Joe Cerrell
Managing Director, Europe, Middle East, and East Asia, Gates Foundation
For two decades, the UK has shaped some of the most consequential advances in global health.
Investments in the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, as well as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance have not only saved lives but built a lasting impact: faster response times to disease outbreaks, more equitable access to innovation and greater country ownership as economies grow.
Turning UK-led innovation into global and local protection
UK leadership is delivering real returns. A promising tuberculosis (TB) vaccine candidate, initially developed by GSK, is now in a late-stage clinical trial, sponsored by the Gates Medical Research Institute and co-funded by Wellcome and the Gates Foundation.
Long-acting HIV prevention, shaped by British-led research, could transform how the world prevents infections. UK-backed malaria vaccines are already reaching millions of children through Gavi. When mpox cases began to rise, Gavi was able to act swiftly — thanks in part to the UK’s ongoing support — deploying vaccines to high-risk countries and limiting the global spread of the virus.
However, this progress is precarious. Around the world, preventable diseases like cholera and measles are resurging. In the UK, TB rates are climbing.1 As the climate warms, mosquitoes that can carry diseases like malaria and dengue are spreading to new areas, bringing potential risks closer to even our shores here in Britain.2 Moreover, antimicrobial resistance looms as the next silent pandemic.
These threats know no borders. Continued UK investment in global health is not only the right thing to do; it is a frontline defence for health security at home. Without sustained support, progress risks stalling and hard-won gains could be lost, leaving communities vulnerable both abroad and here at home.
With its depth in life sciences and legacy
of leadership, the UK is uniquely positioned
to drive the next phase of global health progress.
Now is the time to finish the job
With its depth in life sciences and legacy of leadership, the UK is uniquely positioned to drive the next phase of global health progress. The upcoming Global Fund replenishment, co-hosted by the UK and South Africa, is a pivotal moment to match our collective ambition for scientific discovery with investments in delivery — all while ensuring the UK remains a leader in shaping a safer, more resilient world.
The economics are also compelling. One analysis suggests that UK investment in global health R&D could generate nearly £7.7 billion in domestic economic activity and support thousands of jobs.3 In an era of tighter budgets, investments that deliver dual impact — saving lives and creating value — are more important than ever. Encouragingly, the UK’s recent Spending Review reaffirmed support for critical partners including Gavi, the Global Fund and the World Health Organization.
The science is stronger than ever. The delivery platforms exist. What’s needed now is sustained commitment to turn potential into protection and innovation into impact.
[1] GOV.UK. UK Health Security Agency. 2025. With tuberculosis (TB) on the rise again, how can we prevent further spread?
[2] Bawden, A. 2025. Climate change could bring insect-borne tropical diseases to UK, scientists warn.
[3] Impact Global Health. 2025. A stronger and safer United Kingdom through global health R&D investment.
