The dramatic fall in charitable fundraising caused by the coronavirus outbreak could result in billions of pounds of investment in medical research being lost over the next seven years, new research shows.
Analysis by the think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and encapsulated in the report “Research at Risk; Mitigating the Impact of Covid-19 on Health R&D Investment”, says that in a “reasonable worst-case scenario”, the drop in charity fundraising could lead to £4.1bn of medical research investment being lost between now and 2027.
This would be equal to about £1 in every £10 spent on medical research, the IPPR warned.
Chris Thomas, senior health fellow at the IPPR and the lead author of the report, said medical research charities were the lifeblood of UK life sciences.
“It will only be to the detriment of all our health if we leave them – in their hour of need – on the proverbial crash cart,” he said.
“Their investment is crucial to discovering the medicines and technologies that might, one day, save your life. We urge the government to put in place measures to keep their vital work going.”
You can access the full report here.
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