Published: 2 April 2021

In response to Government's announcement of £250 million additional funding for scientists and researchers, Carol Bewick, Director of Communications and Membership Engagement at the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) said:

"We welcome Government’s £250 million for the UK’s talented scientists and researchers. However, this will not remedy the drastic shortfall in charity research funding that they are facing.

"In 2019, medical research charities accounted for half of publicly funded medical research in the UK. Hit hard by the pandemic, these charities have been forced to cut, on average, 41% of their research spend over the last year. The UK cannot become a science superpower without sustained (if not growing) investment from its medical research charities.

"Since June last year, we’ve been telling Government that charity-funded research is at risk, but time and time again they’ve failed to protect it. We hope that this funding is a sign that long-awaited financial support for the medical research charity sector is imminent."