Our vision

Our vision is to achieve extraordinary improvements in human and animal health. In pursuit of this, we support the brightest minds in biomedical research and the medical humanities.

We focus on three key areas of activity, reaching across five major research challenges.

Focus areas

Our funding focuses on supporting outstanding researchers, accelerating the application of research and exploring medicine in historical and cultural contexts.

Outstanding researchers

We believe passionately that breakthroughs emerge when the most talented researchers are given the resources and freedom they need to pursue their goals. Read more

Application of research

We are committed to maximising the application of research to improve health by focusing on new product development and the uptake of patient-oriented research advances into clinical practice. Read more

Medicine in culture

We strive to embed biomedical science in the historical and cultural landscape, so that it is valued and there is mutual trust between researchers and the wider public. Read more

Research challenges

Our five major challenges address some of the most pressing and fundamental problems that confront human and animal health.

To tackle these challenges we provide support within the UK and abroad for biological, clinical and translational research, public engagement activities and an exploration of the historical, cultural and ethical issues.

1

Maximising the health benefits of genetics and genomics We fund a wide array of research into how genes affect health and disease, and work to ensure that this knowledge lead to new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent illness. Further information and examples

2

Understanding the brain We support research to improve understanding of how the brain functions and to find improved approaches for treating brain and mental health disorders. Further information and examples

3

Combating infectious disease Finding new ways to prevent and treat the bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases that kill millions of people worldwide every year. Further information and examples 

4

Investigating development, ageing and chronic disease

We aim to develop an integrated understanding of how the body develops, functions and ages, and of the factors that contribute to the onset and development of chronic disease. Further information and examples

5

Connecting environment, nutrition and health Global health is under serious threat from the interlinked issues of access to nutrition, food security and climate change. We foster a multidisciplinary approach to address these problems. Further information and examples

Monitoring our progress

To help inform future strategy and build the evidence base to demonstrate the importance of biomedical research to the economy and wider society, we monitor the outcomes and impacts of our support.

Find out more