Published: 21 April 2021

This infographic outlines key facts and figures about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on medical research charities over the last year.

Data sources:

Medical research charity income has been hit hard:

• 2 in 3 AMRC charities: survey responses from 68 charities as of 26 March 2021, income for 2020-21 compared to the previous year.
• £292 million: sum of lost income for those who experienced a drop (47 charities).

Charities have been forced to drastically cut research funding:

• £270 million: decrease in total estimated UK research spend for 2020-21 (£0.65bn, 141 charities) compared to pre-pandemic spend in 2018-19 (£0.92bn, 151 charities). Data provided by AMRC members in Jan-Feb 2021 during annual data collection, excludes Wellcome Trust. Comparison to 2008 recession based on AMRC research expenditure database.
• 32% of AMRC charities: survey responses from 68 charities as of 26 March 2021.

The future of research is at risk:

• 1 in 2 charities: survey responses from 66 charities as of 26 March 2021, average from 33 charities predicting a decrease in research expenditure for 2021-22.
• 56% of AMRC charities: survey responses from 68 charities as of 26 March 2021.
• 3+ years: survey responses as of 29 May from 47 charities, average responses weighted by UK research spend to estimate impact on the sector as a whole, figure has been updated to account for 1 year passed already.