Your report on research income growth at Imperial College London, Oxford and Cambridge universities and University College London ("'Gang of four' run away with research lead", THES , January 2) is based on "an exclusive analysis for The THES ".
Non-exclusive data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, however, show that the research income of all institutions grew by 40 per cent on average over the five years you describe.
The "gang of four's" research income grew by "only" 34 per cent, so its share fell from 25.9 per cent in 1997-98 to 24.6 per cent in 2001-02.
The research income of the 1994 Group grew by 43 per cent in this period, and our share rose slightly from 12.1 per cent to 12.3 per cent.
A more accurate headline would have been "Research lead of 'gang of four' is reduced".
Alasdair Smith
Vice-chancellor
University of Sussex
Convener, 1994 Group