The question

Could we help Wellcome understand how archives, manuscripts and material culture support discovery research into life, health and wellbeing? And could we set out a series of recommendations that could reshape this ecosystem over the next decade?

What we did

Wellcome asked Human Economics (working with i2 media research) to map this global ecosystem and its potential for discovery research. Together we developed a clear framework for understanding the role of archives, manuscripts and material culture in life, health and wellbeing research. We combined literature review, surveys and in-depth interviews with researchers and collections professionals to build a robust evidence base. This analysis was then translated into 15 practical recommendations for funders, institutions and researchers, setting out where and how to invest over the next decade. 

What happened

The findings were published in Wellcome’s report “Infrastructures of Discovery” in November 2025. The report provided the first system-wide evidence base of how these collections functioned as research infrastructure, the barriers that limited their use, and the steps needed to unlock their potential. It offered a practical roadmap for Wellcome and the wider sector – from small, catalytic interventions to long-term systemic change – to support collections-based discovery research that was more ambitious, inclusive and sustainable.