International Fellows Programme at the Wellcome Sanger Institute
International Fellows Programme
The Wellcome Sanger Institute is dedicated to advancing genome research worldwide. The International Fellows Programme is central to our mission, focusing on empowering scientists in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) through access to cutting-edge genomic technologies and training. Our current and alumni International Fellows significantly enrich our scientific community and support us in delivering meaningful, world-changing research that looks beyond our local communities and engages with the global community.
All of our International Fellows and alumni are highly regarded scientific leaders. Each brings a deep understanding of the scientific questions that will have the most significant impact on their country, together with experience of the cultural and practical challenges that must be considered when conducting research to address them.
Our International Fellows are given a three-year funded fellowship to deliver on a genomics project in collaboration with a member of our Core Faculty. This partnership gives the International Fellows access to mentorship and support, as well as the use of Sanger Institute facilities and pipelines to deliver their scientific research.
The Fellows continue to work at their Institutes throughout the Fellowship. To ensure close collaboration, Fellows visit the Sanger Institute at key points throughout the project and have the Sanger Institute as a secondary affiliation.
Alongside the scientific achievements, the Fellows become part of a global network of current and alumni International Fellows who collaborate and support one another throughout their genomics research careers.
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How the International Fellows Programme operates
The International Fellows Programme is targeted at early-to-mid career research group leaders and is a highly competitive process. Dr Trevor Lawley, Senior Group Leader at the Sanger Institute, was appointed Chair of the Programme in 2020, and works closely with the current and previous International Fellows to support them through mentoring in research and grant writing, and build a high-quality international framework for science, genomics, and collaboration.
Dr Alice Mann, Head of Academic Programmes, works alongside the Chair. She oversees the operational and strategic development of the Programme, governance, and delivery, while working closely with the Fellows to strengthen the Programme’s global impact and accessibility.
First established in 2012, the Programme aims to:
- Build a global community of practice for genomics research
- Support cutting edge genomic research in Low- and Middle- Income Research Institutions
- Redress the underrepresentation of Low- and Middle- Income countries in published genomics research
- Improve the Sanger Institute scientific community’s understanding of global genomics research needs
- Foster collaborations and bilateral exchanges between Faculty and International Fellows.
An International Fellow is supported with:
- £100,000 fellowship fund for three years. Funds support project costs, equipment, travel, and training.
- Career mentorship from Sanger Faculty.
- Access to Sanger’s infrastructure.
- Support for funding applications.
- International Fellows retreat and International Fellows alumni network.
- Support for training and capacity development.
World Map of current and former International Fellows
