The Wellcome Trust is an independent – 30 September 2003 1 October 2002 Review Annual Trust Wellcome The research-funding charity, established under the will of Sir Henry Wellcome in 1936. Annual It is funded from a private endowment, which is managed with long-term stability and growth in mind. Review Its mission is to foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health. Its work covers four areas: 2003 Knowledge – improving our understanding of human and animal biology in health and disease, and of the past and present role of medicine in society. Resources – providing exceptional researchers with the infrastructural and career support they need to fulfil their potential. Translation – ensuring maximum health benefits are gained from biomedical research. Public engagement – raising awareness of the medical, ethical and social implications of biomedical science. www.wellcome.ac.uk Annual Review 2003 Contents 2 From the Director 6 Making a difference 8 Financial summary 10 Knowledge 16 Resources Advancing knowledge and Contributing to a long-term and understanding in the biomedical vibrant research environment. sciences and their impact on society – past, present and future. 22 Translation 28 Public engagement Advancing the translation of Trust- Engaging with the public through funded research into health benefits. informed dialogue. The cover images are of objects displayed at the ‘Medicine Man’ exhibition at the British Museum in 2003.The exhibition commemorated the 150th anniversary of the birth of Henry Wellcome. Front cover Back cover, left Back cover, right Yoruban figures representing Protective amulet said to Tobacco resuscitator kit. 34 A year at the Trust deceased twins, 1870–1910. contain a child’s umbilical cord. London, England, 1774. Among the Yoruba people Sioux people, Northern The idea of reviving a victim UK Funding of Nigeria, twins (ibeji) are Plains, USA, 1880–1920. of drowning by injecting Career Schemes and Clinical Initiatives special children whose birth Leather containers such as tobacco smoke into the can bless their parents with these were made to hold rectum seems very strange International Programmes good fortune.The Yoruba the umbilical cords of girls. to us now.To 18th-century Centres and Initiatives have one of the highest rates They were generally physicians, however, this Research Partnerships and Ventures of twin births in the world attached to a baby’s cradle approach was entirely rational. and their loss is considered and were believed to be The mainstay of treating Medicine, Society and History a great misfortune. If a twin lifelong protective amulets. the ‘apparently dead’ was Catalyst BioMedica Ltd dies, the mother commissions They are turtle shaped warmth and stimulation, and a memorial figure (two if since it was believed that tobacco was thought to be both twins die), and the soul the turtle presided over particularly powerful in this 49 Advisory committees of the deceased twin is the diseases of women. respect.This resuscitator kit transferred to it.The mother was provided by the Royal dresses the statuette in cloth, Humane Society of London adorns it with jewellery and and would have been placed, These objects are keeps it near her bed. along with others, at various held at the Science points along the river Thames. Museum, London Annual Review 2003 Contents 2 From the Director 6 Making a difference 8 Financial summary 10 Knowledge 16 Resources Advancing knowledge and Contributing to a long-term and understanding in the biomedical vibrant research environment. sciences and their impact on society – past, present and future. 22 Translation 28 Public engagement Advancing the translation of Trust- Engaging with the public through funded research into health benefits. informed dialogue. The cover images are of objects displayed at the ‘Medicine Man’ exhibition at the British Museum in 2003.The exhibition commemorated the 150th anniversary of the birth of Henry Wellcome. Front cover Back cover, left Back cover, right Yoruban figures representing Protective amulet said to Tobacco resuscitator kit. 34 A year at the Trust deceased twins, 1870–1910. contain a child’s umbilical cord. London, England, 1774. Among the Yoruba people Sioux people, Northern The idea of reviving a victim UK Funding of Nigeria, twins (ibeji) are Plains, USA, 1880–1920. of drowning by injecting Career Schemes and Clinical Initiatives special children whose birth Leather containers such as tobacco smoke into the can bless their parents with these were made to hold rectum seems very strange International Programmes good fortune.The Yoruba the umbilical cords of girls. to us now.To 18th-century Centres and Initiatives have one of the highest rates They were generally physicians, however, this Research Partnerships and Ventures of twin births in the world attached to a baby’s cradle approach was entirely rational. and their loss is considered and were believed to be The mainstay of treating Medicine, Society and History a great misfortune. If a twin lifelong protective amulets. the ‘apparently dead’ was Catalyst BioMedica Ltd dies, the mother commissions They are turtle shaped warmth and stimulation, and a memorial figure (two if since it was believed that tobacco was thought to be both twins die), and the soul the turtle presided over particularly powerful in this 49 Advisory committees of the deceased twin is the diseases of women. respect.This resuscitator kit transferred to it.The mother was provided by the Royal dresses the statuette in cloth, Humane Society of London adorns it with jewellery and and would have been placed, These objects are keeps it near her bed. along with others, at various held at the Science points along the river Thames. Museum, London 2 3 Focus Highlights of the year on the future Outputs and outcomes • The ‘gold standard’ human genome It is time to assess impact, says new Director Dr Mark Walport. sequence is released, over 30 per cent Far left Dr Mark of it having been produced by the Walport, Director of Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. the Wellcome Trust. • A draft mouse genome sequence is Left The Wellcome published, with the Sanger Institute This is the first time I have had the need to ‘make a difference’ remit will be to identify the Trust Sanger Institute the privilege of writing a Director’s – and this is what I would like key issues for research and has had a busy year. contributing 20 per cent. introduction to the Wellcome to become the touchstone of medical application in its area Among its achievements • A cognitive behaviour therapy for Trust’s Annual Review. I have my tenure at the Trust. of science, and to make was the release of the ‘gold standard’ human bulimia is to be recommended for use had the honour of serving the recommendations on what Building on the foundations of genome sequence. in the NHS by the National Institute Trust in a variety of different the Wellcome Trust’s priorities Planning for the Future, over the Below A single, for Clinical Excellence. guises, from panel member to ought to be to maximize its coming year we will develop a isolated melanocyte: • Lapdap, a cheap, effective antimalarial Governor, during the last few impact. Each committee will a Biomedical Image more clearly articulated strategy developed and tested at Wellcome Trust years. So I was absolutely include leading figures from Award-winning image setting out what we are aiming that also featured in laboratories in Africa, is licensed for use delighted to be appointed science and medicine, to achieve in each of our core the ‘Truth and Beauty’ by the Medicines and Healthcare Products earlier in the year as Director. Governors and Wellcome Trust exhibition. areas of activity. An obvious Regulatory Agency. The first thing I must do is pay staff. Separate panels will be corollary of this approach is that tribute to Mike Dexter’s astute involved in the equally • Structure is published of angiotensin- we need to be able to assess leadership during his five years important task of adjudicating converting enzyme (ACE) bound to ACE whether we are actually achieving inhibitor, pointing the way to refined at the helm of the Trust. His on grant applications in each FIGURE 1: WELLCOME TRUST FUNDING STREAMS these aims. For this reason term of office bore witness to stream. In many ways, the structures for this important class of drugs. I see strategy and evaluation many exciting developments, stream structure mirrors the • Genes are discovered predisposing to as important priorities for the notably major infrastructure approach we have already asthma (PHF11) and three autoimmune coming years. investments in partnership with adopted for our grant-funding diseases (CTLA4). Government, including the Joint Strategy development activities in Technology Transfer • ‘Medicine Man’ exhibition at the Infrastructure Fund and the Strategy setting rarely starts and Medicine, Society and British Museum is seen by more than Science Research Investment with a blank slate on which a History, which have their own 200 000 visitors. Fund. His diverse legacy includes new vision can be sketched. strategy committees distinct the UK Biobank and national So it is with the Wellcome Trust. from grant-giving mechanisms Funding initiatives Science Learning Centre We have to take stock of all our (Figure 1). An integrated view • Total spend on research and associated projects, and Clinical Research current activities and think more of the science funding activities activities: £516 million. Facilities, all of which feature in carefully about what we are and strategy of the Trust will be • New funding initiatives are launched the pages of this Annual Review. trying to achieve, how successful formed by the Board of in stem cell biology and international we have been in the past, and Governors with the assistance animal health. After many years of growth, the what it is we could or should of an academic appraisal Wellcome Trust is able to make • £18 million is committed to the Structural be doing in the future.This is committee.