UK could lose Wellcome funding, peers told

The Wellcome Trust has warned that its research funding for UK universities could be at risk if the quality and strength of the British research ecosystem is weakened.

Andrew Welchman, head of neuroscience and mental health at the Wellcome Trust, issued his stark warning to peers at an evidence hearing on research funding at universities held by the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee on 21 May.

Asked whether value for its investments was more important to the charity than supporting British science, Welchman replied: “We are a global funder. We can and we do fund across the globe. For the last period the UK has been a very good place to do research. We get very good value for our investment in the UK.”