APPG on Medical Research

Medical research is essential to reducing health disparities

Stark health disparities between different groups across the country mean some people have worse health and lower life expectancy. This APPG on Medical Research report, Health disparities: why medical research is a crucial tool for change, explores the role medical research plays in addressing health disparities. It makes recommendations for policymakers, healthcare leaders, research funders and the wider research community to work together to tackle the problem. To reduce health disparities between underserved groups across the UK, it is crucial to harness the powerful tool of medical research.

Three priority areas for action must be addressed: a shift in priorities for funding, improvements to diversity and inclusion in research, and an emphasis on the implementation of evidence in the NHS and the role of Integrated Care Boards to support making this crucial change.

About the APPG

The AMRC, the Academy of Medical Sciences, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, and Versus Arthritis together support the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Medical Research. AMRC provides the secretariat support to the group. 

Established in 2005, the group provides a forum and network for parliamentarians with an interest in medical research. It aims to protect and strengthen the UK's world-leading medical research environment by facilitating collaboration between parliamentarians and medical research bodies and providing up-to-date information on developments in medical research, including aspects of public health, the ethics of research and the implications of research findings for society.

The APPG on Medical Research includes MPs and Peers from across the political parties. The group is listed in Parliament's register of APPGs. You can find out more about the group in the terms of reference.

If you have any ideas for topics the group should look at or would like further information about the group's activities, please contact the group's administrator, Tom at [email protected].

Officers and members

Officers and members of the group are Parliamentarians, and include the Chair, Chris Green MP (Conservative MP for Bolton West), Vice Chair, Daniel Zeichner MP (Labour MP for Cambridge), Vice Chair, Baroness Finlay (Crossbench), Treasurer, The Lord Willis of Knaresborough (Liberal Democrats), Co-Secretary, Anne Marie Morris (Conservative MP for Newton Abbot), and Co-Secretary, The Lord Turnberg of Cheadle (Labour). Members include Lord Alderdice, Baroness Gale, The Rt Hon the Baroness Hayman GBE, The Rt Hon Lord Hunt of Kings Heath OBE, Lord Patel, and Catherine West MP. 

Income and expenditure statements

For each reporting year, the APPG on Medical Research must produce a financial statement that details its income and expenditure. Recent statements are listed below:

• 2022/23 Income and Expenditure
• 2021/22 Income and Expenditure

Our activity

The APPG on Medical Research holds a mixture of events and other engagement activities, often working alongside other APPGs and partners in industry. The events are well attended, featuring experts from across the sector including medical research charity CEOs, Government and Shadow Ministers, industry leaders and representative bodies. Please see below for a list of previous and upcoming events.