Medical charities have stepped up their lobbying of the government urging ministers to commit to extra funding to safeguard medical research finance amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Association of Medical Research Charities is calling on its members to write to Boris Johnson to warn of a drop of resaearch funding due to income falls among medical charities during the health crisis.
Charities funding medical research estimate a 41% fall in their research spend over the next year.
The letter has been made available online by the AMRC for charities to sign.
It states: “At a time where medical research is most needed, charities are facing unprecedented falls in income due to COVID-19. Funding from Government is urgently needed to support charities to continue life-saving research and improve lives.
“COVID-19 has had an immediate and devastating impact on medical research charities.”
The letter adds: “Research stopped or paused today won’t be able to jump start when the crisis is over.
"Charities have been left with no option but to make drastic cuts to their research funding as their income drops. Funding which could have saved or improved lives.
"That’s why we’re urgently calling for Government to commit funding to help protect the future of charity research through the pandemic and as we recover.”
The campaign is being promoted on social media via the #ResearchAtRisk hashtag.
#COVID19 has put charity-funded #ResearchAtRisk. We need your help calling on @BorisJohnson to help protect it. Just click on this link (https://t.co/BlFwsVwDMK) and fill in your email address to send a ready-drafted email to the Prime Minister today. pic.twitter.com/08X0LS2s7k
— AMRC (@AMRC) January 11, 2021
Among charities backing the campaign is he Tuberous Sclerosis Association, which adds that “Covid-19 has forced charities to make drastic cuts to research”.
We stand with @AMRC members for UK Government support to protect charity research. Covid-19 has forced charities to make drastic cuts to research - research that may save or improve lives. Add your signature to the letter to provide vital research funding: https://t.co/AOtlhiUv46 pic.twitter.com/yERLwN148y
— Tuberous Sclerosis Association (@UKTSA) January 11, 2021
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