UK House of Commons Written Questions and Answers: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: research: Written question – 221619, & 221620. 22 February 2019.
Question 1: Asked by Sharon Hodgson (MP Washington & Sunderland) 14 February 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many grant applications have been made to the Medical Research Council for ME/CFS related research since 2010; how many of those applications have been awarded funding; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Skidmore (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care), 22 Feb 2019
Since 2009/10, the Medical Research Council (MRC) has received 32 research proposals relating to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), seven of which have been funded.
The MRC supports research in response to proposals from the research community. High quality applications on any aspect of human health are always welcomed and awards are made according to their scientific quality and importance to human health.
Question 2: Asked by Sharon Hodgson (MP Washington & Sunderland) 14 February 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding his Department has allocated to ME/CFS for (a) biopsychological and (b) biopsychosocial research in each year since 2010; and if he will make a statement. [221620]
Answered by Caroline Dineage (Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Care), 22 Feb 2019
We do not hold the information requested on funding for myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) research according to biopsychological, biopsychosocial and biomedical research.
The following table shows information provided by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) on Departmental programme research funding for ME/CFS, per year, since financial year 2010-11. Further information on this research is available through the NIHR Journals Library at the following link: https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/
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Financial Year Pounds
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2010-11 189,438
2011-12 381,874
2012-13 501,461
2013-14 561,950
2014-15 426,055
2015-16 475,676
2016-17 554,785
2017-18 464,902
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The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including ME/CFS; 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.
