ABSTRACT
Medical research in the UK punches well above its weight in terms of quality of research and volume by investment. In terms of primary care research, the UK has several sources of funding, though mostly in open competition with all other disciplines. Broadly, primary care researchers can apply to government-funded bodies, charities or industry to support their research. The Medical Research Council (MRC) also receives government funding but from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills via Research Councils UK rather than the Department of Health. The MRC provides substantial funding for individual researchers through its fellowship programme and for research projects and programmes through its system of grants. Industry also has a limited place in funding primary care research, and pharmaceutical companies have had a significant role in funding studies, particularly clinical trials of their products, for many years.
