Encourage engagement, openness and transparency

A 2008 IPSOS MORI survey commissioned by AMRC showed that almost half the British public would be more likely to donate to a charity if they knew it would invest their donation in medical research.

AMRC are committed to openness and transparency.

All our members have a clear process for the peer review and funding of research grants as well as a published research strategy outlining their objectives and priorities in funding research and how they intend to achieve them. This ensures that the public can have complete confidence in how their donations are spent.

More info about developing a research strategy»

Informed patients can be natural advocates for medical research and help inform debate around issues important to the sector.

More info»

'Communicating with our supporters and the public about our research, and about cancer, is vital – even more so in the online era, where myth and rumour can spread rapidly.

'Our website – especially our Science Update blog – gives us a trusted channel through which we can speak directly to the public about our world-class research and to counteract any over-hyped headlines.'

Henry Scowcroft, online science information manager at Cancer Research UK

More info»

As parliament debated whether to allow research using hybrid embryos to be undertaken in the UK, charities provided the patient context to the debate, resulting in policies the public had played a role in developing and could be confident in.

More info»

The Y-Touring Theatre Company, through funding from AMRC member charities, the MRC and several government departments, has tackled some of the most controversial areas in biomedical research and sparked debate through a trilogy of plays touring schools and playing to adult audiences.

Every Breath focusing on the use of animals in medical research

Nobody Lives Forever on stem cell and embryo research

Starfish looking at clinical trials

Many charities actively involve patients and supporters in deciding both their research priorities and what research to fund. This builds public awareness of, and confidence in, research, its direction and the methods by which it is conducted.

The use of patient data for research offers huge potential but raises concerns over privacy and confidentiality. This is an area where transparency and public involvement in the discussion are vital.

AMRC policy statement and FAQ on patient data»

Breathing Country, data drama from Y Touring Theatre Company

Develop a clear regulatory framework for research»

Harness the strength of the NHS for medical research»

In 2008-09 the government conducted an extensive consultation to develop a UK strategy for Science and Society. The recommendations of five expert science groups were published in 2010.