The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has launched a major new funding initiative, which will support high-quality randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for infectious diseases in Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), through the NIHR, is partnering with the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and Wellcome on the project.
It will support trials to test existing vaccines and treatments for high-burden infectious diseases. The goal is to generate evidence that strengthens health systems, guides policy, and accelerates the uptake of effective interventions.
The call focuses on infectious diseases with significant impact on morbidity and mortality, including:
- mycobacterial infections, such as tuberculosis, leprosy, and non-tuberculous mycobacteria
- bacterial infections, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs), lower respiratory or bloodstream infections
- invasive fungal infections
- dengue, leishmaniasis, or schistosomiasis.
Researchers who need support to build a team, design a protocol, or collect pilot data can apply for the Infectious Disease Clinical Trial Development Award.
This joint call reflects a shared commitment to strengthening global health security, through tackling urgent infectious disease threats. It aligns with NIHR’s global health research focus on health security challenges. This includes infectious disease outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It also complements NIHR’s upcoming annual global health security thematic scheme launching in April 2026.
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care and Chief Executive Officer of the NIHR, said: "This joint initiative represents a powerful commitment to strengthening global health security. By investing in high‑quality, locally led clinical trials, we are enabling researchers in Africa, South Asia and South‑East Asia to generate the evidence needed to inform policy, improve care, and accelerate the uptake of effective vaccines and treatments. Infectious diseases continue to present some of the most urgent health challenges of our time, and partnerships such as this are essential for driving meaningful, equitable impact where the burden is greatest.”
Professor Charlotte Watts, Executive Director of Solutions at Wellcome, said: “This partnership between Wellcome, DHSC (through NIHR), and the FCDO is a crucial step forward in tackling the highest-burden infectious diseases. We are coming together to support researchers across Africa, South Asia, and South-East Asia to lead clinical trials on existing vaccines and therapeutics. This ensures that the people closest to the challenges are the ones driving the solutions. Together, we are investing in the actionable, locally led evidence required to transform health guidelines, ensure interventions reach the most affected communities, and ultimately improve global health outcomes.”
Learn more and apply at Infectious Disease Clinical Trial Award.