Wellcome Trust

The Wellcome Trust is the UK's largest biomedical research charity, contributing over £600 million each year to research and activities that improve human and animal health.

It provides funding for basic and clinical biomedical research, biomedical ethics, the history of medicine and technology.

Substantial funding is also devoted global health research, both in the UK and in developing countries. Capacity-building in Africa is a particular focus area.   

The Chief Executive, Sir Mark Walport, sits on the UKCDS board. 

Research

The Trust's Global Health research programme supports research and research capacity building for people in developing and restructuring countries.

Major programmes include:

• Research programmes in Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and Southeast Asia are helping combat tropical diseases.
• The Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies is tackling the most pressing population and reproductive health issues in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly HIV/AIDS.
• The African Institutions Initiative is funding seven African-led international consortia - involving over 50 scientific institutions from 18 African countries - to strengthen research capacity and develop scientific leadership for the region.
• The India aIlliance supports a range of research fellowships for medically qualified or science graduates in India.

Funding

The Wellcome Trust funds over 4000 scientists in the UK and overseas through research grants, personal awards and long-term programmes.

International funding is provided to researchers working in the areas of public health and tropical medicine.

Fellowships and personal awards

• Public health and tropical medicine fellowships- specific support for researchers in developing countries.
• Biomedical Research Careers Programme for India - for outstanding medically qualified or science graduates across the full spectrum of biomedical research.

Research Support

• Investigator Awards - funding for world-class researchers with a compelling long-term vision for their research
• Fellowships - funding outstanding individuals at all stages of their career
• Strategic Awards - supporting ambitious, large-scale initiatives or research programmes that address Wellcome Trust's five research challenges

Grants for equipment, technology transfer, specific veterinary research and international engagement are also offered.

Researchers in developing countries can apply for grants in collaboration with researchers in the UK/Republic of Ireland.

More information at http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Types-of-funding/index.htm