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Antibiotics: Research

Volume 470: debated on Wednesday 23 January 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many grants were awarded to UK universities for antibiotic-related research in each of the last five years. (179603)

In the five year period from 2002-03 to 2006-07 the Department’s national research and development programmes funded some 21 awards to UK universities for antibiotic related research.

Implementation of the Department’s research strategy Best Research for Best Health is resulting in an expansion of our research programmes and in significant new funding opportunities for health research. The Liverpool Biomedical Research Centre, formed last year, will for example undertake research on microbial diseases for which a five year centrally funded budget of some £11.7 million has been approved. The infection research themes being pursued by other biomedical research centres will also include research on antibiotics.

The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government supports medical and clinical research. The MRC is an independent body that receives its grant-in-aid from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

The MRC awarded 15 grants and fellowships to universities for antibiotic related research in the five years from 2002-03.