Science
MPs urge Chancellor to support charity funded research
Fifty cross-party MPs have signed an open letter to the Chancellor calling for urgent action to protect research funded by UK medical research charities.
The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) estimates that medical research charities are facing a 41 per cent drop in their research investment over the next year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic – a predicted £310m shortfall for life-saving discoveries.
The open letter calls for the Government to commit to a Life Sciences-Charity Partnership Fund, a co-investment scheme where Government would match the charities’ research spend over the next three years.
Acknowledging that the UK’s research and development sector “is one of our biggest strengths as a nation, stimulating new ideas and discoveries and playing a central role in advancing our economy, social well-being and health”, the letter stresses that medical research charities “play an integral role within that research ecosystem”.
This call follows the open letter signed by top UK research scientists in cardiovascular disease and cancer research to the Prime Minister pressing for urgent financial support. The Life Sciences-Charity Partnership Fund proposal was developed by the AMRC and its 152 charity members.
Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, our Medical Director, said:
“The financial fallout medical charities are facing due to the coronavirus is a devastating loss that the UK research sector cannot afford. Charity funders are an integral part of the UK’s rich biomedical research sector, and without us the UK’s standing as a research superpower is at risk. We need urgent Government action to protect our future.
“A commitment from the Chancellor to the Life Sciences-Charity Partnership Fund would provide the lifeline independent charity-funded medical research desperately needs. The UK is at the forefront of scientific research and innovation, and home to world-leading scientists and research centres. If they are not supported through this crisis, the UK’s research base and economy will suffer in the long term. Life-saving medical advances will be delayed and the careers of thousands of young and highly skilled researchers will be in jeopardy.”
At the BHF, we currently support a research portfolio of £446m at 47 institutions across the UK. Each year we fund around £100m of new research, representing more than half of all non-commercial UK research into heart and circulatory diseases. The closure of our 750 shops and postponement of fundraising activities, including our flagship event London to Brighton bike ride, has had an immediate and catastrophic impact on our income.
Professor Sir Nilesh Samani added:
“Over the last 60 years the BHF has invested in world-class researchers and cutting-edge research that has revolutionised treatment, shortened diagnosis and improved the lives of people with heart and circulatory diseases. The BHF alone is anticipating a cut of £50m to its research spend this year and recovery will be slow. Without extra support, the long-term impact for our life-saving discoveries, and ultimately to patients, will be damaging.”