ANNUAL REVIEW 2005 THE WELLCOME TRUST The Wellcome Trust is the most diverse biomedical research charity in the world, supporting a spectrum of activity from basic science to history of medicine. CONTENTS BOARD OF GOVERNORS 2 Director’s statement Dominic Cadbury Chairman 4 Advancing knowledge Martin Bobrow 16 Using knowledge Deputy Chairman 22 Engaging society Leszek Borysiewicz* 28 Developing people Adrian Bird 32 Facilitating research William Castell* 36 Developing our organisation Patricia Hodgson Ronald Plasterk 37 Wellcome Trust 2004/05 Alastair Ross Goobey 38 Funding 2004/05 Peter Smith 52 Advisory committees Jean Thomas Edward Walker-Arnott *From 1 January 2006 L–R Human cells in culture. ‘Ball and stick’ molecular Signage within the modelling. Wellcome Trust’s new ‘Germlights’ by Sue headquarters building Withers, Proof, from a at 215 Euston Road, Wellcome Trust science London. and art exhibition. Professor Andy Tait of Professor Andrew the Wellcome Trust Hattersley of the This Annual Review covers the Wellcome Centre for Molecular University of Exeter Parasitology in Glasgow. examining a patient Trust’s financial year, from 1 October with diabetes. 2004 to 30 September 2005. CONTENTS 01 EXECUTIVE BOARD MAKING A DIFFERENCE Developing people: To foster a Mark Walport The Wellcome Trust’s mission is research community and individual Director of the Wellcome Trust to foster and promote research with researchers who can contribute to the advancement and use of knowledge Ted Bianco the aim of improving human and Director of Technology Transfer animal health. During 2005–2010, Facilitating research: To promote the our aims are: best conditions for research and the John Cooper use of knowledge Director of Resources Advancing knowledge: To support research to increase understanding Developing our organisation: To use David Lynn of health and disease, and its our resources efficiently and effectively. Head of Strategic Planning and Policy societal context Clare Matterson Using knowledge: To support the Director of Medicine, Society development and use of knowledge and History to create health benefit David Phillipps Engaging society: To engage with Director of Finance society to foster an informed climate Sohaila Rastan within which biomedical research Director of Science Funding can flourish John Stewart Head of Legal and Company Secretary Danny Truell Chief Investment Officer As at January 2006 DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT 02 A YEAR OF DISCOVERY It has been a year that demonstrates that investing in the best people to work on the best ideas in the best environments produces landmark discoveries. One of the greatest satisfactions Last year Dr Georgy Koentges and 1991–92 and their parents, which we of directing the Wellcome Trust colleagues made ground-breaking fund jointly with the Medical Research is seeing the many discoveries steps forward in the understanding of Council, continue to produce emerging from the research we how our skeletons and muscles develop, important findings. fund. The most effective way to and why certain genetic disorders affect Research resources fund the research that leads to particular parts of our bodies. This has The year also saw the fruit of several new discoveries is to support the significantly altered our view of a key large international collaborative projects, best researchers, the best teams biological process, as has the work of in which the Trust is a major partner. and the best ideas. To help guide Professor Adrian Hayday and colleagues These build on the Human Genome our research communities and at King’s College London. They have Project, aiming to translate genome provide them with the opportunities discovered that immature T cells have sequence data to give a better to make real progress, this year a crucial role in generating special understanding of health and disease. we launched our Strategic Plan defence cells that patrol the vulnerable 2005–2010: Making a Difference. sites exposed to the outside world, such The International HapMap Consortium as skin and the gut. This has created a published a detailed catalogue of The new Plan is about creating a new view of the thymus function. human genetic variation, which is framework (see page 36), a set of already accelerating the search for high-level principles to guide – but not In the clinical arena, this year saw genes involved in common diseases. constrain – research communities that the results of the largest-ever clinical trial The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute look to us for funding. The Strategic Plan on the treatment of severe malaria. This played a key role in generating this map. will be a living document, allowing us to work in South-east Asia, led by Professor In another outstanding year, the Sanger adjust our direction as new opportunities Nick White, brought calls for immediate Institute took a key role in international arise. Key to this will be flexibility in our change to medication practices. partnerships that sequenced the mechanisms for awarding grants. This In Vietnam, Dr Jeremy Farrar and genomes of parasites causing three year we launched a Strategic Awards colleagues have advanced our major diseases in developing countries – scheme, with grants that will enable us understanding of avian influenza in sleeping sickness, Chagas’ disease to fund strategic initiatives of many kinds humans. Their research suggests that and leishmaniasis – and the human in a timely manner. We also broadened the virus can affect many parts of the X chromosome. our UK eligibility criteria, so that we can body – not just the lungs, as previously Knowing the shape of a protein is fund the best scientists throughout the thought. The core funding of the Vietnam crucial for understanding its biological UK and enable them to collaborate with Programme and our other Major function, and the Structural Genomics scientists worldwide. Overseas Programmes in Kenya and Consortium (SGC), a public–private Thailand was renewed this year. Funding Discoveries partnership between the Wellcome Trust, of £26 million was agreed in recognition Support of curiosity-driven research GlaxoSmithKline, and funding agencies of the internationally important work remains the biggest single element of our in Canada and Sweden, is determining these Programmes are carrying out. funding portfolio. Such support has led the three-dimensional structures of to some outstanding research outputs – In the UK, researchers working with proteins relevant to human disease. discoveries that give us a better ALSPAC, a cohort study of 14 000 The SGC has, to date, solved the understanding of health and disease. children born in the Avon area in structures of over 100 complex proteins, DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT 03 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR including important drug development A supportive environment • Artesunate is more effective than targets for malaria and diabetes. To achieve our mission, we need quinine for treatment of severe These are tremendous research a climate within which biomedical malaria, a large clinical trial in resources, all freely available to research can flourish. The Trust Asia reveals. has again been active in this area. researchers around the globe. • Genome sequences of Last year we also agreed to fund The completion of the National Science two important parasites, another such community resource. Learning Centre is an important step Trypanosoma brucei and The Wellcome Trust Case Control forward. It will provide teachers and Leishmania, are published. Consortium will be one of the biggest other educators with access to the • Building work is completed on projects ever undertaken to identify resources and expertise to get to grips the National Science Learning the genetic variations that may with the complexities of contemporary Centre at York. predispose people to, or protect science. In turn, teachers will go on them from, 11 major diseases, to inspire today’s young people to • Community MRSA is identified including type 1 diabetes, Crohn’s become the scientists of tomorrow, as a re-emergent strain from disease and rheumatoid arthritis. and give them the confidence to the 1950s. Practical application understand, debate and question • Work on early T-cell development Key to our mission is ensuring that issues surrounding science. sheds new light on the thymus. research knowledge results in health This year we have again been actively • Structural Genomics Consortium benefit. CardioDigital Limited, a spin- engaging with Government, policy places structures of 100 out company from Napier University, makers and opinion formers on issues medically important proteins Edinburgh, has developed and is affecting the research base. These in the public domain. piloting software that can significantly include stem cell research, use of enhance the information extracted human tissues, career structures for • Source of calories, not just from existing medical hardware, clinical and basic scientists, and number, influences lifespan in such as pulse oximeters. continuing professional development fruit flies fed low-calorie diets. for science teachers. We have also Professor Steve Howdle, Professor • Bacterial illness is found to actively promoted the ‘open access’ Vladimir Popov and colleagues have account for an unexpectedly high model of science publishing, to help developed ‘PolyHap’ implants, which proportion of deaths of African ensure that research findings are have been used by surgeons to help children admitted to hospital. shared as widely and as rapidly rebuild the faces