Policy Team

We influence public policy to maximise the impact of our strategy: supporting science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone.

Our policy work focuses on creating environments where research thrives and its benefits reach people quickly.   

We do this by providing expert insight and advocacy, creating pragmatic, ambitious policy solutions and developing the evidence base, arguments and products to reach our influence goals. We deliver collaboratively with Corporate Affairs and the Government Relations and Strategic Partnerships Team.

Meet the team 

  • Beth Thompson

    Chief Strategy Officer (interim)

    Wellcome

    Beth joined Wellcome in 2009. She became interim Chief Strategy Officer in 2022, responsible for the work of the strategy and programme office, government relations and strategic partnerships, policy, and transition and legacy teams. 

Our work 

Dismuss uses his bicycle ambulance to transport a young boy with malaria to the nearest clinic. He is a volunteer community healthcare worker in Chongwe district, and is trained to test for common diseases and administer basic drugs.

Future of Global Health Initiatives process

We are working with a wide range of partners to review the roles and responsibilities of Global Health Initiatives, and to catalyse the collective action needed to build a more efficient, effective and equitable system that maximises health impacts.

A map of the world, a hand holding a test tube and three children washing their hands

Covid-19: supporting global research and development

We want to help the world overcome Covid-19. We’re calling for urgent international action to get lifesaving tests, treatments and vaccines from the laboratory to the front line, so they reach those most in need around the world.

Illustration showing two petri dishes with EU flag stars

Brexit

We worked with EU institutions, the UK government, the research sector and others to achieve a Brexit settlement that allows research to thrive in the UK and Europe.

Latest reports 

Reports

Find out more about our policy work through our latest reports.

News and opinion