Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to support universities affected by the withdrawal of Medical Research Council funding.

Following a review, the Medical Research Council (MRC) is changing how it supports research within its units and centres to maximise impact. New MRC Centres of Research Excellence (CoRE) investments will improve how MRC coalesces the best science, skills, and leadership and focus on the challenges that will transform biomedical and health research. All existing units can seek funding through the MRC CoRE model and/or transition into regular MRC grant funding. MRC continues to engage with unit staff and their host universities to best support them during this transition.