Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his Department's policy is on commissioning research into trigeminal neuralgia.

The Department funds research mainly through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The usual practice of the NIHR and other research funders is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including on trigeminal neuralgia.

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 amount of NIHR funding in a disease area therefore depends on the quality and volume of scientific activity.

The NIHR Clinical Research Network is available to support the set-up and timely delivery of commercial and non-commercial studies and trials in England which would include studies on trigeminal neuralgia. The NIHR has previously funded research projects on chronic facial pain as part of the range of NIHR training schemes that support future research leaders and would welcome further applications for training awards based on research on trigeminal neuralgia.