Highlights

UKRI strategy will keep UK at forefront of research and innovation UKRI’s first five-year strategy outlines how the organisation will support the UK’s world class research and innovation system, fuel an innovation-led economy and society and drive up prosperity across the UK The strategy sets out how UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will invest in people, places and ideas and…

This week saw the publication of “Genome UK: shared commitments for UK wide implementation 2022 to 2025” which sets out ambitions to offer patients across the UK faster cancer diagnosis and innovative novel treatments. Agreed by the UK Government and all devolved administrations, these aims are to be achieved through commitments to improve genomic testing and provide greater access to…

The Government have released a paper detailing their findings based on engagement with ICP-interested stakeholders in advance of ICPs receiving a statutory footing in July of this year. The engagement process informed how DHSC, NHS England and the Local Government Association guide and support the development of ICPs before their official implementation. The document intends to act as a guide…

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak delivered the Spring Statement to MPs and the public on Wednesday 23 March. As a background to the announcements, UK inflation has hit 6.2% and families face the worst real-terms income squeeze in 50 years. With the cost of living soaring in the UK, Mr Sunak announced a rise in the threshold of National…

Funding from the Government to the support provided to Horizon Europe launched in November 2021 will be extended, it was announced this week. This guarantee comes as efforts continue for the UK’s association to the large-scale research programme to be formalised. The funding will now be in place for awards expected to be signed by the end of December 2022.…

New national role for former CQC chief inspector The former chief inspector of hospitals at the Care Quality Commission has been appointed chair of the UK National Screening Committee. Sir Mike Richards, who ran the Care Quality Commission’s acute inspectorate from 2013 to 2017, will take up the new role later this month for a three-year term Sir Mike led…

The Government has pledged to increase the UK’s R&D budget to £39.8 billion for 2022-25, the largest number in history. This funding has been allocated across the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and is intended to cement the UK’s place as a global science superpower. It is also hoped that this increased investment will spark even greater…