Ben Johnson, co-director of the research policy organisation Science Works and a former government science adviser, told Research Professional News the government must understand how and where the sector is contracting or risk losing pockets of research capability. Though funding for research is not spread equally among institutions, Johnson highlighted that pockets of research excellence “can be found everywhere”. “We don’t have that picture at the moment—the government doesn’t really understand where research capability lies.” Last month, the British Academy again urged the government to commission a comprehensive review of higher education and research. A recent House of Commons Education Committee report said the funder is “undertaking analysis of research capability across UK higher education providers and other research organisations to understand the implications of the sector’s changing landscape”.