Given the growing awareness of the negative impacts of extreme heat on human physical and mental health, Wellcome has initiated funding to help increase knowledge of these impacts and evaluate potential solutions. However, there remain gaps in our knowledge of when and why heat is so detrimental to human health and this knowledge could help us improve current interventions and identify new ones. Biomedical and biotechnical scientists (including immunologists, geneticists, engineers, biometeorologists, data scientists and others) are starting to develop innovative solutions to the impacts of extreme heat on human health but these entrepreneurial efforts are nascent and scattered.

Wellcome is interested in learning where investment opportunities may lie for further innovation at this intersection. Ultimately, we are seeking to identify opportunities for protecting communities from extreme heat through biomedical and biotechnological innovation. For example, risk indicators, diagnostics and protective measures.