Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding there has been from the public purse for research into treatment of (a) Crohn's disease and (b) ulcerative colitis in the last five years.

The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including Crohn’s disease. It is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or 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.

The NIHR’s support for Crohn’s disease research over the last five years includes £18.2 million funding for research projects, and £10.8 million funding for clinical trials and other high quality studies supported through the NIHR Clinical Research Network.

Summary of NIHR funding for research on Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis is attached.