Wellcome’s partnership with the World Health Organization

Building on many years of collaboration, Wellcome became a non-state actor in official relations with the WHO in February 2018. This means we can play a more active part in WHO processes, for example by participating at sessions of its governing bodies and organising side events.

At a strategic meeting with the WHO in November 2018 we identified our shared goals, and the experience, networks and resources we can pool to work on them together.

Our partnership with the WHO focuses on:

• epidemics and other health emergencies
• antimicrobial resistance
• global health research and development.

Together we will monitor progress on these strategic areas and review whether to add to them in future. Potential new areas we are exploring in 2019 include mental health, climate and health, and neglected tropical diseases such as snakebite.

Wellcome supports the WHO by:

• bringing together experts
• providing technical advice
• funding research and other projects.

Epidemics

Our work with the WHO includes:

• coordinating research and innovation for epidemic risk diseases included in the WHO R&D Blueprint. This includes Wellcome-funded roadmaps for therapeutic, vaccine and diagnostic development for Lassa fever, Nipah and Ebola/Marburg viruses.
• supporting data sharing during public health emergencies by funding development of software tools like Go-Data and Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources. This is part of our joint initiative on epidemic preparedness with the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
• supporting research ethics in health emergencies by helping to develop frameworks and guidance. This is also part of our joint initiative with DFID.

Antimicrobial resistance

We’re working with the WHO to strengthen research, surveillance and optimal use of antimicrobials by:

• supporting the UN Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance
• supporting the WHO consultation process on behaviour change so that antibiotics are used more responsibly
• making plans for developing in vitro diagnostics which are needed to slow antimicrobial resistance in low- and middle-income countries.

Global health research and development

To push this goal, as part of the Global Action Plan on the Sustainable Development Goals, we’re supporting the WHO to consult with a broad range of partners and stakeholders. The aim is to:

• develop recommendations to improve global health research
• identify the actions needed to scale up innovations
• elevate national research priorities.

• Wellcome’s declaration of interests
• Our letter to the new WHO Director-General
• Wellcome statement to the World Health Assembly 2018 [PDF 117KB]
• More about our partnership with the WHO