Duncan Selbie's Friday message: 20 December 2013
Weekly message from the Chief Executive of Public Health England.
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This has been a fast moving and productive first year.
Today we have had the announcement of the outcome of the competitive exercise to establish research partnerships between PHE and leading academic centres, creating 13 new Health Protection Research Units. These cover 12 themes ranging from gastroenterology and novel viruses through to innovations in methodology.
At last week’s annual Modernising Medical Microbiology workshop in Oxford the focus was on the impact of genetic sequencing on infectious disease and the implications for diagnostic testing and clinical care.
We are once again working hard ahead of the rush on New Year’s resolutions. To support the two thirds of smokers who want to quit the habit, we will be launching a new media campaign on 29 December, this time raising awareness of the harm smoking does to your body.
And finally, I wish everyone a very happy and peaceful festive season.