§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, pursuant to her reply to the hon. Member for Huddersfield, West on 8th November 1976, she will make a further statement on the policy of the Medical Research Council on support for research into migraine.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe Medical Research Council is fully aware of the problems experienced by migraine sufferers and considers that it can best contribute to knowledge in the field of research into migraine, for which there is no precise definition, by continued concentration on the physiology and pharmacology of the cerebral circulation. The council is also supporting studies of monamines, prostaglandins and vascular reactivity which, while not specific to migraine, may well yield valuable information in relation to the condition. In the absence of any new leads, the council sees little prospect of taking further scientific initiative itself but it will keep the situation under review. It welcomes and will give sympathetic consideration to applications for support for research relating to migraine. It is represented at meetings of the Migraine Trust's Medical Advisory Council.