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.
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.
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, which we helped found in 2017
- we launched the Covid-19 Therapeutics Accelerator, 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
- 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 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.
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. 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.
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.
We’d love to hear from you on how we can work together to change the course of the pandemic.
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- Join our conversations on Twitter.
- For partnerships, contact epidemics@wellcome.org; for media enquiries, contact mediaoffice@wellcome.org.
Here's what you need to know if you're applying for one of our research grants, or hold a Wellcome grant.
- Will Hall: ACT now, ACT together to end Covid-19
- Alex Harris: Coronavirus Global Response helped to raise billions for research. But we need more
- Charlie Weller: While we wait for Covid-19 vaccine, let’s not forget the importance of the vaccines we already have
- Ben Bleasdale: 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
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.
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