When Tom Morrison MP tabled a Written Question (UIN 72045) to the Department for Health and Social Care on “how much funding his Department has allocated for Myalgic encephalomyelitis research in each of the last five years” the long in words but short on figures and specifics from Ashley Dalton MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention did provide an albeit disappointing piece of insight into government thinking (emphasis added by ME Research UK).
The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including post-acute infection conditions such as ME/CFS, and research funding is available. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Welcoming applications on ME/CFS and other post-acute infection conditions to all NIHR programmes enables maximum flexibility both in terms of the amount of research funding a particular area can be awarded, and the type of research which can be funded. Establishing a research hub for ME/CFS would not provide the same level of flexibility. The NIHR Academy offers extensive support for early-career researchers through various fellowships, training awards, and mentoring structures. For instance, through the INSIGHT Programme, they work with universities to fund research masters studentships and attract students into research. Through Academic Clinical Fellowships, for doctors and dentists, and Predoctoral Academic Fellowships, for other health professionals, the NIHR Academy supports healthcare practitioners in integrating research with clinical practice.
Parliamentary answers have proven to be reliable early indicators of the government’s intensions in the past – especially when trailing the approach to be taken in the ME/CFS Delivery Plan. The Under-Secretary of State may have signalled that the charity, patient and researcher backed ‘ME/CFS and Post-Infectious Disease Research Platform’ proposal has not been looked upon favourably. Many of the areas it contained being shown in the quote to be (supposedly) available elsewhere within existing structures.
