Wellcome Trust supports Government commitment to UK research

The Wellcome Trust supports the Government’s long-term commitment to the UK’s research base.

Commenting on the announcement Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust, said:

“We welcome the move of the Research Councils to pay 80% of the Full Economic Costs of research and the increased sustainability this will bring to the sector.

“Charities make a vital contribution to the excellence of the research base in the UK.The Wellcome Trust is particularly pleased that this has been explicitly recognised by Government, through the allocation of additional money to the Funding Councils to contribute towards the Full Economic Costs of research funded by charities.

“It is the fundamental belief of the Wellcome Trust that we fund research in UK universities in partnership with Government.We fund the full direct costs of research.In return, we expect additional costs that include the general upkeep or running costs of the basic fabric and support services in universities - including libraries, personnel departments, etc. - to be provided by Government, through university funding.

“Charities have contributed enormously to maintaining the infrastructure of universities providing buildings, laboratories and vital equipment.However, they should be able to decide the nature of their contributions to infrastructure in a manner that best furthers their charitable missions.”

The Wellcome Trust, the UK’s largest biomedical research charity, currently spends £400 million each year with the mission of improving human and animal health.

ENDS

Media contact:

Mark Anderson

020 7611 8612

m.anderson@wellcome.ac.uk

Notes to editor:

1. The Wellcome Trust is an independent research funding charity established in 1936 under the will of the tropical medicine pioneer Sir Henry Wellcome. The Trust’s mission is to foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health and it currently spends over £400 million per annum.