Written question asked by Lord Roberts of Conwy (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Sainsbury of Turville (Labour) on Monday, 6 November 2006.

Gulf War Illnesses

Question: Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 23 October (WA 214-5), whether the Medical Research Council will now make an assessment of the findings to date of the research at the National Institute of Environmental Health Services in the United States on microglial activation following neurotoxic exposure: theself-propelling cycle of neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative disease and their possible relevance to illnesses among British veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War; and

Answer: Following a Ministry of Defence (MoD) request for independent advice, in January 2003 the Medical Research Council (MRC), through the Military Health Research Advisory Group (MHRAG), undertook a comprehensive review of relevant Gulf research, including both UK and overseas studies. The review (MRC review of research into UK Gulf veterans’ illnesses) was chaired by Professor Catherine Peckham of the Institute of Child Health, London. The review made a number of recommendations in terms of further research, other data that needed collection and additional reviews that should be undertaken. The monitoring of emerging research of possible relevance to Gulf War veterans (being undertaken at any particular research institution) was not part of these recommendations, and MRC has no plans to undertake this monitoring.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 7911; 686 c87-8WA
Session: 2005-06
Related items: Gulf War Illnesses
Monday, 23 October 2006
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Diseases Iraq-Kuwait conflict Research Reviews USA Gulf War syndrome Medical Research Council Veterans
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk