Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 56
UK translational phage research faces funding gap risking untapped potential
Conclusion
We were disappointed to hear that there is a translational phage research “gap” in the UK. We agree that funding, and especially public funding, should be awarded with care. However, we are concerned that, despite being included in the Government’s AMR strategy, if not properly supported, the potential of phages to deliver therapeutics and commercial outputs will remain untested and untapped. There is a particular danger that translational phage research will be trapped in an impasse where it will miss out on research funding because it has not been able to prove its credibility, because of a lack of previous funding.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government acknowledges manufacturing challenges and points to existing and newly announced capital grant programmes for life sciences manufacturing. NHS England has also committed to consider whether its antimicrobial subscription model may be relevant to phage products and to review criteria if deemed appropriate in the future.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
56
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government · verbatim extract
Acknowledged
As stated above, DHSC works closely with the NIHR and UKRI to monitor the research and clinical trial pipeline for antimicrobials and alternative therapies. DHSC commissions research through NIHR. NIHR does not routinely ringfence funding for specific conditions or research areas but welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including bacteriophages. These 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. In all disease areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity. As outlined in evidence provided to the committee, the Medical Research Council (MRC) received very few applications for phage research in the last decade. However, with the growing interest from the Phage KTN, this inquiry, and the launch of the Centre of Phage Research in Leicester, among other initiatives, there are positive signs for the future of phage research. NIHR focuses on early translational research, clinical research, and applied health and social care research. NIHR and DHSC are working closely with UKRI to explore approaches to improve capacity for phage research in the UK. Through fora such as the AMR funders forum, research funders including the NIHR can explore possible collaborative approaches to research funding for phages.
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