British Heart FoundationBritish Heart Foundation

Research funding in the current financial climate

Peter WeissbergMedical Director

British Heart Foundation

2008-92008-9

A record charitable spend

of

£118m

BHF Charitable spendBHF Charitable spend

Do we get value for money?

Research Assessment Research Assessment Exercise (UoA 1)Exercise (UoA 1)

• Just over 1500 papers submitted from 13 institutions

• 13% world leading; 44% internationally excellent

• Majority of research funding from research charities

•Two institutions with strong CV research chose not to submit to this panel

Research Assessment Research Assessment ExerciseExercise

• Integration of basic and clinical CV science clearly successful in some, but not all, institutions• Added value of good NHS collaboration and clinical research facilities evident• Being within a genuinely collaborative multidisciplinary environment is advantageous• Evidence that 4 year PhD training programmes are valuable• Longer-term funding (programme grant level or above) correlates well with output quality

BHF SPENDING AND INCOME

£m

BHF income 2006-7 to 2008-9 344

BHF spending 2006-7 to 2008-9 377

Difference 33

Funding challenges 2009Funding challenges 2009

BHF Future ExpenditureBHF Future Expenditure

Good newsWe still have a lot of money to spend

Bad newsWe have less money than we were expecting to spend and an expectant community

BHF Research PrioritiesBHF Research Priorities

Little opportunity for new initiatives

The bar for funding will be higher

Will have to prioritise funding of good research proposals

Value for money

BHF Research PrioritiesBHF Research Priorities

Maintain our traditional funding streams

BHF Research PrioritiesBHF Research Priorities

Maintain our traditional funding streams

Support our Research Centres of Excellence

BHF Research PrioritiesBHF Research Priorities

Maintain our traditional funding streams

Support our Research Centres of Excellence

Support research careers

BHF Research PrioritiesBHF Research Priorities

Maintain our traditional funding streams

Support our Research Centres of Excellence

Support research careers

Maintain balance between clinical and basic research