£800m boost for research into new medical treatments

The money – the largest ever single allocation of Government funds for early-stage medical research – will be spent over the next five years.

It comes from a £4bn fund for medical research announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review. It will be spent on supporting projects aimed at advancing the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, dementia and heart disease.

It includes funding for four new biomedical research units specialising in dementia research through NHS and university partnerships managed by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

Prime Minister David Cameron, said: “This unprecedented investment into the development of innovative medicines and treatments will have a huge impact on the care and services patients receive and help develop the modern, world-class health service patients’ deserve.

“A strong competitive science and research base is a crucial part of securing sustainable economic growth and creating jobs of the future, and we have some of the best scientists and facilities in the world.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: “We want to ensure we can give NHS patients the very best possible treatments and health outcomes.

“To do this we need to give British scientists the means and tools to develop groundbreaking world class health research.”

Sir John Bell, president of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said: “The NHS in England has become one of the best environments in the world for undertaking cutting edge translational research.

Earlier this week, more than 100 of the world’s most senior chemists, including six Nobel laureates, wrote to Mr Cameron to warn of the impact of proposed cuts in funding for scientific research, expected to amount to up to 15 per cent in real terms over the next few years.