SEA DREAM: An Overview

Southeast Asia faces complex health challenges, where the impact of climate change on health, the persistence of infectious and non-communicable diseases, growing mental health needs, and uneven access to quality care intersect to strain public health across the region.

In response, SEA DREAM funds multi-country research that tackles Southeast Asia's most urgent and emerging health challenges. By enabling equitable collaborations and fostering the next generation of research leaders, we strengthen the regional research ecosystem.

Implemented by the SEAMEO Secretariat in partnership with the Wellcome Trust, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and national funding agencies across Southeast Asia, SEA DREAM brings together shared expertise and commitment to regional health.

Through funding Southeast Asian–led multi-country collaborations, SEA DREAM advances impactful research, nurtures leadership through mentorship and career growth, strengthens regional collaboration through equitable partnerships, and builds a resilient ecosystem that drives innovation and sustainability.

Our research responds to ASEAN Health Priorities across four thematic areas: infectious diseases, climate change and health, mental health, and health systems and access to care.

At the heart of this agenda is health equity,ensuring that benefits reach the communities most affected. It shapes research questions, methods, partnerships and implementation strategies to promote inclusive health outcomes across Southeast Asia.

SEA DREAM’s inaugural DREAM 4 Health Call for Proposals 2026 will open in January 2026, funding high-impact, Southeast Asian–led research consortia for a duration of up to five years.

These consortia, led by researchers and institutions from across the region, will focus on developing solutions to Southeast Asia’s health challenges, integrating emerging research settings into equitable partnerships, and fostering regional research leadership.

Together, we are creating transformative change toward an equitable, ethical, and excellent research environment across Southeast Asia. Join us in shaping the future of health in our region.