General Q&A
Section 13: Research
13.1 TSE Research funding and management
Q.1. Who funds TSE research in the UK?
Q.2. Does the European Commission fund TSE research?
Q.3. How much is spent on TSE research annually in the UK?
Q.4. How is TSE research co-ordinated in the UK?
Q.5. How are research priorities set in Defra?
Q.6. How is research delivered?
Q.7. What TSE research does Defra fund?
Q.8. What is the TSE causative agent?
13.2 Cattle BSE
Q.9. What research is currently underway on BSE in cattle?Q.10. Which parts of a cow are infected with BSE?
13.3 Sheep TSEs
Q.11. How much is being spent on research related to TSEs in sheep?
Q.12. What research is being carried out on “atypical” scrapie?
Q.13. What research is underway to investigate the possibility that BSE may have been transmitted to sheep?
13.4 TSE Diagnostics
Q14.What is the status of diagnostic tests for detecting TSEs in live animals?
13.1 TSE Research funding and management
Q.1. Who funds TSE research in the UK?
The main Government funders of research on TSEs are the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Defra, the Department of Health (DH), the Food Standards Agency and the Medical Research Council (MRC). Further information on the UK funders of TSE research is available.
Q.2. Does the European Commission fund TSE research?
Yes, the European Commission has sponsored research on TSEs since 1990. In April 1996, the Commission invited Professor Charles Weissman to write an inventory of the state of knowledge of BSE and make recommendations for future research priorities. This report was published in October 1996 and formed the basis of an Action Plan on BSE. A total of 54 projects were commissioned under this Action Plan, with support totaling €50.7m. In 1998, a further 11 projects were funded under the Framework 5 programme. An additional specific call for TSE proposals was issued in 2001 and as a result a further 15 TSE projects, with support totaling €21m, was commissioned and commenced in 2002. The 6th and 7th Framework programmes were launched in 2002 and 2007, respectively.
Details of European Commission funded TSE projects are available on the EU website. The European Commission has also supported the setting up of a Network of Excellence for TSE Research, called Neuroprion. Further information on the network can be found on the Neuroprion website.
Q.3. How much is spent on TSE research annually in the UK?
Defra will spend around £11.2 million in Financial Year 2007/2008 on TSE research. Further information on Defra’s spend in previous years and a summary of the total spend on TSE research in the UK is available.
Q.4. How is TSE research co-ordinated in the UK?
The UK TSE Research and Development Joint Funders Co-ordination Group ensures that TSE research is co-ordinated across government and the devolved administrations. See UK bodies funding TSE research.
Q.5. How are research priorities set in Defra?
Defra’s TSE Research Section and Policy Groups agree research priorities by identifying requirements for scientific evidence relating to policy and risk analysis, by taking into account recommendations from advisory committees and by considering developments in TSE science proposed by the research community.
Q.6. How is research delivered?
Defra is a customer for research - it does not carry out research itself but contracts it to agencies, institutes, universities and other researchers. Defra’s TSE Research Section periodically publishes research calls to address certain policy needs, but also operates an 'open door' policy, where scientists can submit proposals on TSE-related topics at anytime. All research proposals received are appraised internally and subjected to external, independent peer review. Successful proposals receive regular monitoring and evaluation to ensure that they address Defra’s policy needs.
Q.7. What TSE research does Defra fund?
Defra has a wide-ranging programme of research on TSEs, addressing important issues that affect both human and animal health. The focus of Defra's research programme has gradually changed as new scientific findings have emerged and as the BSE epidemic has responded to the control measures put in place to prevent its dissemination by meat and bone meal (MBM). Greater emphasis has now been placed on TSEs in small ruminants and maintenance of the knowledge and expertise needed to avoid the recurrence of a similar epidemic in the future. Further information on Defra-funded TSE research is available.
Q.8. What is the TSE causative agent?
See the infectious agent.
13.2 Cattle BSE
Q.9. What research is currently underway on BSE in cattle?
The BSE-based research portfolio has had a major focus on the transmission and pathogenesis of the disease, to enable risk analysis and the definition of control measures to protect public health and to eradicate the disease. Other major areas of work include the development of diagnostic tests, monitoring for changes in the nature of the disease and the potential persistence of infectivity in the environment. See research into BSE in cattle.
Q.10. Which parts of a cow are infected with BSE?
A. See pathogenesis of BSE in cattle.
13.3 Sheep TSEs
Q.11. How much is being spent on research related to TSEs in sheep?
A. In 2007/8, Defra will spend approximately £7.3 million into research related to sheep and goat TSEs. See sheep and goat TSE research.
Q.12. What research is being carried out on “atypical” scrapie?
A. See atypical scrapie research.
Q.13. What research is underway to investigate the possibility that BSE may have been transmitted to sheep?
A. See experimental BSE in sheep.
13.4 TSE Diagnostics
Q.14. What is the status of diagnostic tests for detecting TSEs in live animals?
A. Currently, there are no approved tests for the diagnosis of BSE in live animals. However, Defra has funded a lot of research aiming to develop a test in live animals. Further information on this research is available.
Page last modified:
18 March, 2008
Page published: 01 July 2003