Motion: Charity Funding of Medical Research

Charity Funding of Medical Research

Lodged by Miles Briggs (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party) Standard Motion 26 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament recognises the vital role that charities play in funding medical research in Scotland; notes the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on charity fundraising; understands that Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) invested over £146 million in medical research in Scotland in 2019 and that these charities are planning for an average 41% decrease in their research spend next year, which is a shortfall of up to £368 million UK-wide; further understands that it has been estimated that it will take four and a half years before charity spend on research in universities recovers; believes that it is crucial for all medical research in Scotland that the vital role of charity research funding is protected until that time; supports the call from the AMRC and its 151 member medical research charities, including the British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK, for the UK Government to invest in a life sciences charity partnership fund to protect medical research and development capability, and calls on the Scottish Government to urgently support the Scottish medical and life sciences research sector, which it considers contributes to major advances in scientific discovery and patient care, as well as the wealth of the nation.

Supporters (26)