Setting the record straight on neuroscience funding
11 February 2011
The Medical Research Council (MRC) sets the record straight following recent concerns in the research community about the level of investment in neuroscience research in the UK.
The MRC is fully committed to neuroscience research and actively encourages applications through our dedicated Neurosciences and Mental Health Board (NMHB). Neuroscience research received more than £123 million in 2009/10 from the MRC – and recently we have also committed a further £24m of investment for initiatives to boost neurodegeneration and mental health research.
The MRC delivery plan 2011-12/2014-15, published in December 2010, clearly sets out the MRC’s strategy over the next four years to combat addiction, mental health and dementia - areas which not only have a huge impact on society, but are also ones where the UK’s research strengths can be leveraged most effectively.
Dr Declan Mulkeen, director of research programmes at the Medical Research Council, said:
“Neuroscience is a key feature in both the MRC’s strategy and delivery plan and we recognise this ongoing commitment to neuroscience research is vital to address the burden of disease and to attract inward investment from industry. While it’s true that investment in drug development in areas such as dementia and mental health might be considered commercially risky by some, there will be more and more opportunity for academic and pharmaceutical collaboration coming out of early drug discovery stage at the lab bench and in clinical research with patients over the next few years. We will keep working with the pharmaceutical sector and other industries to encourage re-investment in this area going forward.”
As always, the MRC’s focus remains on funding the highest quality science. Every application received by the MRC is subject to a rigorous review process which assesses it for both quality and excellence and guarantees that all funded proposals are of an internationally competitive standard. Given the recent Spending Review settlement and subject to the continued receipt of high quality proposals, the MRC expects to be able to continue to support neuroscience research at at least the existing level.
