Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to support scientific research into stem cell transplantation.

A wide range of research relating to stem cell transplantation is supported by the Department through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The translation of scientific advances to the clinic is supported through NIHR Biomedical Research Centres and Units, clinical research facilities and experimental cancer medicine centres (funded jointly with Cancer Research UK). The NIHR clinical research network supports the coordination of clinical trials including any involving stem cell transplantation. NHS Blood and Transplant are directly involved in a number of research projects and provide an essential part of the necessary infrastructure supporting research in this field. NHS England supports the important role of innovation and research in transforming the quality of services.