Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merit of funding research into low-dose interleukin 2 treatments for Motor Neurone Disease.

The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including research into treatments such as low-dose interleukin 2. The NIHR does not ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics. In all disease areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity.

The Government is determined to accelerate research to find a cure and develop innovative treatments which will slow or stop motor neurone disease (MND) and improve people’s lives. The Government has committed to make at least £50 million available for MND research over the next five years, ending in March 2027. In 2021/22, NIHR spent £3.8 million on MND research, and UK Research and Innovation, through the Medical Research Council, spent around £10.8 million.