Gates Foundation Gives UW $540M for Health Research

The largest charitable gift in University of Washington history just landed, and it's going to help health leaders around the globe make smarter decisions about saving lives.

The Gates Foundation announced a $540.2 million commitment to the university's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation on Monday. The 10-year grant will dramatically expand IHME's Global Burden of Disease study, which tracks causes of death and illness worldwide.

The expansion is massive. IHME will increase coverage from about 925 locations to nearly 5,000, giving local leaders access to detailed health data they've never had before.

For many countries, this study provides the only reliable, comparable information about what's actually killing people and making them sick. That data helps governments and health organizations decide where to invest limited resources for maximum impact.

"This funding will allow us to provide high-quality evidence at a much more local level and help leaders understand not only where health is improving or worsening, but which decisions can make the greatest difference for people," said Dr. Christopher Murray, IHME's director.

The institute became a household name during the COVID-19 pandemic when the White House used its projections to guide national response efforts. Its data appeared in news reports worldwide as communities tried to understand what was coming.

The Ripple Effect

This investment arrives at a crucial moment. Global health funding dropped 21% between 2024 and 2025, with U.S. spending down a staggering 67%.

The timing matters for UW too. The university faces serious budget challenges, with federal grant money falling sharply over the past year.

But this gift keeps IHME stable and growing just when its work matters most. The institute will maintain its current staff of about 425 people while dramatically expanding the reach and detail of its research.

The Gates Foundation created IHME in 2007 with a $105 million grant. Since then, it has repeatedly broken its own records with gifts to the university, including $210 million in 2016 for IHME's building and $279 million in 2017 for operations.

The new grant runs through 2036, ensuring that health leaders worldwide will have the local, detailed data they need to make life-saving decisions for years to come.