Our response to Covid-19 will help define the 21st century
The true impact of the Covid-19 pandemic will be felt beyond its immediate effects. Jeremy Farrar explains why the choices leaders make now will help define the 21st century.
Coronavirus (Covid-19): supporting global research and development
We want to help the world overcome Covid-19. Research is the best way to save lives – but more investment in accessible treatments, tests and vaccines is urgently needed to change the course of the pandemic.
What we’re doing
We're supporting research and development, and working to make sure that any new vaccines, tests and treatments are mass-produced quickly and reach everyone who needs them.
We’re doing this by working with others:
- we support global vaccine research and development through CEPI(opens in a new tab), which we helped found in 2017
- we launched the Covid-19 Therapeutics Accelerator(opens in a new tab), together with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Mastercard, to speed development of and access to coronavirus treatments
- we’re working with UNITAID to lead global conversations around development of and equitable access to treatments through the ACT-Accelerator(opens in a new tab)
- we launched Covid-Zero to encourage businesses and philanthropies to invest in the coronavirus global response
- we’re calling on governments, funders, developers and manufacturers to support the ACT-Accelerator(opens in a new tab) to make sure that vaccines, tests and treatments are globally available, appropriate and affordable
- we’re funding research to help low- and middle-income countries prepare for the pandemic
- we're calling on researchers, journals and funders to share their research data and findings rapidly and openly.
The pandemic has inspired unprecedented global research collaboration. The same level of collaboration is needed between countries and international organisations to make sure that vaccines, treatments and tests are globally accessible.
What you can do
Governments and international organisations must invest now in research and development of diagnostics, treatments and vaccines. And they must support fair access to these lifesaving tools – so they become available to the most at-risk populations everywhere, regardless of ability to pay.
To achieve this, $31 billion is needed over the next 12 months(opens in a new tab). Investing now, at scale and as a collective global effort, is the only way to save lives, reduce the spread of Covid-19 and bring societies and economies back on track.
Find out how you can support the ACT-Accelerator(opens in a new tab).
Work with us
We’d love to hear from you on how we can work together to change the course of the pandemic.
- Sign up to our newsletter to stay up-to-date with our work.
- Join our conversations on Twitter(opens in a new tab).
- For partnerships, contact epidemics@wellcome.org; for media enquiries, contact mediaoffice@wellcome.org.
Information for grant applicants and grantholders
Here's what you need to know if you're applying for one of our research grants, or hold a Wellcome grant.
More from Wellcome voices
- Will Hall(opens in a new tab): ACT now, ACT together to end Covid-19
- Alex Harris(opens in a new tab): Coronavirus Global Response helped to raise billions for research. But we need more
- Charlie Weller(opens in a new tab): While we wait for Covid-19 vaccine, let’s not forget the importance of the vaccines we already have
- Ben Bleasdale(opens in a new tab): How could Covid-19 change research culture for the better?
- Josie Golding: Four lessons from past epidemics to guide us in the search for Covid-19 treatments
More than a health crisis: Covid-19 impacts are far-reaching and long-term
The Covid-19 pandemic is already causing wider effects for societies, national economies and global relations, and these will continue for years to come. Three experts share insights on how we can better respond to the pandemic while we continue the search for vaccines and treatments.
Read more articles on Covid-19.
Reports
Mental health: listening to young people and learning from Covid-19
[Summary] A commitment by Wellcome, UNICEF, the WHO, and the World Economic Forum to embed three principles across our mental health work: lived experience, local innovation, and larger than healthcare.
Wellcome Monitor 2020: Covid-19 Study
[Summary] This report presents the results of the fifth Wellcome Monitor. It focuses on findings about Covid-19.
Expanding access to monoclonal antibody-based products: a global call to action
[Summary] A roadmap to making lifesaving monoclonal antibody treatments affordable and available, particularly to those living in low- and middle-income countries.
What people think about global access to Covid-19 treatments and vaccines
[Summary] Our polling of more than 6,000 adults in the UK, the USA, Germany and France shows strong public support for making sure that any new coronavirus treatments and vaccines are first made available to those who need them most.
