Thanks to science we have gone from identification of a novel, lethal virus to effective vaccines, falling mortality and at least one effective treatment in under a year.
This was not achieved out of the blue, but through decades of development and work

Next time someone questions public expenditure on science, or high levels of university education, remember that when the chips were down it was science that is getting us out of this hole

Whilst we can predict what threats face the human race, from climate change to antimicrobial resistance and emerging infections, it is hard to predict which technologies and insights will prove to work.

RNA vaccines seemed like a bit of a niche field, until two turned out to have the highest efficacy in Covid. This was built on years of research, not always directed specifically towards disease but simply understanding fundamental biology.

U.K. science has been systematically underfunded by the government for years, relying on charitable & EU funding to make up the shortfall. We do not have enough clinical academics in key specialties, with failure to support the longterm jobs that allow for viable project planning