asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 22 May (WA 90), to what period of time the figures given for investment in stem cell research via the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) related; what are the totals invested by the BBSRC and the MRC to date in (a) adult, and (b) human embryonic stem cell research; and who have been the main beneficiaries of this funding. [HL4076]
The figures for investment in stem cell research via the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) circulated in the Written Answer by Lord Hunt relate to the period from 2002-03 to 2005-06.
The total invested in stem cell research by BBSRC and MRC to date is £74.12 million. See table below for details of spend for adult and embryonic stem cell research, where this can be separately identified.
2002-03 £ (m) 2003-04 £ (m) 2004-05 £ (m) 2005-06 £ (m) Adult stem cell £(m) Human embryonic stem cell £ (m) Remarks BBSRC 3.55 4.77 7.09 8.21 3.74* 1.99* * only for 2005-06 MRC 4.50 14.50 14.10 17.40 14.73* 16.55* * only for 2004-05 to 2005-06
The main beneficiaries of BBSRC and MRC were the UK science base, including UK universities and research council institutes, and teaching and medical schools.