Breakthroughs in medical research can be life changing for so many people and I am proud that Britain is a world leader in this field.
The Government has a strong record on backing great British science and protected the science budget in cash terms through the last Parliament and again this year while having to take difficult decisions to reduce spending in other areas.
While future decisions on the science budget are for the Spending Review, I welcome the ambitious plans already set out to invest £6.9 billion in the UK's scientific infrastructure up to 2021. The investment in new capital is on a record scale and will mean new equipment, new laboratories and new research institutes. This long-term plan for science capital will be vital to ensuring the science base continues to support the economy and helps meet the grand challenges our country faces - in medical research and other areas.
These are exciting times for science and I share the ambition to ensure our science and research base continue to lead the world.