High Visa Fees Delay Cancer Research in the UK

Cancer Research UK has revealed that soaring visa costs in the UK are deterring top international scientists from taking up job offers, thereby delaying crucial cancer research. The charity claims that immigration costs have risen by 126% since 2019 and are now up to 17 times higher than the average of comparable countries, including France, Australia, the US, and South Korea. As a result, several research projects have been mothballed, including a study in Scotland on immunotherapy treatments for bowel cancer and a study in Manchester on early detection of lung cancer.

Key Takeaways:

• Cancer Research UK has seen a significant increase in visa costs, with the amount paid in fees and surcharges nearly doubling from £477,244 in 2022-23 to £872,044 this year.
• The charity estimates that the money could have been used to train 40 PhD students, highlighting the impact of visa fees on research.
• Several research projects have been delayed or mothballed due to visa costs, including a study on immunotherapy treatments for bowel cancer and a study on early detection of lung cancer.
• A leading researcher turned down a job offer in Manchester to create liquid biopsies for lung cancer detection due to difficulties in bringing his family to the UK.
• Cancer Research UK has seen 12 job offers rejected by international candidates in 2024, with one researcher citing the need to pay over £20,000 for family visa costs.
• A government spokesperson claimed that the £54m Global Talent Fund will enable top researchers to attract top talent, but visa fees remain under review.
• The charity's National Biomarker Centre in Manchester is looking for ways to diagnose cancer more quickly using DNA sequencing data, but has been unable to recruit a bioinformatician due to visa costs.

Statistics:

• Visa costs in the UK have risen by 126% since 2019.
• The average visa cost for international scientists in the US, Australia, France, and South Korea is £5,471, while in the UK it is £6,694 for a five-year skilled worker visa and £5,941 for a five-year global talent visa.
• Cancer Research UK has spent £872,044 on visa fees and surcharges this year, a near doubling from 2022-23.
• The charity estimates that the money could have been used to train 40 PhD students.
• 12 job offers made to international candidates by Cancer Research UK in 2024 were rejected due to visa costs.
• The Global Talent Fund has committed £54m to attracting top researchers, part of a £115m investment in scientific and research talent.

Sources:

• The Observer
• Cancer Research UK
• British Future
• The Guardian
• Science Photo Library
• AFP