How we work

Wellcome's purpose is improving health by helping great ideas to thrive. We do this in four ways.

We have a new vision and strategy

Wellcome’s new vision is to support science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone.

We’re supporting discovery research into life, health and wellbeing, and we’re taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, global heating and infectious diseases.

More detailed information about these programmes of work will be available in 2021.

Read more about our new vision and strategy. 

We support researchers 

We directly fund thousands of scientists and researchers around the world at every step of the way from discovery to impact. Our funding schemes offer grants across biomedical science, population health, medical innovation, humanities and social science, and public engagement.

Africa and Asia

Developing strong research ecosystems to improve millions of lives

We take on big health challenges 

We identify areas in which Wellcome can lead significant change, aiming to transform the global response to some of today’s biggest health challenges.

Mental health

Leading a new approach to drive science forward and improve people’s lives

We campaign for better science 

Through partnerships across the world, we advocate to ensure that good research is well supported, and that health is improved by changes to policies and practices based on evidence.

We help everyone get involved 

We engage the public so that people are more aware of science and health research, and feel able to make the most of it in their own lives.