Science minister Malcolm Wicks has defended plans to reform medical research to align it more closely with the needs of the health service.

Speaking to the science and technology select committee yesterday, he said a joint bid was being developed to set up an office for strategic co-ordination of health research.

The Medical Research Council and Connecting for Health could be used to release drugs to patients more quickly, he added.

Science minister Malcolm Wicks has defended plans to reform medical research to align it more closely with the needs of the health service.

Speaking to the science and technology select committee yesterday, he said a joint bid was being developed to set up an office for strategic co-ordination of health research.

The Medical Research Council and Connecting for Health could be used to release drugs to patients more quickly, he added.

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