The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) was registered as a charity in 1987 and its purpose formalised as ‘the advancement of medical research in the UK generally, and in particular the advancement of the collective effectiveness of those charities of which a principal activity is medical research’.  

AMRC supports the UK medical research charity sector’s effectiveness and advances medical research by developing best practice, providing information and guidance, improving public dialogue about research and science, and influencing government. And there is nothing, anywhere in the world, to parallel the scale and impact of this sector. With much of their income derived from millions of donations from the general public, charities provide between one third and a half of all public expenditure on medical and health research in this country. 

In order to join the AMRC, charities must demonstrate that they fulfil criteria on the use of peer review for allocating funding, have a research strategy in place, and that they support AMRC position statements on the payment of indirect costs in universities and the use of animals in medical research.

• AMRC is the largest and longest established association of medical research charities anywhere in the world
• In 2007-08 AMRC member charities spent over £800 million on medical and health research in the UK
• 70 per cent of all medical research charity funding goes to support research in universities across the UK
• Medical research charity funding will support the work of over 3,000 scientists in the UK this year
• Each year AMRC trains over 200 people working for its member charities on peer review and issues related to grant funding