Government, charities and the public – through both taxes and donations – invest significant sums of money into medical research each year. Understanding the economic impact of this investment provides accountability, helps secure this investment over the long term and increases our understanding of how research is effectively translated into health improvements.
Working with RAND Europe and the Health Economics Research Group at Brunel University London, the Policy Institute carried out peer-reviewed research estimating the economic returns generated by public and charitable investment in UK medical research.
This research looks at the returns from research into musculoskeletal conditions, cancer, cardiovascular and mental health research.
The key finding from this work is that every £1 invested in medical research delivers a return equivalent to around 25p every year, for ever.
Read the reports