Accelerating the application of research

We are committed to maximising the application of research to improve health. We achieve this by supporting clinical, population-based and public health research on disease and on new healthcare interventions. Through our Technology Transfer awards we take research innovations forward to a stage at which they will be taken up by follow-on funders (such as industry, venture capital organisations and public-private partnerships).

Our work is driven by the goal of maximising health benefits, rather than any requirement to generate a return. This enables us to advance the most promising opportunities and to focus on areas of unmet health need.

Clinical research into the factors that underlie obesity and diabetes. Credit: Wellcome Library, London

Matt McGrath holding the Series 5 video laryngoscope. Credit: Wellcome Library, London

Patient-care at the Manchester Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility. Credit: Wellcome Library, London

Dr Rob Fenton using a coupled-raman atomic force microscope at Imperial College London. Credit: Wellcome Library, London

Dr Helen Lee and her team developed a rapid DNA dipstick for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis. Credit: Wellcome Library, London

Professor Reza Razavi overlooking the 3 Tesla MRI scanner, where a volunteer is being set up for a scan by John Totman. Credit: Wellcome Library, London

Examples of our support

The following examples are illustrative of the technology, clinical practice and policies we have supported.

Accelerating product development We support innovative projects to develop healthcare products, devices and technologies and our major funding initiatives support health research and development. Examples are the Medical Engineering Initiative, the Health Innovation Challenge Fund, the Stevenage Bioscience Campus, the MSD-Wellcome Trust Hilleman Laboratories and the initiative on R&D for Affordable Healthcare in India.

Clinical translation

Our biomedical science funding supports basic scientists, clinicians and public health researchers at all career levels both in the UK and overseas. We provided major investment to develop UK Clinical Research Facilities and other centres of excellence for patient-oriented research, which are helping to accelerate the adoption of research advances into clinical practice.

Policy and practice

Where the research we fund has direct implications for policy and practice, we encourage and support our researchers to disseminate their research effectively. We also work in partnership with others, such as through the UK Clinical Research Collaboration, to enhance the capacity of policy makers to use research evidence.

For full information on this focus area, view our Strategic Plan 2010-20. Details of the support we provide to researchers and clinicians can be found in Funding.