Government funding for research into motor neurone disease
Westminster Hall debate
On Tuesday 13 December, Karl Turner MP led a Westminster Hall debate on government funding for research in motor neurone disease.
Introducing the topic, he gave the following statement:
“Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a devastating neurological condition and over one thousand people in the UK are diagnosed with it every year. Charities and campaigners have all highlighted the need for more funding for research into finding a cure.
“In November last year, the Government announced an investment of £50m into targeted MND research over the next five years, but there is an urgent need for greater clarity on how researchers will access that funding, and so I am pleased to have secured a Westminster Hall debate so that those questions can and will be asked. People living with MND, and their families, will want to know the answers.”
Read the transcript on Hansard
Watch the debate
During the debate, Minister for Social Care Helen Whately MP responded on behalf of the Government. Her response included:
"In the absence of a cure, we want to make sure that people with MND have access to the best health and care support available to meet their complex needs. It is really important for people suffering from MND and their carers to have specialised and targeted support, including devices to help people with MND to be able to continue to communicate effectively for as long as possible, as well as other types of care.
"Yesterday, we announced at the Department of Health and Social Care, together with the Secretary of State for BEIS, how we will deliver the full £50 million research commitment, which will build on our existing investments and successes to more rapidly fund MND research. In that regard, £30 million of Government funding will be invested immediately through specialist research centres and partnerships with leading researchers.
"That will include £12.5 million to the UK Dementia Research Institute to support groundbreaking research specifically into MND, a further £8 million investment into early-phase clinical research for MND via the NIHR biomedical research centres and £6 million for a translational accelerator that connects the DRI capabilities with those of the Francis Crick Institute, the Laboratory of Molecular Biology and the new MND collaborative partnership. We are investing a further £2 million in the MND collaborative partnership, which will specifically focus on data for MND research.
"The remainder of the committed £50 million of MND funding is available for researchers to access via the NIHR and the Medical Research Council. Government will support researchers in coming forward with ideas for new research via a joint highlight notice between NIHR and the Medical Research Council on MND."
- Read the full Government response on Hansard
- Press release including details of funding package: 'Government delivers on pledge for £50 million motor neurone disease research funding'
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