Policy, Advocacy and Influence

1. As a global charitable foundation dedicated to achieving extraordinary improvements in human and animal health, the Wellcome Trust is independent of both political and commercial interests.

2. Our constitution provides a mandate to “seek to influence opinions, regulation, legislation or policies; and to seek to ensure that members of the public, public bodies, policy makers and public institutions are well informed on questions relating to research, its funding and any other objects or powers of the Trust; and to make representations to any of them when issues arise that affect the objects or powers of the Trust.”1

3. Our policy and advocacy work is driven by the need to create an environment in which research can flourish whilst maintaining public confidence.One of our main activities is to influence and respond to proposed legislation and regulatory developments to ensure that they are favourable for research while providing appropriate safeguards to protect research participants.We work closely with the Westminster and European Parliaments, and the European Commission, and are increasingly working with other international funders.

4. Our approach includes:

• building a strong and robust evidence base to inform our position;
• working in partnership with other organisations, where appropriate;
• pursuing timely and targeted activities;
• taking a proportionate approach, making the best use of available resources and escalating issues only where necessary;
• building good working relations with civil servants at a range of levels in many Whitehall Departments; and
• maintaining dialogue with all three of the main UK political parties, relevant parliamentary committees and other stakeholders.

5. Our work covers a wide range of issues related to the Trust’s activities and mission, including: research base funding; large scientific research facilities, infrastructure and resources; translation for health benefit, health innovation and intellectual property; the fiscal and operating environment for charities; careers, education and skills; science and society issues; clinical research and regulation; public health; data sharing and open access; research integrity; ethical issues relating to stem cells, human tissue, genetics and cohort studies; use of animals in research; and global health.