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Written question asked by Chris Ruane (Labour) on Tuesday, 27 March 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 16 April 2012. It was answered by Lord Willetts (Conservative) on Monday, 16 April 2012 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Prescription Drugs

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which UK universities and research establishments are working on anti-angiogenesis; and how much funding his Department has provided to such establishments for such research in the latest period for which figures are available.
Answer

Research is ongoing in many UK research institutions to better understand how angiogenesis is controlled, and thereby how it might be prevented. The Department does not hold detailed information on this.The following table shows Medical Research Council (MRC) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) expenditure directly relating to anti-angiogenesis and angiogenesis:

£000
Anti-angiogenesis Angiogenesis
2006/07 350 2,658
2007/08 139 1,524
2008/09 271 2,022
2009/10 304 2,248
2010/11¹ 500 2,000
¹ The expenditure information provided for 2010/11 is provisional and subject to change pending the publication of MRC Annual Report and Accounts. Because of this the values have been rounded down to the nearest £0.25million.

BBSRC supports research on the underpinning biological mechanisms underlying the normal developmental and growth process throughout life. BBSRC funds some research on angiogenesis which is the formation of new blood vessels and is a vital process associated with wound healing, repair of damaged tissue and reproduction. BBSRC's aim is to increase understanding in maintaining the balance and control of angiogenesis in normal healthy tissue.When the balance of control of angiogenesis is disturbed it can mitigate a wide range of diseases such as cancer, diabetic ulcers, cardiovascular disease. Thus, anti-angiogenesis, the prevention of blood vessel formation and growth, is for example, important in slowing down or stopping the growth of tumours and the spread of cancer and falls under the auspices of the MRC and medical charities.The research that the MRC has funded on anti-angiogenesis is being undertaken at:"The University of Edinburgh""The University of Oxford""The University of Manchester""Queen Mary, University of London""Institute of Ophthalmology""University of Leeds"The MRC has also made an award to the Institute of Cancer Research for a project looking at anti-angiogenesis; however there was no expenditure against this project in the five year period 2006/07 to 2010/11.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
102922; 543 c288-9W
Session
2010-12
Subjects
Blood Finance Higher education Prescription drugs Research Science
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk