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Funding
Excellence in
Research
Mark Walport
2 December 2010
curiosity
vs
important questions
Important questions…
• centuries-old diseases:
• malaria
• tuberculosis
• new and emerging threats:
• HIV
• avian influenza
• rise in chronic non-communicable
disease:
• coronary heart disease
• diabetes
• obesity
• mental health
• reproductive, maternal & sexual health
• nutrition
Wellcome Trust
Five major challenges…
• maximising the health benefits
of genetics and genomics
• investigating development,
ageing & chronic disease
• understanding the brain
• combating infectious diseases
• connecting environment,
nutrition and health
Excellence in research
Who should pay?
• tax payer
• philanthropy
• industry
Excellence in research
How should it be supported?
• people
• career structure
• freedom of movement
• mentorship
• environments
• places
• infrastructure
• regulation
People
Wellcome Trust framework…
Senior Investigator awards
New Investigator awards
People - new in 2010:
Wellcome Trust Investigators
Key features…
• awarded on scientific vision &
track record
• research question drives
duration
• triage and interview
• for individuals that have
university/institute tenure
• identifiable ‘Wellcome’
community and alumni
Environment
university
vs
institute
vs
industry
Environment
World class infrastructure
Regulatory environment
• drivers to optimize academia & industry links
• develop innovative public private partnerships
• provide fiscal incentives:
• encouraging exploitation
• encouraging collaboration
• immigration: freedom of movement
• ensure regulation is facilitative and proportional:
• national and international regulation
• streamlined approval processes
• animals in research
• ‘consent for consent’
• health and safety
The world post spending
review
• new expectations
• fund a varied portfolio:
• best ideas
• best people
• infrastructure/resources
• translation
• fund in partnership:
• universities
• government
• industries
• charities/foundations
Making the whole greater than
the sum of parts
• build on excellence
• catalysis and leverage
• institutional strategies
• greater collaboration:
• academic
• industry
• NHS
• translation
• health
• economic
• policy