Published: 16 June 2021

This infographic outlines key facts and figures about our members and the research they fund to highlight the innovative work of medical research charities.

You can find an in-depth discussion of their research expenditure in this briefing. For a more in-depth narrative around the data, you can watch this video and download a slide deck here. 

To facilitate the sharing of these stats, you can view and download the individual graphics.

Our sector’s footprint in 2020

1. 149: number of current AMRC member charities as of June 2021
2. 83%: percentage of AMRC members who indicated in our annual member survey that they’re using patient voice in their research, strategy or influencing work.
3. £1.7bn: Collective research spend in the UK for the financial year ending in 2020 by 154 AMRC members; £1.1bn: £1,085.4m, page 46 of NIHR annual report 2019/20; £0.7bn: £742m, p.19 on the UKRI annual report.
4. £14.5bn: Total research spend in the UK from 2011 to 2020 by AMRC members
5. Every £1: Total estimated return from public and charitable investment in medical research, every year, forever. See Medical Research: What it's worth? report for full explanation of calculation and all assumptions and caveats.

 

1. 93%: The percent of AMRC member grants active in 2020 in the UK that took place in universities or hospitals, including NHS-affiliated institutions. Percentage for universities and hospitals (including NHS-affiliated institutions) are shown separately as well.
2. 19,000: Total number of researchers whose salaries/studentships were paid for by AMRC charities in 2020. 1,750: includes Masters, Doctoral and PhD students. Based on estimates provided by AMRC members in our annual member survey.
3. 1 in 7: Proportion of AMRC grants active in 2020 that were reported to be co-funded with other organisation(s). Unknowns are excluded. Co-funding organisations were categorised by type and the top 5 most common types are displayed with the relative percentage of co-funded awards. Public bodies include UKRI, NIHR and other UK and non-UK governmental and public bodies. Private sector includes private companies and industry. Organisation types with lower percentages that are not shown include universities, NHS/hospitals, networks, institutes, societies, and other. Some grants were co-funded with organisations in multiple sectors, which were grouped together into one ‘multiple’ category. These are not included in the percentages shown.
4. Map: apportioned value of awards active in 2020 by UK region. 0.4% were unknown.

 

Funding across health areas and research stages

1. Data from 91 AMRC members was coded with HRCS categories and included in the UK Health Research Analysis 2018 for UK grants active in 2018. Breakdown of health categories included in ‘Other’: Metabolic & endocrine (1.9%); Musculoskeletal (1.9%); Eye (1.0%); Respiratory (0.9%); Oral and gastrointestinal (0.8%); Reproductive health and childbirth (0.8%); Renal and urogenital (0.7%); Stroke (0.7%); Congenital disorders (0.4%); Skin (0.3%); Ear (0.2%); Blood (0.2%); Injuries and accidents (0.1%); Disputed Aetiology and other (0.1%).

1. Data from 91 AMRC members was coded with HRCS categories and included in the UK Health Research Analysis 2018 for UK grants active in 2018. Total investment amounts to £1bn.

Making a difference for patients

1. 336,000: Number of people recruited in the UK to take part in clinical research studies or trials funded by AMRC member charities between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021. Data provided by the  NIHR Clinical Research Network Open Data Platform. Annual data cut 20 May 2021.
2. 32%: Percentage of non-commercial research studies supported by the NIHR Clinical Research Network that were funded by AMRC member charities between April 2020 and March 2021. Data provided by the NIHR Clinical Research Network Open Data Platform. Annual data cut 20 May 2021.
3. 51%: Percentage of AMRC members who indicated in our annual member survey that they fund research posts in the NHS in 2020, including clinicians, nurses and clinical trials support staff.
4. Top specialties: Breakdown of total number of participants in the UK recruited into AMRC member funded studies by specialty (figures rounded down to nearest 100). Data provided by the NIHR Clinical Research Network Open Data Platform. Annual data cut 20 May 2021.