A $300 million research partnership has been announced by three of the world’s largest global health funders – the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Wellcome, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The initiative, which will last for three years, aims to tackle the interconnected impacts of climate change, malnutrition, infectious diseases, and antimicrobial resistance. Each foundation will contribute $100 million to the project.
Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, highlighted the importance of breaking down barriers between different areas of research. He pointed out how the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that obesity can be a risk factor for the severity of infectious diseases, while climate change-induced extreme weather events can lead to food insecurity and make undernourished children more vulnerable to diseases like measles and cholera.
Advances in nutritional science and understanding the gut microbiome have provided insights into the impacts of over- and under-nutrition on health and development. The Novo Nordisk Foundation’s success with its weight-loss drug Wegovy underscores this initiative’s importance.
The partners emphasized the need for renewed attention to global health post-pandemic and highlighted the importance of addressing market failures and promoting equitable access to medical advances. The funding will also support researchers in low- and middle-income countries, with opportunities for collaboration with private, philanthropic, and public partners.
Catherine Kyobutungi, executive director of the African Population and Health Research Center, stressed that effective solutions often emerge from communities most affected by these challenges. This partnership represents a significant step towards addressing critical global health issues and promoting meaningful change.
