Just one pot of cash

Your report "Bypass fear for clinical funding" (July 16) gave the misleading impression that the Medical Research Council has separate pots of money for "clinical" and "other" research, and that we will be forced to plunder the latter to meet the aims of the new joint MRC-Department of Health Delivery Group.

For nearly a century, our research has been key to delivering our mission to improve human health. Good medical research relies on the seamless blend of basic, clinical and population approaches. The MRC therefore invests in relevant biomedical science, from molecular and cellular research through to clinical trials.

The MRC continues to face tough decisions about funding across the whole portfolio. Drawing on high-quality peer-review, and setting strategic priorities through advice from our many stakeholders, including the research community and the health departments, we aim to continue to fund the highest quality science to benefit public health.

Colin Blakemore
Chief Executive, MRC