§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds have been allocated and to which projects for research and development on osteoporosis; and if he will make a statement. [119152]
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§ Yvette CooperOur funding for research is provided through a number of routes.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) is the main agency through which we support research on the causes and treatment of disease. The MRC receives most of its income via grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The Department funds research to support policy development in health and social care, and to support effective practice in the National Health Service. The Department also provides NHS support funding for research commissioned by the MRC and charities that takes place in the NHS.
The MRC spent £2.7 million in 1999–2000 on research of direct relevance to osteoporosis. It has a wide portfolio of work ranging from a number of epidemiological studies at the MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit to more basic work on bone density being carried out at a number of other institutions.
The Department is funding the following projects: "A Systematic literature review of technologies for the diagnosis and monitoring of osteoporosis"—Cost: £55,770, and "Treatment of established osteoporosis"—Cost: £77,704.
In addition, the Department of Health provides support for research commissioned by charities and the Medical Research Council that take place in the NHS. Project details of work directly funded by the Department or supported through NHS research and development funding can be found on the National Research Register (NRR). This is available in the Library and most medical libraries on CD Rom, and on the internet: http://www.doh.gov.uk/nrr.htm. The NRR contains many details of projects/trials relating to osteoporosis.
Priorities for departmental research and development support for the development of policy are determined through discussion with policy colleagues, the Departmental Research Committee and Ministers. In the NHS research and development programme, priorities take account of widespread consultation with those using, delivering and managing services, within a framework overseen by the Central Research and Development Committee for the NHS. In all cases, priorities for our budgets reflect analysis of the burden of disease, potential benefits, our priorities, and take account of the responsibilities and work of other funders.