The Developing Research Excellence and Mentorship in Southeast Asia (SEA DREAM) programme launched the DREAM 4 Health Call for Proposals 2026 at the Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) 2026. The call supports Southeast Asia–led, multi-country research consortia addressing pressing regional health priorities while strengthening regional research talent and ecosystems.

SEA DREAM is a USD 52 million regional research funding programme led by SEAMEO Secretariat in partnership with Wellcome and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Over five years, the programme will support regional research consortia through grants, advancing discovery and translational research to foster innovation and scientific discovery, and inform policies, solutions, and interventions across Southeast Asia and beyond.

Leading and associate partners gather at the launch of the DREAM 4 Health Call for Proposals.

The preliminary application phase opened on 30 January and closed on 24 March 2026, receiving applications from across Southeast Asia. Proposals addressed four priority areas: infectious diseases, climate change and health, mental health, and health systems and access to care. Selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals in mid-May 2026, with up to eight consortia expected to be awarded by November 2026.

The SEA DREAM Programme represents a landmark milestone for the Secretariat as its first programme solely devoted to health. SEA DREAM affirms SEAMEO’s commitment to investing in the well-being of Southeast Asian communities and ensuring that health remains a central regional priority.

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