The keynote speech by Bill Bryson had a heavy focus on the need for more investment in medical research. In a nod to his best-selling book, he said that ‘one small island’ like ours requires great investment to remain relevant in the global research context, and more importantly to contribute to the future wellness of humanity. He was most engaging and at times inspiring as he shared his feelings about the wonders of science. The bottom line of his talk was that only major investment will enable the kind of collaboration and research to make a difference in years to come.
The evening had a special aim in promoting the Francis Crick Institute, due to be the biggest bio-medical research laboratory in Europe when it opens in 2015. Dr. James Brenton, a key figure in Cancer Research UK shared his excitement about the project. He was quick to praise the research efforts that have taken place so far, but sure to highlight the distance still to travel. He too expressed that it is only collaboration between fellow institutes and scientific fields that can help us push through the breakthroughs we need to ensure the lasting wellbeing of our population in the fight against cancer. He highlighted the need for inter-disciplinary collaboration by telling the story of what he learnt from astronomers, who recently brought about a new method of analysing pathology slides, thanks to their ability to isolate a single star within a vast galaxy. This collaboration perfectly highlighted the tone of the evening and its intended message. No collaboration is too obscure to take part in the joint fight against cancer.