Breaking down barriers: A funder's perspective on achieving equity and inclusivity in infectious disease modelling and epidemiology

Persistent inequities in infectious disease modelling and epidemiology hinder the effectiveness and impact of global health research. These disparities, ranging from limited data infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to power imbalances in research partnerships, undermine the relevance and accessibility of research outputs for the communities most affected by infectious diseases. This perspective piece, co-authored by teams at Wellcome and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), explores how funders can help reshape research culture to foster equity, inclusivity, and sustainability. It outlines three pillars for progress: enabling thriving research environments, promoting collaborative and engaged research, and embedding equitable and open access to research outputs. Drawing on case studies such as the Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance (GRAM) study and CEPI's Global South Leaders in Epidemic Analytics and Response Network (GS LEARN), the authors highlight how inclusive funding strategies, community engagement, and co-funding models can drive systemic change, recognising that structural and political barriers can impede progress. Funders must go beyond grant-making to support capacity building, inclusive governance, and equitable dissemination of research. Funders are in a unique position to help cultivate an engaged and broadly representative research ecosystem. This perspective piece calls on funders to continuously learn, adapt, and collaborate to ensure that the benefits of infectious disease modelling and epidemiology research benefit affected communities to address current and future global health challenges.