SEA DREAM Pre-Launches DREAM 4 Health Call for Proposals 2026 at MIH Megatrends Conference

The SEA DREAM Programme introduced its upcoming DREAM 4 Health Call for Proposals 2026 at a pre-launch event on 26 November 2025 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, held alongside the 2nd Malaysia International Health Megatrends Conference. The event featured an open regional forum followed by a closed-door stakeholder roundtable, both centered on the forthcoming funding call.

The Developing Research Excellence and Mentorship in Southeast Asia (SEA DREAM) Programme is a regional initiative led by the SEAMEO Secretariat in partnership with Wellcome Trust and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK FCDO), established to strengthen Southeast Asia’s research ecosystems and support high-impact, multi-country health research.
 

The programme aims to fund Southeast Asian–led consortia that address the region’s most pressing health challenges including infectious diseases, climate-related health risks, mental health, and health systems, while building equitable partnerships, expanding research career pathways, and fostering long-term institutional capacity across the region.
 

Before the forum, Mr. Ansgar Schaefer, Head of Programme, introduced the DREAM 4 Health CfP 2026, outlining SEA DREAM’s vision to drive impactful research, develop leadership, strengthen collaboration, and build resilient research ecosystems. He announced that the Call will fund at least eight multi-country consortia over five years, with an open competition launching in late January 2026. His presentation highlighted who can apply, the expectation for consortium leads, the thematic priorities, ranging from infectious diseases to climate-related health impacts, mental health, and public health systems grounded in equity, and provided a clear overview of eligible costs, the application process, and evaluation criteria.

This first segment of the pre-launch took the form of a regional forum, bringing together SEA DREAM leadership and partner organisations for a discussion on the forthcoming DREAM 4 Health CfP 2026 and SEA DREAM’s research ambitions.
 

As a panel member, Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim, Director of the SEAMEO Secretariat, highlighted that health challenges cut across borders in Southeast Asia, yet no mechanism currently exists to fund regional collaborative research. She noted that the inaugural DREAM 4 Health CfP aims to demonstrate SEA DREAM’s potential as a regional funding platform for multi-country research and ecosystem strengthening. She also underscored SEAMEO’s mandate and strategic position to connect researchers and policymakers, adding that the Secretariat is engaging national ministries to align SEA DREAM priorities with country needs and to support stronger research design and uptake.
 

Jonathan Underwood offered background on Wellcome Trust’s long-standing engagement in Southeast Asia, noting how previous regional initiatives, such as DELTA and the India Alliance, have shaped Wellcome’s thinking and informed the design of SEA DREAM. He highlighted that these experiences demonstrated the value of sustained, locally driven research capacity and equitable partnerships, principles now embedded in the SEA DREAM model. He also underscored the complementary role of the UK FCDO, whose partnership strengthens the programme’s ability to support regional collaboration and deliver meaningful impact across Southeast Asia.
 

Assoc. Prof. Sharon Kaur spoke about the Southeast Asia Bioethics Network (SEABION), outlining its role in strengthening ethical standards and capacity for research across the region. She described the network’s focus on building shared understanding of ethical practices, fostering dialogue among institutions, and supporting training and guidance for researchers navigating complex ethical landscapes. Drawing from her experience, she noted that regional collaboration is essential for addressing cross-border research challenges, yet often constrained by differing regulatory environments, resource gaps, and varied levels of ethics governance. SEABION’s work, she emphasised, aims to bridge these gaps and promote a more coherent, ethically grounded research ecosystem in Southeast Asia.
 

Ansgar Schaefer reflected on the immediate priorities as SEA DREAM prepares to launch the DREAM 4 Health Call, emphasising the importance of creating a supportive environment for prospective applicants while ensuring a transparent and neutral selection process. He noted that the programme is focused on understanding the needs of researchers, providing clear guidance, and raising awareness among both the research community and government stakeholders. His remarks highlighted SEA DREAM’s commitment to an open  and well-informed application landscape as the Call approaches its launch.
 

Emiljohn Sentillas, Policy and Planning Specialist at the SEAMEO Secretariat, served as the moderator of the forum.

With the forum concluded, the programme transitioned to a closed-door stakeholder roundtable for a more in-depth discussion on the DREAM 4 Health CfP 2026, bringing together participants from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

SEA DREAM will hold a public pre-launch webinar on 18 December at 2:00 p.m. GMT+7, ahead of the official launch of the DREAM 4 Health Call for Proposals on 30 January 2026.