R&D for Affordable Healthcare in India
Purpose
The objective of this initiative is to fund translational research projects that will deliver safe and effective healthcare products for India - and potentially other markets - at affordable costs. A key feature of the scheme is that it encourages innovations that bring together researchers from both the public and private sectors to extend access to care to the greatest numbers of beneficiaries, without compromising on quality.
Projects covering any aspect of technology development for healthcare will be considered, including diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccines, medical devices and regenerative medicine. Proposals drawing on the disciplines of the physical sciences, maths and engineering, as well as biomedicine, are equally encouraged.
A number of awards are in the pipeline currently in areas such as cardiovascular disease, tuberculosis and ophthalmology. One example is a project that involves collaboration between the LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad and Sheffield University, to develop new biocompatible materials for a stem cell-based therapy to restore sight in eyes where the cornea is damaged by chemical or burns injury. This advanced tertiary eye care centre in Hyderabad offers high-quality, comprehensive eye care on an equitable basis to millions across the state of Andhra Pradesh, through its pyramidal network that involves 17 secondary eye care centres in towns and 65 primary care centres in large villages.
It was recently announced that the Wellcome Trust and the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, will set up a partnership to consolidate this initiative (see press release).
What's included
Awards will be made by way of funding agreements that will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. The principles of the Wellcome Trust Grant Conditions will apply. The terms and conditions of funding will be discussed with applicants individually. Typically, the agreements will contain a provision for the appropriate sharing of benefits.
The funds available will be ring-fenced for the specified programme of work. Neither working capital nor building or refurbishment expenditure will be provided. Funding will be released in tranches against the attainment of pre-agreed project milestones.
Eligibility
Institutions
For-profit or not-for-profit institutions, governmental or non-governmental organisations and international organisations operating within the territory of India are eligible to apply, provided they are able to sign up to the conditions of the award (see template).
Companies
The Wellcome Trust is able to use its charitable monies to fund commercial companies in India through programme-related investment (PRI). For further details please refer to our policy on PRI [Word 23KB]. Companies will normally be expected to sign up to specific terms relating to the scheme (which will be based on this template [Word 127KB].
The principal applicant should be based in India and a significant proportion of the programme should be conducted in India, although international collaborations are encouraged where appropriate. It is not a requirement to have a commercial partner for applications coming from outside the industry, providing that adequate arrangements exist to ensure the delivery of the innovation to the market.
Principal applicants and coapplicants
Applicants should normally hold a position of responsibility within the eligible organisation and be able to sign up to or comply with the conditions or terms of an award.
In addition, postdoctoral research assistants - whether seeking their own salary as part of the grant proposal, funded by the Wellcome Trust on another grant, or funded by another agency - are eligible for coapplicant status if they make a significant contribution to a research proposal and have agreement from their funding agency.
Disciplines outside biomedicine
Investigators from disciplines outside biomedicine can apply, providing the project is designed to facilitate or meet a need in healthcare. For example, the application of physics, chemistry, computing, engineering and materials science to the development of medical products is entirely appropriate.
Healthcare need in an area that is not commercially attractive
The Wellcome Trust is committed to the translation of research into practical healthcare benefits across the full spectrum of commercial and orphan or neglected diseases. Disease areas neglected by industry because of the lack of a return on investment pose a particular problem for product delivery, but imaginative ways forward can sometimes be developed (e.g. public-private partnerships such as the Medicines for Malaria Venture).
Intellectual property rights (IPR)/publications
If there are any restrictions on IPR or publications arising from your research, you must provide a written statement that details them. Restrictions on intellectual property may affect your eligibility to apply to the Trust. Please refer to the Trust's conditions or terms of an award. For further information please refer to the Wellcome Trust's policy on IP and patenting and information for applicants’ documents for the appropriate award type (see Forms and Guidance section).
Application process
A preliminary application form [Word 132KB] form should be completed and returned to Technology Transfer by the published deadline.
Preliminary applications are subject to a shortlisting process.If selected, a full application will be invited, which is subject to international peer review by members of our Technology Transfer Advisory Group.
Applications will be considered by the Affordable Healthcare Committee which meets twice a year.
Shortlisted applicants will be expected to make a presentation on their proposal to the Affordable Healthcare Committee. Unless otherwise advised, this will be at the next scheduled meeting of the Affordable Healthcare Committee.
At the time of application applicants will be informed as to whether the Wellcome Trust expects to take the lead in any translation of the project outcomes.
Applicants will be notified of the Funding Committee’s decision as soon as practicable.
Application advice
Technology Transfer staff are happy to advise you during the preparation of a proposal.
See the Forms and Guidance tab on this page for application guidelines, specimen application forms and other helpful guidance notes.
- Applicants will be expected to disclose proprietary information in their full application that is not limited to, but may include chemical structures. Project applications (and any supplementary information provided) will be made available to staff of the Wellcome Trust and external advisors for the purposes of peer-review and due diligence.
- Applicants will receive independently sought feedback from the Wellcome Trust on their project proposal.This feedback is meant to inform and guide applicants but is not meant to be definitive.Applicants should seek their own independent advice on feedback and its validity.
- The Wellcome Trust operates a conflicts of interest policy and places obligations of confidentiality on its external advisors (some of whom are employed in the industrial or financial sectors).Whilst the Wellcome Trust attaches great importance to its policies and procedures concerning confidentially and conflicts of interest, it cannot provide any warranty to applicants in this regard.
- Because the day-to-day business of the Wellcome Trust involves the receipt and review of confidential grant applications, it is only under highly exceptional circumstances that it will enter into a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement with applicants.
- Any invitation to apply for funding from the Wellcome Trust does not necessarily mean that such funds will be forthcoming.
The most common application queries are addressed by our FAQs.
Deadlines
The deadline for preliminary applications is 31 January 2012.
After short listing, full applications will be invited for consideration at the Affordable Healthcare Committee in the third quarter of 2012.
Contacts
Preliminary applications should be sent to Technology Transfer, preferably by email.
Technology Transfer
Wellcome Trust
Gibbs Building
215 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE, UK
T +44 (0)20 7611 8202
F +44 (0)20 7611 8857
E
techtransfer@wellcome.ac.uk
For queries, please contact Dr Shirshendu Mukherjee, Strategic Adviser, R&D Initiative - India:
E
s.mukherjee@wellcome.ac.uk
T +44 (0)20 7611 8857 (UK); +91 981 0309402 (India)
Forms and guidance
Affordable Healthcare - Translation Award documents:
- Preliminary application form [Word 132KB]
- Specimen application form [Word 1.57MB]
- Information for applicants [Word 172KB]
Funding terms and conditions: