UK medical sciences would have to scale back ambition if we became isolated from the European Union says academic

UK medical sciences may have to ‘scale back its ambition’ if Britain leaves the European Union, according to Professor Andrew Tobin (pictured) from the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology.

Leaving the EU could also make it more difficult to address some of the greatest biomedical challenges, such as a global increase in dementia and infectious diseases.

In an article for Think: Leicester, the University of Leicester’s platform for academic opinion pieces, Professor Tobin discusses the benefits to UK medical sciences by remaining in the EU, and outlines some of the challenges the sector could face if the UK votes to leave during the referendum on Thursday 23 June.

Professor Tobin said: “By removing the restrictions otherwise placed on the movement of researchers, ideas and technologies the European Union is an ideal environment not only for the continued success of UK science but importantly puts in place the framework that allows us as to address the biggest questions in medical science.

“My laboratory would certainly be far less competitive and have to scale back our ambition if we were to become isolated from the European Union. It is not just about the funding – it is progress that comes from the culture of collaboration and co-operation that lies at the heart of my opinion that the UK biomedical community is best placed within the European Union.”