Alzheimer's Disease (Hansard, 9 March 1995)

§ Mr. Battle
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list those studies by the Medical Research Council into a genetic risk factor in late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

§ Mr. Horam
The details of the relevant research projects funded by the Medical Research Council are as followsDirect support through MRC's own units: MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Project Title: Understanding pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Indirect support through grants to researchers in higher education institutions: Dr. J. Xuereb and Dr. C. M. Wischik Dept. of Psychiatry, Cambridge university Project title: Cambridge Brain Bank's contribution to clinical/epidemiological studies of dementia and Alzheimer's disease research. Professor D. Brock Dept. of Medicine Edinburgh university Project title: Mutation analysis in Alzheimer's disease Professor P. Lantos and Professor C. D. Marsden Dept. of neuropathology, Institute of Psychiatry London Project title: A London brain bank for research on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease Professor R. Williamson and Dr. M. Rossor Dept. of biochemistry and molecular genetics St. Mary's hospital medical school London Project title: Familial dementias and Alzheimer's disease
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§ Mr. Battle
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much research into the causes and treatment of Alzheimer's disease was funded by the Government in 1993–94; and what is the expected level of expenditure in 1994–95 and 1995–96.

§ Mr. Horam
In the last financial year for which figures are available—1993–94—the Medical Research Council, which receives its funding from my Department, spent £4.5 million on research projects directly related to Alzheimer's disease and a further £5.3 million on projects which may in part have some relevance to the condition.
It is not possible to provide figures for the council's future funding of research proposals as this will depend on the quality and nature of research applications received. However, the council is always willing to discuss and consider sound, scientifically based proposals for research into Alzheimer's disease.
The universities and medical schools may also be funding research into Alzheimer's disease, although this information is not held centrally. The Department of Health does not at present fund research specifically into the treatment of the disease.