The new head of the Medical Research Council (MRC) has reassured scientists that an increased government emphasis on commercialising their work will not threaten investment in basic “blue-skies” science.

Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, whose appointment as chief executive of the £500 million funding agency will be confirmed by ministers today, said he will not allow it to become too narrowly focused on the business opportunities presented by research.

Many scientists who are funded by the MRC have concerns about the Government’s plans to reshape public funding of medical research so that “translational” clinical science with business applications receives more support. The aim is to ensure that medical discoveries that are made in Britain are also commercially exploited here, as recommended by a review commissioned last year by Gordon Brown from Sir David Cooksey, a venture capitalist.

Some scientists fear that this agenda is being pursued at the expense of more fundamental, curiosity-led research that has no obvious use now, but from which future medical advances will emerge.

Sir Leszek told The Times that he considered continued support for basic medical research as critical to the future of the MRC, adding that he would not have accepted the job had he felt the Government was not committed to both.

“We must retain first-class basic research, which is the seedcorn on which future development can be based,” he said. “Not everything is going to find an application tomorrow. If we cut off the supply of basic information, in the long term that is going to damage translational research.”

Sir Leszek, who succeeds Professor Colin Blakemore as chief executive of the MRC on Monday, is a doctor and clinical scientist with a background in immunology and virology. His research contributed to the development of a vaccine against cervical cancer and he is joint chairman of the UK Stem Cell Foundation.

Sir Leszek and other foundation executives, including Sir Richard Sykes and Sir Christopher Evans, have given warning that Britain’s leading position in stem-cell science is threatened by a lack of available funds.

John Denham, the Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary, said: “Sir Leszek’s medical and academic background and his management experience will be a great asset to the council. He is the ideal person to take the helm at the MRC and nurture biomedical research in the UK.”

Sir John Chisholm, chairman of the MRC, said: “His stature as a scientist and clinician reflects the importance of the role the MRC will play in a coordinated strategy for turning research findings into healthcare.”

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