Published: 18 July 2024

AMRC has today published Bolstering charity–university research partnerships, a briefing calling on the Government to provide increased support for the Charity Research Support Fund (CRSF).

Most grants funded by AMRC charities are awarded to the UK’s world-class universities. These grants cover the direct costs of research – in line with the charities’ mission and the wishes of their donors. Beyond these costs charities make strategic investments in university research infrastructure. This includes vital investment in research centres and institutes, training programmes, facilities and equipment, and assets such as data registries. Examples are highlighted in our new spotlight report.

In recognition of charities’ substantial contributions to research in universities, the Government provides support through the CRSF to cover some of the indirect costs of research. These are diverse, ranging from administration overheads to library services. 

But the CRSF has never reached the amount that was initially committed when it was established almost two decades ago, and it has not kept pace with charity investment. This makes it harder for universities to accept charity grants and threatens the sustainability of charity-university research. Government must increase the CRSF so that it keeps pace with charitable funding and secures 80% full economic cost recovery.

Nicola Perrin, CEO of AMRC said:

“Without the Government's long-term commitment to the CRSF, the charity sector’s funding for research will not go as far. Progress at crucial stages of the research pipeline would slow, research into many rare diseases and underfunded conditions would decrease, and patients would miss out on life-saving innovations.

Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation, said:

"The British Heart Foundation funds over £100m of new research every year, with the majority of this taking place at universities."

"The Charity Research Support Fund (CRSF) is an essential partnership between charities, Government and universities that enables research to thrive. But the fund hasn’t kept pace with rising charity investment or the increased cost of research due to inflation, threatening the viability of charity-funded research at universities.

"Increased investment in research and development will be crucial to achieve the new Government’s ambitions of unlocking economic growth with a thriving life sciences economy. We hope that Government will back the AMRC’s proposals, to support universities and protect the future of charity-funded research in the UK."

Professor Kristian Helin, Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said:

"We’re hugely grateful that so many people generously donate to support research each year that helps improve and save lives from cancer and many other health conditions. Charity funding is vital to the UK's medical research ecosystem but it’s not currently financially sustainable for universities and research institutes to receive large amounts of charity grants because they do not cover the indirect costs of the research – such as maintaining labs and energy bills."

"The Charity Research Support Fund is a vital contribution by Government that helps to cover the shortfall in charity grant funding but it has stagnated for many years, which can mean research institutions have significant funding gaps. We need the Government to uplift the Charity Research Support Fund to ensure the long-term sustainability of university research."

The briefing and report are part of a new 'Manifesto in focus’ series that expands on some of the topics covered in our manifesto. 

Visit our Election Hub to find out more.