A statutory body in the United Kingdom that promotes the balanced development of medical and related biological research, and aims to advance knowledge that will lead to improved health care. It employs its own research staff in more than 40 research establishments. These include the National Institute for Medical Research, the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, and the Clinical Sciences Centre. Grants are provided so that individual scientists can do research which complements the research activities of hospitals and universities. There are several medical charities and foundations – for example, the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, the British Heart Foundation, the Nuffield Laboratories and the Wellcome Trust – which fund and foster medical research.