In 2014, Rosetrees Trust awarded a Seedcorn grant of approximately £6,000 to Dr Philippa Matthews to support a project investigating how children in South Africa respond to hepatitis B vaccination, particularly those living with HIV. The study, part of the Co-infection in South African Children (COSAC) cohort, aimed to better understand how overlapping infections affect immunity in vulnerable populations.

Since receiving this early support, Philippa has gone on to become Professor of Infectious Diseases and an internationally recognised leader in viral hepatitis research. The Seedcorn funding played a pivotal role in this trajectory, enabling Professor Matthews to strengthen an international collaboration with clinical teams in South Africa and to begin building an independent research programme in a new field. The work led to a senior-author publication and laid the groundwork for a series of further studies exploring hepatitis B in African populations.

While the original project has long since concluded, its influence has been far-reaching. Professor Matthews went on to secure a £1.1 million fellowship, establish a major research programme spanning the UK and South Africa, and now leads a team investigating the biological, clinical, and public health aspects of viral hepatitis. Her work also extends into global health policy, data collaboration, and training the next generation of researchers across Africa and the UK.

Most recently, this trajectory has culminated in a major new award of over £4 million to continue hepatitis B research on the African continent – directly building on the foundations first supported by Rosetrees.

This story highlights how small, early-stage investments can unlock long-term impact – supporting not only scientific discovery, but careers, collaborations, and global health progress.