Wellcome Trust Centres

Wellcome Trust Centres are internationally recognised centres of excellence that receive core funding from the Trust.

There are nine Centres in the UK:

• Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology
  University of Edinburgh
  Director: Professor Adrian Bird
• Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research
  University of Manchester
  Director: Professor Charles Streuli
• Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology
  University of Glasgow
  Director: Professor David Barry
• Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute
  University of Cambridge
  Director: Professor Daniel St Johnston
• Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics
  University of Oxford
  Director: Professor Peter Donnelly
• Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine
  University College London
  Acting Director: Professor Sonu Shamdasani
• Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging
  University College London
  Director: Professor Ray Dolan
• Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research
  University of Cambridge
  Director: Professor Austin Smith
• Wellcome Trust Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression
  University of Dundee
  Director: Professor Angus Lamond

Wellcome Trust Centres are characterised by:

• having a clear and important strategic vision
• carrying out world class science
• demonstrating 'added value' - the whole is greater than the sum of the parts
• being distinct entities with clearly defined boundaries
• having a critical mass of research funding, including significant Wellcome Trust support
• carrying out activities with which the Wellcome Trust would like its name to be associated.

Normally, 'added value' will be provided in the form of training and/or public engagement activities.

Key operational issues include:

• a strong Director and a clear governance structure
• an external Scientific Advisory Board with an annual report to the Director, made available to the Wellcome Trust
• quinquennial review
• clear support and relationships to the host institution
• clear and definedarrangements that encourage career development.

Other considerations in determining Centre status include:

• opportunities for research translation into clinical innovation
• capacity building
• generation of community resources
• interdisciplinary collaboration
• the 'fit' to strategic scientific areas identified as priorities by the Wellcome Trust.