Wellcome Trust
Wellcome is a global charitable foundation established in 1936. Through our work we support science to solve the urgent health issues facing everyone. We support discovery research into life, health and wellbeing, and we’re taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate and health.
Who we are
We fund curiosity-driven research, and we’re taking on three of the biggest health challenges facing humanity – climate change, infectious disease and mental health.
With a £37.6 billion investment portfolio, we give researchers the time and resources they need to make breakthroughs.
We also work with policy makers, run advocacy campaigns, and form partnerships with other organisations to ensure everyone, everywhere benefits from advances in health science.
Why are we called Wellcome?
We were founded in 1936 after the death of Sir Henry Wellcome.
Sir Henry was a pharmaceutical entrepreneur, whose pioneering approach to drug design later inspired the creation of the first leukaemia drug, immune suppressants for organ transplants, and antivirals such as AZT – the first drug approved to treat HIV.
In his will, he left us three important things: his wealth; his collection of historical medical items; and our mission to improve health through research.
What do we stand for?
Our perspective on health and how to improve it spans science, innovation, and society.
We foster collaborative and supportive research environments that give researchers across a range of disciplines – including physical and social sciences, and the humanities – the time and resources they need to be creative and make new discoveries.
What we do
We're helping create a healthier future for everyone through research.
Our mission
We’re spending £16 billion in the decade to 2032 on research and advocacy supporting science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone.
Our approach
Funding research
We fund research around the world, across a broad range of fields and disciplines, to understand life, health and wellbeing and to deliver equitable health solutions.
Advocating for policy change
We work with governments, communities and partners across the world to promote evidence-based policies and practices that improve health.
Engaging with people
We connect people with different experiences and expertise so that research can lead to a positive impact in communities affected by health challenges.
Executive Committee
Our day-to-day activities are managed by a leadership team made up of senior managers from across the organisation.
Executive committee members provide advice to both the governors and the Chief Executive Officer on strategic, planning, operational and policy matters.
John-Arne Røttingen, Chief Executive Officer
John-Arne joined Wellcome as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in January 2024 and leads the charitable foundation’s mission to support science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone.
Maggy Chan, Chief Operating Officer
Maggy joined Wellcome as Chief Operating Officer (COO) in January 2025. She leads operations across Finance, Risk, Digital & Technology, Legal, Sustainability and People, enhancing the pace and effectiveness with which the organisation can deliver on its mission.
Mark Henderson, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs & Engagement
Mark Henderson leads all aspects of our communications and public engagement, with a particular focus on building and sustaining trust, influence and Wellcome's reputation so that our work contributes more to health and society.
Steven Hoffman, Interim Chief of Staff and Interim Executive Director, Strategy
Steven joined Wellcome in 2024 as interim Chief of Staff with responsibility for supporting day-to-day management of the organisation and driving integration across Wellcome’s teams to advance our mission.
Rachel McKendry, Executive Director, Discovery
Rachel joined Wellcome in March 2025. She is responsible for identifying, enabling and investing in potential breakthrough research to drive significant discoveries across biomedical, humanities & social sciences, clinical research, population health and relevant engineering and physical sciences.
Beth Thompson, Executive Director, Policy & Partnerships
Beth joined Wellcome in 2009. She became interim Chief Strategy Officer in 2022, Chief Strategy Officer in 2023 and Executive Director of Policy and Parnerships in 2024. She is responsible for government relations and strategic partnerships and policy teams.
Jimmy Volmink, Executive Director, Equity
Jimmy joined Wellcome in 2023 as Chief Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer and leads our work to become an inclusive funder. He works in partnership with the whole executive leadership team to support Wellcome in becoming an inclusive employer.
Charlotte Watts, Executive Director, Solutions
Charlotte joined Wellcome in March 2025. She supports transformative research investments, public engagement and policy influence, making significant global impact across Wellcome’s three Solutions programmes: Climate and Health, Infectious Diseases and Mental Health.
Address: Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE, UK
Phone: +44 020 7611 8888
