This week saw the return to Parliament for MPs, both from recess and from virtual proceedings and physical sitting in the Commons resumed. The return has not been without controversy, with many opposition and some government back bench MPs arguing that MPs who are shielding, or particularly vulnerable, are unable to participate. Despite the return of the physical vote many MPs are continuing to work from home and in their constituencies for most day to day business, and the number of MPs allowed in the Chamber at any one time is still tightly limited. Staff also largely remain working from home. For us, as campaigners, nothing changes although I have to say modern technological platforms provide a really convenient tool for communications with our political stakeholders and so, for example, we are able to have a face to face call with the Chair of our APPG, Derek Thomas MP and others whilst he is in his St.Ives constituency today (Friday), (the House doesn’t usually sit on Fridays).

On Wednesday I wrote a Latest News piece for our website on Covid-19 and how its’ impact on research could last a generation, you can read it here.

Also new to our website this week is a blog piece entitled “How long does it take for research to reach patients?” It’s really informative and I recommend you read it by clicking here.

For those of you with a keen interest in scientific research, you might like to subscribe too and a number of you subscribe to my worldwide research news update which I write and send out on Fridays. If you’d like to be on that list too just email me directly (hugh@braintumourresearch.org ) and I’ll add you to the research database – to get an idea of the content please click here.

In other news, as we are campaigning for a one-off £1 million grant from Government our new fundraising group are approaching the same total by very different means – read more about the amazing £1 warriors here.

The setting up of our first virtual APPG continues and I hope to be able to give you a date in next week’s update. The agenda for this meeting is more or less set but I’d love to hear from you about things you might like to be discussed at future events – as a guide you can click here to find out more about past events and what the topics under consideration were.