HOPE

HOPE — Execution

Supports United Kingdom human organ engineering collaborations focused on translational tissue platforms.

HOPE — Human Organs, Physiology, and Engineering — is a $50 million Wellcome Leap program focused on engineering human tissues and organs for two primary applications: creating a multiorgan platform that replicates human immune responses for drug testing, and advancing bioengineered kidney technology to improve survival outcomes for patients with end-stage renal disease. The program is led by Program Director Annie Moisan, PhD, whose background spans mechanistic biology, preclinical safety strategies, and stem cell biology. Wellcome Leap operates HOPE as a performer-model program, selecting teams from academic institutions, foundations, and private companies to execute on defined technical milestones.

Performer teams have been selected and are in mid-execution. The original solicitation is closed and no new competitive call for applications is currently open. Eligibility in Wellcome Leap programs generally extends to universities, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, and research institutes; individual applicants are not eligible. Award sizes per performer are not publicly disclosed; the total program investment is $50 million. The cooperative-agreement structure means performers work under Wellcome Leap oversight with milestone-gated accountability rather than independent grant flexibility.

For organizations with capabilities in tissue engineering, organoid development, or kidney disease treatment, HOPE represents a pathway to engage with Wellcome Leap infrastructure. Because no open solicitation exists, the practical near-term action is to monitor wellcomeleap.org/hope for future announcements and establish visibility in the field. Winning Leap programs typically require demonstrated capacity for rapid, high-stakes execution rather than exploratory research, and teams benefit from cross-sector partnerships between academic, clinical, and commercial actors.