Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase funding for research into innovative advanced therapies and medicines for (a) rheumatoid arthritis and (b) other inflammatory immune-mediated conditions.

The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including innovative advanced therapies and medicines for rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory conditions. 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. Information on individual projects funded by the NIHR can be found at the following link:

https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/

Advanced cellular, molecular and gene therapies will play an increasingly important part in the future of healthcare in the United Kingdom. The Stem Cell Strategic Forum has included advanced therapies in its remit since 2019; it provides high quality clinical and scientific advice to the Department.