Newcastle University leading the way on energy and sustainability with political engagement across the board

It was a pleasure to help Newcastle University as they organised their discussion forum at the Conservative Party Conference last Sunday. I was asked to act as ringmaster and chair on an all star panel of experts in the world of energy, energy security and climate change. The really impressive thing is that Newcastle Uni is reaching out as they do. For over an hour the experts took questions from the audience and discussed everything from energy security to nuclear power, from shale gas extraction, renewables and coal to the balance of energy provision amongst these competing capacities; the extent of subsidy, regulation and government interference was also discussed. Seen either side of me in the picture are Professor Richard Davies, and Professor Phil Taylor both of the university, whilst Siemens and the WWF were also represented. It was a pleasure to see the North East leading the way in the manner in which it is reaching out to the various party conferences and trying to create and then have meaningful debate on serious issues. The 2 professors are clearly gluttons for punishment as they had been representing the University the previous weeks at the Brighton labour conference and the Bournemouth liberal conference. It is not for me to say how they found the Manchester Conservative experience as compared to others, but there is no doubt that in a very broad debate they answered over 15 questions on a multitude of topics and all the panel are genuinely to be credited for engaging in this way.

My conference diary in Manchester - events with Women2Win, Newcastle University, CSJ, and multiple meetings

The diary is packed for the next 3 days in Manchester but you will find me at various events:
- Sunday I will be at the Women2Win reception for all the female MPs, candidates and future leaders who W2W have guided in the past and will do more to assist in the future. I am passionately behind this project, as a trainer and mentor, which saw amazing women enter parliament at the last election: the event is at the Stanley Rooms in the Midland at 7.30-9
- for more details read here:  http://guyopperman.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/working-with-women-2-win-is-one-of-best.html
- I am also chairing a Newcastle University discussion event between 5.45-6.45, when I will be listening to a number of academics, think tanks and specialists from Newcastle University and beyond debate energy security, climate change and more. It promises to be an entertaining hour, although as the chair I am impartial, and simply keen to get our experts being grilled by the public so come along. Later that evening I will be at the northern conservatives reception.

- Monday I will be up early for the Women2Win morning event at 8 in the Conservative Home Marquee. I then have 7 meetings that day with organisations as diverse as Newcastle Airport, Shelter, and Northumbrian Water. I will be at the Destination Full Employment debate at the Jurys Inn in the evening at 6, which promises to be a fascinating debate.
- Tuesday I am again going early to the breakfast event hosted by the Centre for Social Justice on reforms to reduce reoffending. Anyone who has read my book Doing Time knows that this is an issue I am passionate about: http://guyopperman.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/my-first-book-doing-time.html
I will then be going to the Membership of a political party in the 21st Century discussion hosted by Policy Exchange with Rob Halfon MP, who is both a mate and an able deputy party leader. I am then going to a Forestry lunch, before a series of meetings and events about the Northern Powerhouse, and dinner with local members who are attending conference.

Newcastle's NHS Trust & University’s Institute of Genetic Medicine leading the way in genome research / cancer treatments and backed by government support

11 new centres across England, including Newcastle, have been chosen to deliver the 100,000 Genomes Project which the Prime Minister launched earlier this year.

http://www.thejournal.co.uk/north-east-analysis/analysis-news/newcastle-experts-set-deliver-world-leading-8327008

The government is committed to doing all we can to support the health and scientific sector to unlock the power of DNA, turning an important scientific breakthrough into something that will help deliver better tests, better drugs and above all better care for patients.

That’s why we have invested £300 million in this project, which will see 11 Genomics Medicines Centres opening across England in February 2015, allowing scientists to decode 100,000 human genomes – a person’s DNA code. This research will help scientists to better understand how cancer and rare diseases work.

The 3 year landmark project is on a scale not seen anywhere else in the world and is expected to provide a lifeline to thousands of families affected by rare genetic diseases and cancers.  The project has the potential to transform the future of healthcare. It could improve the prediction and prevention of disease, enable new and more precise diagnostic tests, and allow personalisation of drugs and other treatments to specific genetic variants.

Some participating patients will benefit because a conclusive diagnosis can be reached for a rare and inherited disease more quickly, or because a treatment for cancer can be targeted at the particular genetic change that is present in the cancer. But for a number of patients, the benefit will be in the improvement in our knowledge of the influence of genetics on disease and how it is expressed in an individual, how other people can be helped with similar diseases in the future, and how different types of tests can be developed to detect changes beyond the genome.

The GMCs have a track-record of providing excellence in genomic services and have been evaluated by NHS England to ensure they meet the requirements to deliver the project.

It is anticipated that around 75,000 people will be involved, which will include some patients with life threatening and debilitating disease. Recruitment to the project will begin from 2nd February 2015.

After samples are collected, they will be sent securely to Illumina who have been procured by Genomics England to sequence the whole genome and to analyse it. Results will be sent back to the NHS for validation and clinical action.

Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS England’s National Medical Director, said: “This is an achievable ambition which positions Britain to unlock longstanding mysteries of disease on behalf of humankind. Embracing genomics will position us at the forefront of science and make the NHS the most scientifically advanced healthcare system in the world. This is the start of a unique, exciting journey that will bring benefits for patients, for the NHS and for society at large.”

Professor Sue Hill, the Chief Scientific Officer for England, who chaired the team evaluating the various applicant GMCs said: “The NHS has risen to both the challenge and opportunity of delivering its contribution to the 100,000 whole genomes project in the most extraordinary and unparalleled way. Locally in the NHS, there has been clearly demonstrated engagement and involvement of senior managers, clinical teams, clinical genetic and molecular pathology laboratories and critically patients and the public, all committed to using the science of whole genome sequencing to making a real and lasting difference for patient benefit.”

Professor Mark Caulfield, Chief Scientist at Genomics England, said: “The creation of the new NHS Genomic Medicine Centres will play a key role in bringing together researchers, NHS clinicians and trainees to work on whole genome data that has never been collected on this scale before.  We have a clear goal of accelerating the findings from the programme back into mainstream healthcare at the fastest possible pace, meaning more rapid results for patients."

I strongly support the pioneering research and trials to alleviate Mitochondrial Disease

Parliament debated this matter on Monday in a quite heated debate. Clearly there are many who object fundamentally on religious grounds. I believe they are mistaken, and misunderstand the nature of the research, the proposed changes, the safeguards and the reasons why this IVF replacement should go ahead to combat this terrible disease.

I can do no better than cite parts of the speech of the former Science Minister, David Willets MP, which sets out very eloquently why this ground breaking research, pioneered in Newcastle, and which will save lives, should be supported.

"I think that this is a great piece of British scientific advance. We should congratulate the scientists at Newcastle university who have been in the lead in the research. My view is that provided it meets stringent safety requirements this is something that should go ahead because it will alleviate the suffering of constituents whom we represent.

The evidence is pretty clear that this could alleviate human suffering, but I am not a simple-minded believer that the consequences justify whatever we do. Looking at my hon. Friends assembled in the Chamber today, many may say, “All right, this alleviates mitochondrial disease, but the price—the threat to human dignity or integrity—is too great.” I should like briefly to touch on those types of objection.

 

First, I do not agree with my hon. Friend Jacob Rees-Mogg that this somehow creates different people. We are not talking about the nuclear DNA that makes us who we are—the characteristics of our character or appearance. This is about a very distinctive part of DNA that has been called, for us laymen, a battery part of the cell, not the nuclear DNA, so it does not affect identity.

 

We are sometimes told, “Life is a vale of tears. There are sorrows and burdens that people have to bear, they should bear them with dignity, and this disease is part of that.” I have two responses to that argument. First, we have not run out of human frailties and problems yet. The problem facing our society is not yet that we have all started to lead lives of bland satisfaction.

It is also important to recognise that these scientific advances create a new problem. For the first time, a parent—a mother—could know that she could transmit this disease to her child. We have learned something that we did not know before. If we allow people to have this knowledge but do not permit a medical intervention that will tackle the problem, we have created a new source of human suffering that did not exist before this scientific understanding came about. Now that this knowledge is available, failing to permit families to act on it would be an unacceptable addition of a new cruelty to what is already a very distressing condition. Therefore, in terms of our respect for human integrity and dignity, it is right to intervene.

 

Then there is the argument that we are on a slippery slope. However, the framework set out in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 is very clear that we are not allowed to intervene in the nuclear DNA that shapes a child’s identity. That is recognised specifically as an exemption in the 2008 legislation.

 

This is a scientific advance that does not affect human identity, that is the opposite of eugenics, that enables people to escape a potential new cruelty if we do not act on this knowledge, and that is not a slippery slope. This is not just my view. We conducted a structured dialogue to consult members of the public on what they thought. When they understand that this is not to do with hereditary characteristics being affected by an arrogant intervention to create a designer baby, they support these interventions. If they support them, then so should we, in all parts of the House."

For those who want to read more, including my string intervention in support read more and the full debate is here:  http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2014-09-01a.93.0&s=speaker%3A24962#g95.1

The challenges of an ageing population

Ageing is an opportunity not a burden, so agreed a discussion panel I chaired last week. One further thing was clear. Leadership is required to ensure that ageing is addressed not ignored.Newcastle University leads the way on solutions to crack these problem but an all star cast this time last week tried to address the problems and come up with solutions.
I was lucky enough to attend a ground breaking event in Manchester with Professor Tom Kirkwood, Associate Dean of Ageing at the University, David Willetts MP, Dr Lynne Corner [director of the institute of ageing], and Norma Cohen, the Demography correspondent for the FT.
I was there as a moderator and panel chair and also as an enthusiast eager to understand a problem that will affect Northumberland more than most.
Many things were made clear. It is obvious from the research of Newcastle University, who looked at 1000 people, that life expectancy in the past can be determined by a lifestyle derived from a location and background. How we address that health disparity is the key and Newcastle Uni are leading the way on radical approaches that go much further than exercise and a change in eating.
Aside from Professor Kirkwood's work you could do a lot worse than read The Pinch, the book by David Willetts, MP, which is subtitled - "how the baby boomers took their children's future - and why they should now give it back".

Much was raised in the debate but a few key points stood out for me:
- Britain is clearly not ready for the demographic change that is happening all around it.
- the concept of retirement at 60 or 65 is completely outdated given our massively improved life expectancy.
- Healthcare improvements and policy changes have addressed the issues of maternity, diagnosis, treatment, improved public health and reduced industrial based disease but our abilities to embrace and enhance the lives of our elderly population are still lagging.
- Movement sensors are on their way to monitor elderly patients and pre-empt a potential fall.
- Housing and the ability to downsize is a major issue. The interesting point was made that the social housing needs to be in the centre of the town near all the major social units that are needed.
- Data transmission and telemedicine are improving as are robotic supports but all have a catch up to deal with both demand and acceptance by the elderly.
The Livewell Programme of the University is designed to address these problems and develop interventions that are feasible, effective and cost effective.
It was a fascinating hour long discussion. I hope that we, in Northumberland, will be able to embrace the findings

TUC, Newcastle Uni and Tim Montgomerie all feature in my debates sunday in Manchester

The Resolution Foundation has asked Tim Montgomerie, Frances O'Grady, David Skelton and I onto the panel for the Resolution Foundation and TUC debate on "Tackling Low Pay" on Sunday between 6-7 inside the conference zone at Exchange 6. I will be welcoming the increase in the minimum wage, making the case for a living wage and talking about what government and businesses can do to address low pay. Both Tim and Frances are outstanding speakers and there are more key players on the panel like Mary Riddell and Gavin Kelly. It will be a fascinating session.
I hope we will also be discussing the wider plans that David Skelton and I are working upon to address blue collar issues more generally. These include action on apprenticeships, education, supporting the unions and giving union members free membership of the Conservative party, if they want to. For my part I see the unions as a key player in addressing low pay. It is not simply about money, although that is fundamental. Of almost more importance is a pragmatic relationship between unions, employers and employees.
 
I will be 15 minutes late as I cannot fail to support the Newcastle University organised fringe next door in Exchange 4-5, starting at 5.30, where we will be examining "Wellbeing in Later Life" with Professor Tom Kirkwood CBE, from the University plus the Minister, David Willetts MP, Norma Cohen from the FT and Dr Lynne Corner. Tom's work is genuinely groundbreaking and addresses a key issue which everyone has to deal with.
Please come along