Cancer research 'could stall', says charity

A leading cancer charity has warned that research into the disease in the UK could "stall or fall behind" other countries if government funding is not boosted.

Cancer Research UK, which has just announced a £173m investment in its Cambridge Institute, said current UK government funding equates to £3.60 per head, compared to £9.70 in Norway and £19.70 in the US.

Shaun Walsh, head of public affairs for the charity, said the government and medical charities needed to work together to fund research.

The government said it was determined to "combine the care of the NHS and the genius of our country’s leading scientific minds, to develop life-changing treatments for patients and save lives".

Cancer Research UK spent £400m on research last year, and in the UK the majority of cancer research is funded by charities rather than government.

Mr Walsh said: "The government contribution to cancer research is much less than in other nations. Relying on voluntary donations is not a sustainable model.

"We are asking the government to think about a partnership approach - bringing together medical charities, like Cancer Research UK, the private sector and investors for the longer term."

He said he hoped the new Labour government would look at this in its budget and industrial strategy.

Mr Walsh added that if state support lagged behind charity donations the "potential impact is we stall or fall behind".

Prof Dylan Edward, of the Big C Cancer Charity in Norwich, which over the last 12 years has donated £12m for research, said: "It would be nice to see the government doing more and doing more match-funding where cancer research is needed.

"I think there is a tendency for governments to see that certain sectors are well-catered for by charitable areas and so they back away and put resources in other areas."

Norfolk teacher Tom Chapman, who had testicular cancer and now raises funds for the It's On the Ball charity, said: "There's not a lot of testicular cancer research going on - a small amount from Cancer Research UK - but definitely more is needed.

"I think there needs to be more funding from government."

A Department of Health spokesman said: "This pioneering new research centre highlights the vital role that Cancer Research UK and other charities play in funding exciting medical research.

"This government is determined to combine the care of the NHS and the genius of our country’s leading scientific minds, to develop lifechanging treatments for patients and save lives."

Mid Norfolk's Conservative MP George Freeman, who served as science minister between 2022 and 2023, said: "I took the total research and development spending to £20m and we also spend through the Medical Research Council (£600m) and the National Institute of Health Research (£1.4bn).

"The UK is blessed with a strong medical sector. I think there is a danger that government funding banks that (charity donated research funds) and takes that for granted."

BBC Politics East will be broadcast on Sunday, 20 October at 10:00 BST on BBC One in the East of England, and will be available after broadcast on the BBC iPlayer.