We investigated research activities on schizophrenia in 17 non-English speaking (13 European: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden and 4 Asian: China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan) countries via a MEDLINE database survey. Despite the handicap of language, a reassuringly large number of English-written papers in research into schizophrenia have been reported; 892 papers from these countries appeared over the period 1990–1994. Among the countries investigated, Scandinavian countries in particular were found to have produced more communicable papers after taking into account the number of psychiatrists.

This article reflects on the influences on current radiotherapy practice and the key role that Therapeutic Radiographers have in the management of cancer care and the delivery of treatments. In particular the Cancer Reform Strategy is discussed which clearly highlights the many challenges related to cancer. Changes in societal and scientific understanding will demand that the most appropriate and evidence-based care is provided for patients, underscoring the need for evidence through research, to underpin every aspect of daily work if patient outcomes are to continue to improve. In October 2005, the Society and College of Radiographers published: ‘Research and the Radiography Profession—A Strategy and Five Year Plan’. This is an ambitious document, which sets out expectations for the appreciation and use of substantiated research involvement at all levels of practice. Sections of this document and the relevance to radiotherapy practice are discussed. Alongside this, the career progression model for radiography continued to be driven forward with support from the Department of Health. This model describing higher levels of practice for radiographers, at advanced and consultant levels, clearly identified research as a key requirement for the profession. The guidance document in 2006, from the Society and College of Radiographers ‘Positioning Therapeutic Radiographers within Cancer Services: Delivering Patient Centred Care’, further articulated these expert roles, in response to the changing drivers within cancer and across the radiotherapy pathway. In conclusion, research must become a fundamental component of everyday radiotherapy practice as it will verify professional standards of care and sustain the future of the profession. To contribute to the wider cancer agenda it is imperative that all therapeutic radiographers, from practitioner to consultant level, participate in and lead research.

International and UK National Health Service policy has focused attention on the need to develop research capacity in primary care, with the emphasis on collaboration between professional groups and across organizations including health and social care, and the academic context. The results of a survey of research activity, interest and skills in a health and social care community, in Northern England, are reported. The survey targeted primary care trust (PCT) staff, general practice staff and social services staff seconded to the PCT, and a response rate of 31% was achieved. Twelve per cent of respondents were involved in research, with research active professionals typically involved in between one and three projects. PCT staff reported a significantly higher level of research activity, research skills and research interest than general practice or social care staff. The holding of a master's degree was associated with a greater desire to lead or collaborate in research. All three groups expressed a preference for practice-based research training and other forms of research support were identified, including protected time, apprenticeship, mentoring and funding advice. The results of this survey have been valuable in terms of research governance, forming research strategy, and impact on capacity via training and support for the health and social care community within a newly formed research alliance between a district general hospital, a PCT and social services, including an academic advisory group. The paper concludes that a holistic approach to research capacity building should inform changing policy and research funding in the UK.

This paper presents an endogenous growth model in which the research activity is financed by intermediaries that are able to reduce the incidence of researcher's moral hazard. It is shown that financial activity is growth promoting because it increases research productivity. It is also found that a subsidy to the financial sector may have larger growth effects than a direct subsidy to research. Moreover, because of the presence of moral hazard, increasing the subsidy rate to R&D may reduce the growth rate. I show that there exists a negative relation between the financing of innovation and the process of capital accumulation. Concerning welfare, the presence of two externalities of opposite sign stemming from financial activity may cause the no-tax equilibrium to provide an inefficient level of financial services. Thus, policies oriented to balance the effects of the two externalities will be welfare improving.