Professor Richard Sharpe, of the UK Medical Research Council's Human Reproductive Science Unit in Edinburgh, said more work was needed to confirm the results.

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In 1996, when such drugs were starting to become widespread, the UK Medical Research Council estimated a 20-year-old with HIV, who was receiving treatment, could expect to live to an average age of 50.

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The members of the E-Health Research Initiative who are jointly funding the four centres include Arthritis Research UK, the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust.

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The trial was supported by the University of Edinburgh, the Stroke Association UK, the Medical Research Council, EME, the Health Foundation UK and NHS Lothian Health Board.

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The research was carried out by a team from the UK's Medical Research Council Prion Unit at the Institute of Neurology led by Professor John Collinge.

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Research in the UK will be co-ordinated by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Imperial College Faculty of Medicine.

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The Medical Research Council conducted the first trials In the UK of cannabis as a potential medicine.

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