermining Blakemore's position."
The MRC has maintained its commitment to relocate NIMR and has launched a project, together with the Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK and University College London, to construct the Francis Crick Institute on a site adjacent to the British Library and St Pancras Station in London.
Read more about this topic: Colin Blakemore, Medical Research Council
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