Labour’s Shadow Science Minister Chi Onwurah’s call for the Government to provide funding for medical research charities has been widely covered in today’s newspapers.
She said “Medical research charities carry out vital, life-saving work, but with only 3% able to access government support, important research is being shelved and scores of jobs are in peril.
“The UK gets great returns on research funding, both in terms of our economy and in the positive impact for those that rely on breakthroughs in treatment.
“The government needs to urgently listen to the sector and address their concerns. Cold-shouldering these charities now will have huge ramifications down the line.”
Charity-funded research has been severely impacted by Covid-19, with recent news that Cancer Research UK has cut £150 million from its annual research funding budget and charities projecting it will take more than four years for spend to recover to normal levels. Only five out of 152 medical research charities – 3% – are eligible for the Government’s charity support funding.
Brain Tumour Research is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and its Chief Executive Aisling Burnand MBE was quoted in articles, saying “A statistic will never truly capture the devastating impact research cuts will have on all of us. Research is hope. Research is more time with your loved ones. Research is improved quality of life. Its value is immeasurable.”
You can read further coverage in the i-news
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