As we look ahead to an exciting 2018, it's a good moment to reflect on the recent past. Steve Caddick, Wellcome's Director of Innovation, provides a personal perspective on some of the progress we have made with our Innovation for Impact strategy.

Over the last year we have reviewed our portfolio and provided follow-on support for ten projects covering areas such as malaria, Shigella, post-partum haemorrhage, psychosis and others. If successful, these projects will have an impact on diseases that disproportionately affect people living in extreme poverty.

In February, we launched our strategy, Innovation for Impact [PDF 200KB], and announced our Innovator Awards - our only response mode funding scheme. We want to broaden and diversify the network of innovators that we work with and have been delighted to support areas as diverse as a leishmaniasis vaccine, new drugs for hemorrhagic fever and deep learning for brain-based disorders.

Our success is critically dependent on working closely in partnership with other teams and organisations. Of course, these include individual grant holders - but also universities, institutes, industry, governments and funders. This year we have developed many new partnerships as well as continuing with existing productive relationships.

What are we looking forward to heading into 2018?

  • Creating a vibrant culture of translation
  • Supporting a network of partners and collaborators
  • A world-class portfolio of innovations

Read the full article about innovation for impact by Steve Caddick at Wellcome.