COPENHAGEN: Three of the major global health funders have joined forces for the first time in a $300 million partnership aimed at addressing the interconnected impacts of climate change, malnutrition, infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance.
The Novo Nordisk Foundation, Wellcome, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced this research partnership, focused particularly on discovering affordable solutions for individuals in low and middle-income countries. This announcement took place in Denmark on Monday, with each foundation committing $100 million to the three-year initiative.
Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, emphasized the importance of breaking down barriers between often siloed areas of research. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how obesity can exacerbate the severity of certain infectious diseases, and how climate change-induced extreme weather events can lead to food insecurity, further endangering undernourished children with diseases like measles and cholera.
The partners highlighted advances in nutritional science and understanding the gut microbiome, which open doors to comprehending the broader impact of both over- and under-nutrition on health and development.
The Novo Nordisk Foundation, with a controlling interest in the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO), noted the significance of this initiative, particularly in light of waning global attention to health post-pandemic.
John-Arne Røttingen, CEO of Wellcome, emphasized the importance of addressing “market failures” and signaling a global commitment to ensuring equitable access to medical breakthroughs.
In addition to supporting researchers in low- and middle-income countries, the partners expressed openness to collaboration with private, philanthropic, and public entities.
Catherine Kyobutungi, Executive Director of the African Population and Health Research Center, stressed the importance of community involvement in finding effective solutions to pressing challenges.
