Deadline: 07-May-2026
The Wellcome Trust has launched a competitive funding call to establish five global infrastructure hubs that enable AI-enabled evidence synthesis for policy-scale global health challenges. Awards range from £1.5 million to £1.9 million over 3–5 years, focusing on strengthening evidence synthesis capacity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and supporting timely, policy-relevant decision-making.
Overview of the Funding Call
Wellcome Trust’s new Evidence Synthesis Infrastructure Collaborative (ESIC) initiative aims to create sustainable global hubs for evidence synthesis. These hubs will enable the production, dissemination, and application of high-quality evidence to address strategic priorities in global health. By integrating AI-enabled approaches, the initiative seeks to accelerate the synthesis of research, improve relevance, and make evidence more accessible for policymakers.
The investment emphasizes timely and policy-relevant decision-making, strengthening infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries and supporting interdisciplinary collaboration.
Objectives of the Call
-
Establish foundational evidence synthesis infrastructure.
-
Enable AI-driven approaches for faster and more relevant synthesis of research evidence.
-
Support policy-scale responses to global health challenges.
-
Build sustainable capacity for evidence production, dissemination, and application.
-
Strengthen the participation of researchers and institutions in low- and middle-income countries.
Funding Details
-
Number of awards: 5 global infrastructure hubs
-
Funding per award: £1.5 million – £1.9 million
-
Funding duration: 3–5 years
-
Target regions: Low- and middle-income countries (excluding mainland China)
Who is Eligible?
-
Lead applicants must be based in a low- or middle-income country.
-
Administering organisations must also be located in eligible countries and can include higher education institutions, research institutes, healthcare organisations, or not-for-profit/non-governmental research organisations.
-
Teams may include commercial co-applicants or collaborators, but commercial entities cannot serve as administering organisations.
-
Applicants must demonstrate expertise in evidence synthesis production, use, and dissemination.
-
Interdisciplinary teams with researchers at multiple career stages are encouraged.
Restrictions and Considerations
-
No funding activities can involve transferring funds into mainland China.
-
Individuals may serve as lead applicant on one project and co-applicant on another if projects are distinct and do not overlap.
-
Applicants must demonstrate capacity to manage multiple projects if applicable.
-
Members of the ESIC Steering Group are not eligible to apply.
How to Apply
-
Form a research team with complementary expertise in evidence synthesis, AI methods, and policy-relevant research.
-
Select an eligible administering organisation in a low- or middle-income country.
-
Prepare a proposal including objectives, methodology, AI-enabled approaches, anticipated impact, and sustainability plans.
-
Detail collaborations and interdisciplinary contributions from early-career to experienced researchers.
-
Submit through the Wellcome Trust application portal, ensuring compliance with all eligibility and restriction criteria.
Why This Matters
-
Enhances global health policy through timely, evidence-based insights.
-
Strengthens research infrastructure and capacity in low- and middle-income countries.
-
Promotes AI-enabled innovation in evidence synthesis.
-
Facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing.
-
Supports sustainable and scalable evidence-informed decision-making.
Common Mistakes and Tips
-
Mistake: Proposing projects outside eligible regions or involving funds transfer to mainland China. Tip: Verify geographic eligibility.
-
Mistake: Overlooking the requirement for interdisciplinary and diverse team composition. Tip: Include collaborators across career stages and fields.
-
Mistake: Failing to demonstrate capacity for managing funded projects. Tip: Clearly show team experience and administrative capacity.
FAQs
1. Who can serve as lead applicant? Lead applicants must be based in a low- or middle-income country.
2. Can commercial organisations apply? No, but they may participate as co-applicants or collaborators.
3. What is the maximum funding per hub? £1.9 million over 3–5 years.
4. Can an individual apply to multiple projects? Only as lead applicant on one project, and as co-applicant on another or a second project if distinct.
5. Are interdisciplinary teams encouraged? Yes, including researchers from early-career to experienced levels.
6. Are there restrictions on fund use? Yes, no funds may be transferred into mainland China.
7. What is the expected impact of the hubs? To build sustainable AI-enabled evidence synthesis infrastructure that strengthens policy-relevant global health decision-making.
Conclusion
The Wellcome Trust Evidence Synthesis Infrastructure Hubs initiative offers a strategic opportunity to strengthen AI-enabled evidence synthesis in low- and middle-income countries. By funding up to five global hubs, this call promotes sustainable research infrastructure, interdisciplinary collaboration, and timely, policy-relevant decision-making that can significantly improve global health outcomes.
For more information, visit Wellcome Trust.
