Logo:

Name of Organisation:
The Wellcome Trust

Address:
The Wellcome Trust
215 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE, UK.

Telephone:
+44 (0)20 7611 8888

Website:
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/

Fax:
+44 (0)20 7611 8545

Type:
International

Countries where operating:
Britain, Kenya, Malawi and South East Asia.

Mission / Vision Statement:
The Wellcome Trust’s mission is ‘to foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health’. Their mission reflects the wishes of our founder, Sir Henry Wellcome (who was a philanthropist in the 20th Century), as laid out in his will and part of the governing document which is their constitution.
Their broadly defined mission allows them;
'...to respond flexibly to medical needs and scientific opportunities. As well as tackling immediate priorities, our independence and long-term perspective enable us to support research that will benefit future generations.'
This view extends to work on the impact of biomedical research. They want to seek to improve understanding of the ways science and medicine have developed, and how research affects people and society today.
The Wellcome Trust is not part of Wellcome PLC, it is an independent body. Sir Henry Wellcome created Wellcome PLC, but in his Will made a Trust fund for research. This has evolved into the current Wellcome Trust.

Main areas of interest:
To achieve its mission, they support research in universities and other academic centres in the UK and in overseas locations. They also manage their own projects and initiatives.
Work funded externally
Biomedical research funding
Research funding programmes in the medical humanities (biomedical ethics and history of medicine)
Technology transfer funding to encourage commercial application of research to meet medical needs
Funding of activities to promote public engagement with science
Work organised directly by the Wellcome Trust or in partnership with others
Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine
Wellcome Medical Photographic Library
Exhibitions, events, conferences and courses
Publications, CD-ROMs and websites
Policy-oriented work, particularly in education and healthcare delivery

Structure of Organisation:
Decision-making authority on grant applications is delegated to various funding committees.
Management and governance -
Legal status and governance framework.
Governors - Ultimate responsibility for its activities lies with its Board of Governors.
The committee structure -
Committees with external representation and decision-making authority.

Opportunities:
The Wellcome Trusts main international health interests lie in Malaria. There are three specific regions they are particulaly interetsed in;
Kenya, Malawi and South East Asia.