The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), an independent research organization at the University of Washington, has received a $540.2 million, 10-year grant from the Gates Foundation. The funding is intended to strengthen freely available, scientifically rigorous health evidence used by governments, researchers, and leaders globally.
The grant will support a major expansion of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, the most comprehensive assessment of health trends and conditions across countries. GBD will grow from covering roughly 925 locations today to nearly 5,000, significantly increasing the geographic detail available to decision-makers.
Funding will also support IHME's health forecasting and future-scenarios work, as well as its tracking of health spending worldwide. These resources aim to help leaders understand current health challenges, anticipate future trends, and allocate limited resources more effectively.
Dr. Christopher J.L. Murray, IHME director and the grant's principal investigator, said reliable independent evidence can mean the difference between reacting to a health crisis after it has taken hold and acting early enough to change its course. He noted the investment will allow high-quality evidence at a much more local level.
Mark Suzman, CEO of the Gates Foundation, said every government and funder faces difficult decisions about where to invest limited resources for greatest impact, and those decisions depend on trusted evidence. He described IHME as one of the foundation's most important global partners for nearly two decades.
The GBD network has grown to more than 20,000 collaborators in over 150 countries and territories, including researchers, clinicians, government analysts, and policymakers. The new grant aims to consolidate this foundation and extend it considerably further.
IHME was established at the University of Washington in 2007 with founding investments from the Gates Foundation and the state of Washington. The award is the largest charitable grant ever given to the university.
IHME's research and findings are freely available to countries, researchers, and communities regardless of their income or access to commercial data systems.
With landmark 10-year investment, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation will deliver more local, timely health evidence worldwide
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