Academic rheumatology and the Arthritis and Rheumatism Council.

'no'. It was thought that the disadvantages of such policies currently outweigh the advantages. The meeting agreed that high quality research as well as relevance to rheumatic diseases should remain as the cornerstones on which the ARC makes its funding decisions. The need to be able to respond rapidly and effectively to new directions in science was thought to be best handled by having an effective, knowledgeable research committee that can respond adequately to research proposals, rather than through the creation of a new group that tries to direct research funding. However, the meeting also agreed that we should be trying to find ways in which can improve the quality of clinical research in the UK, with the hope and expectation that more high quality clinical projects will be submitted, and found worthy of funding.