Intenational Fellows Programme

The Wellcome Sanger Institute is dedicated to advancing genome research world wide. The International Fellows Programme is central to our mission, focusing on empowering scientists from 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, globally impactful scientists and leaders in their field. Each brings with them a wealth of knowledge of the scientific questions that will have the most significant impact on their country of origin, together with experience of the cultural and practical challenges they overcame to pursue their research career.

International Fellows are granted a three-year funded fellowship to deliver on a genomics project in collaboration with a member of our Core Faculty. Our Faculty mentor and support our International Fellows to delivering their research using Sanger Institute facilities and pipelines.

International Fellows do not move to the Sanger campus but have the Sanger as a secondary affiliation and visit the Sanger at key points throughout the delivery of their project.

Appointment as an International Fellow is a highly competitive process, which intentionally recruits early-to-mid career research group leaders. Our goal is to nurture a global network of current and alumni International Fellows who collaborate and support one another throughout their genomics research career.

Current International Fellows

International Fellows have established positions in Research Institutes from Low- and Middle-Income Countries. They help us formulate and deliver our scientific strategy with respect to diseases prevalent in these parts of the world and can advance their own science in the Sanger Institute environment.

Prof Alfred Amambua-Ngwa

International Fellow, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia

Dr Claire Chewapreecha

International Fellow, MORU Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit

Dr Annettee Nakimuli

International Fellow, Makerere University, Uganda

Dr C Daniela Robles-Espinoza

International Fellow, LIIGH-UNAM, Mexico

Prof Pablo Tsukayama

International Fellow, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru

Previous International Fellows

Dr Gregorio Iraola

Former Sanger Institute International Fellow, Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Uruguay

How the International Fellows Programme operates

The International Fellows Programme was established in 2012, under the leadership of Professor Gordon Dougan. In 2020 the programme expanded to attract early-career Trevor Lawley, senior group leader in the Parasites and Microbes programme.

Our International Fellows 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.