On May 15, 2019 the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced the formation of a partnership with the Wellcome Trust, a non-state actor. The partnership is focused “on three broad areas of work: health emergencies and epidemic preparedness, anti-microbial resistance and supporting the acceleration of health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through research, innovation and data.” [2]
“Epidemic preparedness is key for both organizations. As part of a joint initiative with the UK’s Department for International Development, Wellcome is one of the partners providing funding for WHO’s Research and Development (R&D) Blueprint activities.”
Endorsed at the World Health Assembly in May 2016 the R&D Blueprint “is a global strategy and preparedness plan that allows the rapid activation of research and development activities during epidemics” with the aim “to fast-track the availability of effective tests, vaccines and medicines that can be used to save lives and avert large scale crisis.” [1, 3]