Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz Named New Head of the UK's Medical Research Council. (September 29, 2007)

Sir Leszek Borysiewicz is the current deputy rector of Imperial College, London. His appointment as chief executive of the UK's Medical Research Council (MRC) is expected to reassure scientists who were worried because of the recent appointment of Sir John Chisholm as MRC Chairman that the council was in danger of abandoning basic research in favour of research linked directly to applications in the health service or with commercial potential.

As The Guardian has reported: "The Commons science and technology committee expressed 'serious reservations' about whether he was the right man for the job, although Sir John hit back, saying the MPs had 'got their knickers in a twist'.

Professor Borysiewicz  told the Times yesterday that basic "blue skies" research would be protected and he would not have taken the job otherwise. "Not everything is going to find an application tomorrow," he told the paper.

His research interests lie in viral immunology, infectious diseases, cell mediated immunity, virus associated malignancy and vaccine development. He was knighted in 2001 for his research into developing vaccines, including one to prevent the development of cervical cancer.

As Deputy Rector of Imperial College London, he has responsibility for the overall academic and scientific direction of the College, and particularly the development of interdisciplinary research between engineering, natural sciences and medicine.

Colin Blakemore, the outgoing chief executive of the MRC, said he was now more confident than six months ago that the council would retain its commitment to fundamental research.

However, The Guardian points out that a review of the MRC by the venture capitalist Sir David Cooksey called for more focus on research that could be translated into clinical benefits or economic payback and Britain's Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, while known as an advocate for British science has shown increasing signs of wanting greater focus on translation from bench to commercialisation.

Just how the balance will be struck will become more apparent over the next twelve to eighteen months.