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<p>The Department funds research mainly through the National Institute for Health
Research (NIHR). The Medical Research Council (MRC), an independent research funding
body which receives its grant in aid from the Department for Business, Energy and
Industrial Strategy also funds medical research.</p><p> </p><p>The usual practice
of the NIHR and of the MRC is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular
topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. Applications
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> </p><p>The MRC currently spends approximately
£5.3 million per annum on research relating to Motor Neurone Disease (MND). The MRC,
as part of the Network of Centres of Excellence in Neurodegeneration, has recently
made available up to £1 million to support research in the United Kingdom.</p><p>
</p><p>Spend by the NIHR in the Health Research Classification System (HRCS) health
category ‘neurological’ has increased from £29.9 million in 2010/11 to £52.6 million
in 2015/16 (the latest year for which data is available). There are no HRCS health
sub-categories such as for MND or other specific neurological conditions, and information
on total annual NIHR spend on research into treating MND is not held.</p>
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