Global Health Partners Fund Infectious Disease Research
Public and private organizations have committed over €260 million to accelerate medical research across Africa and Europe.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in COVID-19
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The Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking has secured €159 million in funding for various infectious disease research projects. An additional €103 million has been pledged for 2026 to support upcoming project proposals.
Why it matters
Collaborative funding creates the critical resource mass needed for late-stage clinical research. This partnership model aims to strengthen research capacity in African institutions while ensuring the clinical relevance of new developments.
The initiative has mobilized €159 million for current projects, with call-level contributions expected to exceed €49 million by the end of 2026. Approximately 100 organizations are currently participating in the co-funding program.
The players
Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking
This entity manages collaborative research partnerships between public and private sectors to address infectious diseases.
Gates Foundation
The foundation is a major private contributor supporting global health initiatives and research capacity building.
BioNTech
This biotechnology company participates in the partnership to support infectious disease research projects.
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
This organization leads clinical trial research, including the development of the MTBVAC tuberculosis vaccine.
Novartis
The pharmaceutical company acts as a co-funding organization within the research initiative.
The details
The Global Health EDCTP3 manages partnerships between public and private sectors, including groups like the Gates Foundation, BioNTech, and the Leprosy Research Initiative. Current efforts include testing the MTBVAC tuberculosis vaccine in sub-Saharan Africa and developing a single-dose malaria cure through the WANECAM 3 project.
Timeline
Call-level contributions are expected to exceed €49 million by the end of 2026.
The 2027 Work Programme is scheduled for publication in December 2026.
A networking platform for new partners will launch in January 2027.
The 13th edition of the EDCTP Forum will take place from 5-9 April 2027.
The Big Picture
The Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking coordinates international research efforts to address infectious disease burdens in low- and middle-income regions. This latest funding round represents a significant expansion of the financial resources dedicated to its research agenda.
These funding commitments accelerate the development of critical medical tools, such as the MTBVAC tuberculosis vaccine and new malaria treatments. Patients in affected regions may see improved access to future therapies as these clinical trials move through their testing phases.
The takeaway
Collaborative research models allow pharmaceutical companies and non-profits to pool expertise for high-stakes medical breakthroughs. This approach ensures that funding is directed toward tangible clinical targets rather than fragmented individual projects.
What happens next
The 2027 Work Programme is set for release in December 2026, followed by a new networking platform launch in January 2027 and the 13th EDCTP Forum in April 2027.
Further reading
For more context on how global health partnerships address evolving health threats, visit the COVID-19 research section.
More information
View the complete List of global health co-investors for a breakdown of participants.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Science Business.
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