Stem Cells: Research

Ann Winterton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what grants were made by the Government for research into the development of treatment using (a) embryonic stem cells and (b) stem cells from umbilical cords and other adult stem cells in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint
The funding for stem cell research from the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Department of Trade and Industry's technology programme for the past five years is shown in the following table:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|       |MRC              |Department of Trade and Industry technology programme|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|2002-03|£4.5 million     |£0.00                                                |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|2003-04|£14.5 million    |£0.00                                                |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|2004-05|£14.2 million    |£5 million                                           |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|2005-06|Not yet available|£500,000                                             |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|2006-07|Not yet available|£3.6 million                                         |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Information on the type of stem cells used in such research is not held centrally and some projects include stem cells from a variety of sources. However, the MRC advised that, in the year 2004-05, 40 per cent. of its research funding was for research on adult stem cells.