Government funding of up to £775m has been earmarked for “translational” medical research aimed at taking new discoveries from the lab bench to the hospital bed.

The package is part of a £4bn investment in research and development up to March 2015.

It will be made available over the next five years to NHS/university partnerships through the National Institute for Health Research.

Applicants are encouraged to focus on improving health outcomes in areas such as dementia, cancer and heart disease.

Health secretary Andrew Lansley said: “We want to give NHS patients the best possible treatment. To do that we need to give British researchers the tools they need to develop new world-class treatments and innovations for NHS patients.

“That’s why, as part of our £4bn investment in R&D, we are making up to £775m available for translational research. This investment is vital to achieving our goal of making the NHS a world-leading healthcare system.

“This funding is the largest ever to be made available for translational research infrastructure that is dedicated to deliver benefits to NHS patients.”

Prime minister David Cameron said: “A strong science and research base is crucial to help secure sustainable economic growth, helping to rebalance the economy and create the jobs of the future, which is why despite tough spending decisions we have protected its funding.

“We have some of the best scientists and facilities in the world and today’s announcement will help ensure we continue to be at the cutting edge of life sciences.”

Previous examples of translational research health projects include stem cell treatments for blindness caused by age-related macular degeneration, diagnosing autism with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the development of a new blood test for Alzheimer’s disease, and appetite-regulating obesity treatments.

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