Science budget cuts

Sir, The research and development sector is extremely concerned about the prospect of cuts to the science budget. Deep cuts across R&D investment would have significant negative consequences for the UK’s world-leading R&D sector, putting the brakes on growth and undermining confidence.
Next week’s budget is a critical moment. We recognise that there are difficult decisions to be made with the public finances, but it is vital that R&D’s long-term ability to grow the economy isn’t undermined by the false economy of short-term cuts. Cuts now would lead to the loss of jobs, expertise and momentum right when the sector is needed to make a vital contribution to boosting economic growth and productivity.
We are urging the government to use the budget and spending review to commit itself to continued investment in R&D and signal that the UK is serious about its role in contributing to sustained growth.
Dr Sir Tim Hunt, emeritus group leader, the Francis Crick Institute
Dr Roger Highfield, science director, Science Museum Group
Professor Brian Cox, professor of particle physics, University of Manchester
Dr Alicia Greated, executive director, Campaign for Science and Engineering
Professor Irene Tracey, vice-chancellor, University of Oxford
Dame Kate Bingham, managing partner, SV Health Investors, former head of Vaccine Task Force
Lord Drayson, co-founder and trustee, Drayson Foundation, former Labour science minister
Sir Harpal Kumar, president, International Business & BioPharma Grail Inc
Dr Andrew Garrett, president, Royal Statistical Society
Dr Magdalena Skipper, editor in chief, Nature
Professor Sarah Harper, director of the Oxford Institute of Ageing, University of Oxford
Professor Bart De Strooper, professor of Alzheimer’s Disease, University College London
Professor Matthew Freeman, Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford
Professor Sir John Hardy, professor of Neuroscience, University College London
Professor Sir Malcolm Grant, former chair, NHS England
Professor Sir Ian Boyd, president, Royal Society of Biology
Dr John-Arne Rottingen, chief executive officer, Wellcome
Professor Dame Linda Partridge, Weldon Professor of Biometry, University College London
Mr Tom Grinyer, group chief executive, Institute of Physics
Dr John Womersley, University of Edinburgh
Professor Chris Day, vice-chancellor, Newcastle University
Nicola Perrin, chief executive, Association of Medical Research Charities
Dr Mark Downs, chief executive, Royal Society of Biology
Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, former president and vice-chancellor, University of Manchester
Professor Jackie Hunter, chief-executive, OI Pharma Partners
Professor John Sinclair, treasurer, Microbiology Society
Mr David Sweeney, professor of research policy, University of Birmingham
Sir Richard Sykes, president, R&D Society, former head of Imperial College London and GSK
Professor David Webb, professor of therapeutics and clinical pharmacology, University of Edinburgh
Professor Andy Schofield, vice-chancellor, Lancaster University
Professor Sir John P Iredale, chair, The Lister Institute for Preventative Medicine
Dr Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group
Professor Sir Menelas N Pangalos, formerly executive vice-president R&D, AstraZeneca
Sharon Todd, chief executive, Society of Chemical Industry
Professor Evelyn Welch, vice-chancellor and president, University of Bristol
Dr Joe Marshall, chief executive officer, National Centre for Universities and Business
Professor Sir Robert Lechler, past president of the Academy of Medical Sciences
Professor Lord Martin Rees, member of the House of Lords and former president of Royal Society
Dr Robin Lovell-Badge, the Francis Crick Institute
Professor Dame Anne Glover, University of Strathclyde
Professor Sir Simon Wessely, Kings College London
Dr John Siddorn, chief executive, National Oceanography Centre
Professor Tara Spires-Jones, director, Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh