4.8 billion invested to support UK health research – report

A report, published today, detailed the level of funding invested in UK health research. 

Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) contributed research funding data to this analysis which is the fourth in the UK Health Research Analysis reporting series; a UK-wide analysis of public and charity funded health relevant research in 2018.

Health-relevant research in the UK has had ten years of relatively level funding across the public and charity sectors, showing stable funding for many diseases or conditions. 

The report does show, however, that areas relevant to meningitis have received a funding boost over time. 
The largest growth has been in the area of infections research (+4.5% since 2004), a steady upward trend across the 14-year reporting period as funders begin to address the challenges of antimicrobial resistance. 
Prevention research has also received an increased proportion of total health research expenditure (+3.4%, real term increase of £120m since 2004).

Research into detection, diagnosis and treatment also received £548 million more funding since 2004.
Elizabeth Rodgers,  Research Officer at MRF said; “MRF welcomes this analysis which shows that more priority is being placed on areas of research which could help defeat meningitis and septicaemia.  We hope that this increased funding leads to better prevention, diagnosis, and more effective antibiotics to treat these deadly diseases.”