On the 23 June 2016, the UK voted to leave the European Union. This represented one of the most profound challenges to the medical research sector in living memory, and the Academy worked with the UK Government, devolved administrations and the wider research community to identify and undertake the bold actions needed to preserve the UK’s world-leading research environment.
Explore our work between 2016 and 2021 through the following tabs. For our ongoing work on relationships with the EU please see European policy work.
Prior to the referendum, the Academy sought to inform debate around the benefits and challenges of EU membership for UK research.
- In November 2015, the Academy submitted written evidence to the House of Lords’ Science and Technology Committee on how the UK's EU membership influences science and the scientific community in the UK.
- In January 2016 our President provided oral evidence to the House of Lords Science & Technology Committee inquiry on the impact of EU membership on research.
- In February 2016 we submitted written evidence to the House of Commons Science & Technology Committee inquiry on the impact of EU regulation on UK life sciences.
- Issuing a statement highlighting the mobility, collaborative, funding and regulatory implications for research associated with a possible departure from the EU.
Following the referendum, the Academy outlined our positions on a range of issues relating to Brexit through a range of quick-response statements and letters. For our more in-depth analysis please see our 'Reports and evidence' tab.
- In 2017 we published key reports on the role of EU funding in UK research and innovation and the benefits of UK-EU collaboration in medical research.
- In September 2017 the President responded to the Government's Future Partnership paper on Collaboration on science and innovation.
- In December 2017 the President welcomed progress on citizens’ rights and the confirmation that the UK will continue to participate in Horizon 2020 until its conclusion.
- From 2018 the Academy President at the time, Professor Sir Robert Lechler, sat on the Minister's high level stakeholder working group on EU exit universities, research and innovation.
- In 2018 the Academy hosted a discussion meeting with Pascal Lamy, Chair of the High Level Group on maximising the impact of EU Research & Innovation Programmes.
- In February 2018, the Academy's Treasurer Professor Anne Dell FMedSci gave evidence to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee Brexit Summit. Professor Dell highlighted the impacts of leaving the EU on the regulation of biomedical research. The Academy's written response to this inquiry is available on our website.
- In March 2018, the President wrote to all Fellows outlining the Academy's priorities for Brexit and how we are working to ensure that these are prioritised during the negotitaions.
- In May 2018 the Academy signed a Future Partnership Project statement.
- In September 2018 the President responded to the Migration Advisory Committee report on EEA migration.
- In October 2018, the Academy published a statement on the implications of leaving the EU without a deal.The President stressed these risks in an interview with BBC Radio 4's PM on Monday 1 October.
- In October 2018 the Academy President welcomed a statement from the Federation of European Academies of Medicine on the importance of the UK to European research and the need to safeguard this relationship post Brexit.
- In November 2018 the Presidents of all four UK National Academies wrote to the Home Sectretary outlining the importance of international mobility for research and innovation and the dangers of a £30,000 salary threshold.
- In January 2019 the President responded to the vote on the Prime Minister's Brexit deal.
- In January 2019 the President wrote to all Fellows outlining the Academy's activities to ensure science and research is prioritised and protected as the UK leaves the EU.
- In March 2019 the President responded to the vote to reject the Prime Minister's Withdrawal Agreement.
- In June 2019 the Academy warned of the dangers of a no-deal Brexit in a letter to The Times.
- In June 2019 the Presidents of all four UK national Academies wrote again to the Home Secretary re-stating why a £30,000 salary threshold would be bad for research and innovation.
- In December 2019 the Academy President wrote to the Prime Minister outlining the Academy's priorities for the next Parliament, including association to Horizon Europe.
- In January 2020 following the agreement of a Brexit deal, the Academy's President responded to the outline of the new UK-EU relationship and what needs to happen next.
- In January 2020 the Academy supported a statement alongside 36 major domestic and European organisations asking governments and the European Commission to ensure a swift agreement on the UK’s full association to Horizon Europe.
- On 31 January 2020, immediately prior to the UK's departure from the EU, the Academy's President took a look forward and found reasons to be hopeful.
The Academy produced a range of reports and written consultation responses on the impact of Brexit on medical research and patients. These can also be found through our Publications page.
- In January 2017 the Academy submitted evidence to the House of Commons Exiting the EU Select Committee inquiry on the UK's negotiating objectives for withdrawal from the EU.
- In January 2017 all four UK National Academies jointly submitted evidence to the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee inquiry into immigration.
- In May 2017 the UK’s four national academies jointly published a report on the role of EU funding in UK research and innovation exploring where EU funding goes, the work it supports and the investment it attracts. Alongside this report we published a set of case studies on particular funding streams, activities and regional support.
- In May 2017 the UK's eight leading UK medical organisations came together to highlight how the UK’s contribution to research throughout the EU has fostered and strengthened scientific co-operation alongside a series of eight case studies detailing specific aspects of the UK’s contribution to EU science and health.
- In May 2017 the UK's four national academies jointly presented survey results showing that working across borders is fundamental to the UK's top researchers. The survey of over 1200 leading UK researchers examined the importance of international collaboration and mobility.
- In October 2017 the Academy submitted evidence to the House of Common's health committee inquiry on medicines and medical devices.
- In November 2017 the Academy submitted evidence on the pharmaceutical industry to the BEIS Committee on Brexit and implications for UK business.
- In February 2018, the Academy's Treasurer gave written and oral evidence to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee Brexit Summit on the impacts of leaving the EU on the regulation of biomedical research.
- In January 2019 the Academy submitted written evidence to the Science and Technology Select Committee's Brexit, Science and Innovation: Preparations for a "no-deal" inquiry.
- In May 2019 the Academy submitted written evidence to the Sir Adrian Smith Review future on frameworks for international collaboration on research and innovation.
The Academy convened an advisory group of Fellows, grant awardees and experts from across the medical research community to support some of our work in this area.
Membership spanned disciplines, regions of the UK, and career stages in order to best reflect the community and capture the broadest possible picture of the impact of Brexit and included a changing group of around 20 representatives with first-hand knowledge of:
- Clinical and non-clinical academic disciplines
- Life science industry
- Regulators
- Early career stages
- And more.