Dr Inman will carry out research on cancer cells

The Association for International Cancer Research (AICR) is funding annual research fellowships worth �6m over the next five years.

But it says more government funding is needed to stop too many scientists taking up jobs abroad.

The first recipient of a grant worth �850,000 is Dr Gareth Inman who will carry out research on the behaviour of cancer cells at the Beatson Research Institute in Glasgow.

Avoiding responsibilities

American universities in particular offer leading young scientists like Dr Inman attractive wages to carry out their work in the US.

Dr Inman explained that in the UK, funding opportunities are "few and far between".

But he said he was pleased with the award from the AICR.

"My research is basically trying to stop cancer cells from growing and dividing. Cancer is a disease of uncontrolled cell growth and proliferation," he said.

A recent report by the Fraser of Allander Institute expressed concern that Scotland was losing more professionals that it was attracting.

'Scandalous'

The chief executive of the AICR, Derek Napier, has accused the Scottish Executive of "avoiding its responsibilities" in providing more funding for the basics of medical research.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Mr Napier said: "The fact that basic scientific research is being funded by the cancer charities is being put forward as a reason for the executive to put no money whatsoever into basic science.

"I find that a very strange attitude and indeed it borders on the scandalous to think that the government is prepared to avoid its responsibilities for funding on the basis that voluntary organisations are doing it for them."

However the executive said it has invested �47m in scientific research over the last year, and points to Scotland's good record on research publications.