Medical research charities report £260 million shortfall due to pandemic

Medical research spending by UK charities has fallen by £260 million since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The shortfall is a result of severe disruption to charities’ fundraising efforts caused by the pandemic.

The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) reports that its members annual investment in research dropped almost 30% from £920 million in 2019 to £620 million in 2021. The figures exclude spending by the Wellcome Trust whose annual expenditure fluctuates due to the timing of large commitments and renewals. Prior to the pandemic, research spending by AMRC members generally increased year on year.