Strengthen evidence base
We fund research that generates the evidence needed to improve intervention strategies and policy, addressing gaps that prevent life-saving tools from reaching the people who need them most.
Infectious Disease
We back science to deliver vaccines and treatments that make a difference where they are needed most.
Through partnerships, advocacy and championing evidence, we drive progress in neglected or stalled areas and work to ensure life-saving innovations reach the communities who need them.
The burden of Dengue in the South Pacific
Credit:
Adrienne Surprenant / Collectif Item © Wellcome
The problem
Infectious diseases are one of the biggest health challenges in the world today. They cause around 9.5 million deaths every year and disrupt daily life across society. But the impact is not equal. The world’s poorest communities face the highest rates of illness and death from infectious diseases – yet often have the least access to innovation and care. These are diseases of inequity, and drug resistance and climate change threatens to make the situation worse.
That’s why we support science to deliver vaccines and treatments that make a difference where they’re needed most – focusing on the people and places most affected and driving progress in neglected or stalled areas.
Our goals
Accelerate vaccines and treatments
We advance the discovery, development and optimisation of interventions to address the pressing unmet needs in infectious disease.
Overcome barriers
We tackle barriers in research and development that slow innovation and limit access to effective interventions, while ensuring infectious disease research is protected, prioritised, and positioned for lasting impact.
Our approach
We support the research and development of innovative solutions for combating infectious disease.
Our focus includes:
- Tuberculosis (TB), a centuries-old disease that remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
- Cholera, a disease of inequity that thrives where water and sanitation infrastructure is lacking.
- Vector-borne diseases such as schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis and dengue, which disproportionately affect low-resource settings and are made worse by climate change.
- Drug-resistant infections, which have a particularly severe impact on low- and middle-income countries.
We focus where there is:
- high unmet need in communities with limited access to care
- catalytic potential to unlock progress in neglected or stalled areas
- scientific tractability, where discovery and development are feasible with the right investment
Supporting equitable research that prioritises unmet need
We ensure research considers the needs and priorities of the most affected communities, so evidence and interventions are acceptable, affordable and accessible where they are needed most.
Maximising impact for communities most affected
Through partnerships, advocacy and championing evidence, we’re addressing barriers in research and development that delay innovations reaching people and making a difference.
Funding opportunities
Our Infectious Disease programme funds research to improve understanding and advance interventions to control and combat infectious diseases. You may also be interested in our Discovery Research programme which funds fields and disciplines seeking new knowledge on life, health and wellbeing, including all aspects of infectious disease.
Our work in action
Towards the launch of Biovac’s OCV-S in Africa and beyond
We are supporting a South African pharmaceutical company, Biovac, to develop an oral cholera vaccine (OCV) all the way through to licensure. This could lead to the first end-to-end OCV manufactured on the African continent, where the burden of cholera is greatest. This will help to increase the future supply of vaccines and ultimately protect communities most at risk from cholera.
Seanette Wilson
The Biovac Institute, South Africa
Evaluating host-directed therapeutics for moderate-severe dengue
More than 100 million people each year are infected with dengue, yet there are no licensed treatments. We are funding a phase 3 trial in multiple sites across Asia and South America to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of three affordable therapeutics for patients hospitalised with moderate or severe dengue.
Multi-country team led by Sophie Yacoub
Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Nepal, Peru, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vietnam
Regulatory system strengthening, harmonisation and support to the operationalisation of AMA
We are supporting the operationalisation of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) - a specialised agency of the African Union dedicated to improving access to quality, safe and efficacious medical products. The AMA will harmonise and strengthen regulation of healthcare products across Africa, accelerating access to lifesaving interventions and boosting local pharmaceuticals manufacturing.
Chimwemwe Felistas Chamdimba
AUDA-NEPA, South Africa
Our team
Latest report
