asked Her Majesty’s Government:

When, by what process and with what outcome the marmoset study carried out for the Ministry of Defence by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down into possible vaccine interactions, reported on in the Written Statement by Lord Drayson on 19 October (WS 87), was peer reviewed. [HL754]

The final findings of the main study in the vaccines interactions research programme were subject to the usual peer review process for scientific research; namely, consideration by reviewers for academic journals. This resulted in publication as follows:

Multiple vaccine and pyridostigmine interactions: effects on cognition, muscle function and health outcomes in marmosets. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior June 2006 edition (available June 06).

Multiple vaccine and pyridostigmine interactions: effects on EEG and sleep in the common marmoset. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior June 2006 edition (available July 06).

Development of methods to measure humoral immune responses against selected antigens in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) and the effect of pyridostigmine bromide administration. International Immunopharmacology December 2006 edition (available October 06).

Multiple vaccine and pyridostigmine bromide interactions in the common marmoset Callithrix jacchus: Immunological and endocrinological effects. International Immunopharmacology December 2006 edition (available October 06).

An additional process of review was provided throughout the study by the involvement of the independent panel. The panel, made up of medical/scientific experts and veterans’ representatives, endorsed the study results in 2005.