Budget Raises Concerns Regarding Medical Research

The reaction to the most recent 2021 budget in the medical research and life science sales has been mixed, with many praising the funding being placed in research and development as it pertains to Covid-19, but also raising concerned that charity-funded research may be left out.

The 2021 Budget, unveiled in early March, includes an extra £5m in mRNA manufacturing to create a vaccine library, £22m on a study exploring the effectiveness of the different vaccines available, as well as £28m on increasing vaccine testing and clinical trials for future variants of the virus.

As well as this, a UK-wide “Future Fund: Breakthrough” worth £375m aims to invest in innovative companies in the field of life sciences, as well as clean technology, quantum computing and other major technological research points, so long as they aim to raise at least £20m in funding.

However, at the same time as this, R&D tax credits for small and medium-sized businesses will be capped at £20,000, and charities have raised concerns that there is a lack of support for research funded outside of government grants.

The British Heart Foundation released a statement on the same day the budget was released, raising concerns that charity-funded research, which in the case of heart diseases funds the majority of noncommercial research, was not being supported.

Public health has not received any further investment in this budget outside of the Covid-19 response, which has also been highlighted as a point of concern.

With charities and public health services both being impacted by the continuing circumstances, it remains to be seen whether further investments will be made to help protect vital services.