Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the UK will participate in EU-led clinical trials for personalised medicines for the treatment of rare diseases.

The Department funds research into rare diseases through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

The NIHR does not limit the type of research taking place in the United Kingdom and welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health. 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.

Whether UK-based researchers participate in any particular clinical trial is a decision made by researchers themselves, depending on the subject matter of the proposed study and the expertise required to undertake the research.