Funding Excellence in Research Mark Walport 2 December 2010.

Funding Excellence in Research

Mark Walport2 December 2010

curiosity

vs

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

Important questions…

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

• tax payer

•philanthropy

• industry

Excellence in research

Who should pay?

•people

•career structure

•freedom of movement

•mentorship

•environments

•places

•infrastructure

•regulation

Excellence in research

How should it be supported?

Senior Investigator awards

New Investigator awards

People

Wellcome Trust framework…

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

university

vs

institute

vs

industry

Environment

Environment

World class infrastructure

• 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

Regulatory environment

•new expectations

• fund a varied portfolio:•best ideas•best people•infrastructure/resources•translation

• fund in partnership:•universities•government•industries•charities/foundations

The world post spending review

• build on excellence

• catalysis and leverage

• institutional strategies

• greater collaboration:•academic•industry•NHS

• translation•health•economic•policy

Making the whole greater than the sum of parts