Medicine: Research

(asked on 7th July 2015) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the case for a global fund to support research into antibiotics, Ebola and other neglected diseases.


This question was answered on 20th July 2015

The global funding of research and development of new antibiotics is part of the Independent review announced by the Prime Minister in June 2014 and chaired by Lord O’Neill of Gatley. The review is analysing the economics underlying all stages of the research and development of new antimicrobials and will propose concrete actions to tackle these internationally. The final recommendations from the review will be published in summer 2016.

There are now 15 vaccines under development for Ebola across the world. The Department for International Development, in partnership with the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council, has supported the Phase 1 clinical trial of a vaccine candidate, and funded a number of other areas of Ebola research, through the Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises programme.

The United Kingdom is also providing over £10 million annually for research into neglected tropical diseases. This is through a range of initiatives, including development of new treatment and diagnostic products, as well as implementation research. Examples of products resulting from the research in recent years include the first ever rapid diagnostic test and the first new, improved treatment option for sleeping sickness.

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