UK universities have warned the country's government that leaving the European Union without a deal is "one of the biggest threats" the institutions have ever faced. In an open letter published on 4 January, leaders of groups representing 150 UK institutions urge the government to commit to replacing important EU sources of research funding that would become immediately inaccessible to UK researchers in the event of a 'no deal' Brexit. Britain is scheduled to leave the EU on 29 March, but a deal on the terms of its departure is yet to be fully agreed. Members of the UK Parliament are expected to vote on a proposed deal later this month. Unless an agreement is secured, British scientists will become ineligible for prestigious European Research Council (ERC) grants and some parts of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, which promotes researcher mobility. The university groups estimate that together, these sources would be worth €1.3 billion (US$1.5 billion) to UK researchers over the next two years. (Fonte: E. Gibney, Nature Briefing 04-01-19)