Rheumatoid Arthritis (Hansard, 6 December 2001)

§ Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The main government agency for research into the causes of and treatments for disease is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its funding via the Department of Trade and Industry. The Department of Health funds research to support policy and the delivery of effective practice in the National Health Service.

The MRC spent approximately £4 million on arthritis research in the year 2000–01. This figure includes work on the causes and treatment of arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammation. This also includes work on musculoskeletal function, such as ankylosing spondylitis, or connective tissue disorders, such as Sjogrens syndrome and lupus, and on pain. Work being carried out at the MRC National Institute for Medical Research may contribute to the development of new drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases; for example, septic shock.

The Department of Health has funded several research projects on rheumatoid arthritis via its NHS research and development programmes. The department is currently funding three such projects: the British rheumatoid outcome study group trial of symptomatic versus aggressive therapy in established rheumatoid arthritis, at the University of Manchester; a randomised controlled trial of different knee prostheses at the University of Dundee; and, the costs and outcome measures of hydrotherapy programmes compared with physiotherapy in children with rheumatoid conditions at University College London.

The department also provides NHS support funding for research commissioned by the research councils and by charities which take place in the NHS. Details of Department of Health-funded resarch and other projects, completed and underway in the NHS, can be found on the National Research Register which is available on the Internet at: http://www.doh.gov.uk/research/nrr.htm.