The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). In 2020, the NIHR and the Medical Research Council, through UK Research and Innovation, came together to fund the world\u2019s largest genome-wide association study of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), sometimes referred to as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). This £3.2 million study, \u2018DecodeME\u2019, will analyse samples from 20,000 people with ME/CFS to search for genetic differences that may indicate underlying causes or an increased risk of developing the condition. DecodeME is a partnership between biomedical scientists at the University of Edinburgh and ME/CFS charities and people with lived experience of ME/CFS. It is hoped that the outcomes of this study will aid the development of diagnostic tests and targeted treatments.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4362", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Edward Argar"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Charnwood"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Edward Argar"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-01-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-01-26T09:48:36.61Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2021-01-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase biomedical research on the causes and treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis in the UK.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4621", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Darren Jones"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bristol North West"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Darren Jones"} ], "uin" : "134061"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1221575", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1221575/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The following table shows how much Government funding was allocated to biomedical research into myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) for financial years 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20.<\/p>
Financial Year<\/p><\/td> | £<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017-18<\/p><\/td> | 226,470<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018-19<\/p><\/td> | 396,467<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019-20<\/p><\/td> | 443,719<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> In addition to the funding set out above, the National Institute for Health Research, funded through the Department, and the Medical Research Council have recently announced a £3.2 million award to fund research into potential genetic connections to ME/CFS. The project will analyse samples from 20,000 people with ME/CFS to search for genetic differences that may indicate underlying causes or increase the risk of developing the condition.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4527", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Helen Whately"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Faversham and Mid Kent"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Helen Whately"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-07-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-07-23T17:08:44.34Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-07-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much Government funding was allocated to biomedical research into myalgic encephalomyelitis in the financial years (a) 2017-18, (b) 2018-19 and (c) 2019-20.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/103", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Paul Beresford"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mole Valley"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Paul Beresford"} ], "uin" : "70282"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1174940", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1174940/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Between 2010-11 to 2018-19, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the UK Research Innovation have funded £6,976,001 of research on myalgic encephalomyelitis, also referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).<\/p> While funding fluctuates in response to projects funded, spend on ME/CFS has remained stable in recent years, ranging from around £700-850,000. Given that funding has remained stable, no assessment has been made about the impact of change in the level of research funding.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-02-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "10461"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-02-10T10:26:28.167Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much money from the public purse has been allocated to funding research on myalgic encephalomyelitis since 2010.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4653", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stephen Morgan"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Portsmouth South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Stephen Morgan"} ], "uin" : "10460"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1174944", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1174944/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Between 2010-11 to 2018-19, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the UK Research Innovation have funded £6,976,001 of research on myalgic encephalomyelitis, also referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).<\/p> While funding fluctuates in response to projects funded, spend on ME/CFS has remained stable in recent years, ranging from around £700-850,000. Given that funding has remained stable, no assessment has been made about the impact of change in the level of research funding.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-02-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "10460"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-02-10T10:26:28.227Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the effect of recent changes in the level of funding for research into myalgic encephalomyelitis on clinical understanding of that condition.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4653", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stephen Morgan"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Portsmouth South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Stephen Morgan"} ], "uin" : "10461"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1109504", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1109504/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Department for Health and Social Care funds research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The Government also supports research relating to myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) through the Medical Research Council (MRC), part of the Department for Business, Environment and Industrial Strategy partner organisation, UK Research and Innovation. Both the NIHR and the MRC welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including ME; it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications to the NIHR and the MRC are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.<\/p> <\/p> Research into chronic fatigue syndrome CFS/ME is an area of strategic importance for the MRC and the only medical condition for which the MRC has a dedicated Highlight Notice which identifies areas where proposals are particularly encouraged. These include proposals which have a focus on the underpinning mechanisms of ME/CFS, with priority areas including immune dysregulation; pain; improved sub-phenotyping and stratification of ME/CFS; and mechanisms of ME/CFS in children and young people.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-04-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-04-08T15:29:48.493Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-04-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he make an assessment of the potential merits of ring-fencing funding for high-quality ME research as the Government has done for dementia and brain cancer.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3976", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Williamson"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Derby North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chris Williamson"} ], "uin" : "240545"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1091289", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1091289/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " I refer my rt. hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for North West Norfolk on 20th March 2019 to Question 231931<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4021", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Skidmore"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingswood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Skidmore"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-28T16:59:08.317Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of ring-fencing Medical Research Council funds for biomedical research on myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) in order to ensure that overall research funding for ME is proportional to that spent on research into similarly prevalent health conditions.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4027", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Morgan of Cotes"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Loughborough"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Nicky Morgan"}
], "uin" : "234154"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1088440", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1088440/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Medical Research Council (MRC) is part of the BEIS partner organisation, UK Research and Innovation. The MRC supports research relating to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) in response to high-quality proposals from the research community.<\/p> <\/p> The MRC does not generally ring-fence funding for specific conditions, however CFS/ME is an identified priority area for the MRC. Proposals are particularly encouraged in areas that explore the underpinning mechanisms of CFS/ME (including immune dysregulation), pain, improved sub-phenotyping and stratification of CFS/ME disease, and mechanisms of CFS/ME in children.<\/p> <\/p> All proposals are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made according to their scientific quality and importance to human health.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4021", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Skidmore"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingswood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Skidmore"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-20T11:25:25.853Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of ring-fencing Medical Research Council funds for biomedical research into ME in order to ensure that overall research funding for ME is proportional to that spent on research into similarly prevalent health conditions.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1441", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bellingham"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Norfolk"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Henry Bellingham"}
], "uin" : "231931"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1061134", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1061134/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Since 2009/10, the Medical Research Council (MRC) has received 32 research proposals relating to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), seven of which have been funded.<\/p> <\/p> The MRC supports research in response to proposals from the research community. High quality applications on any aspect of human health are always welcomed and awards are made according to their scientific quality and importance to human health.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4021", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Skidmore"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingswood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Skidmore"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-02-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-02-22T13:02:02.973Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-02-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many grant applications have been made to the Medical Research Council for ME/CFS related research since 2010; how many of those applications have been awarded funding; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1521", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Washington and Sunderland West"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mrs Sharon Hodgson"}
], "uin" : "221619"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1061135", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1061135/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We do not hold the information requested on funding for myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) research according to biopsychological, biopsychosocial and biomedical research.<\/p> The following table shows information provided by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) on Departmental programme research funding for ME/CFS, per year, since financial year 2010-11. Further information on this research is available through the NIHR Journals Library at the following link:<\/p> https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/<\/a><\/p> <\/p>
|