The Wellcome Trust, UK's largest charitable foundation supporting biomedical research, is planning to sell sterling bonds to help raise funds to support its scientific and medical research.

"The proceeds of the issue will be used for investments that, over the long term, will enable the Trust to fund a wide range of scientific and medical research with the ultimate aim of improving human health worldwide."

Among the research thrusts of the Wellcome Trust were the human genome sequencing, developing therapeutics for malaria and psychological disorders, as well as sponsoring the National Science Learning Centre which trains primary and secondary science teachers. The trust also just announce having led a group of research funders to provide £84 million to boost experimental medicine in UK and Ireland.

See also the report from Reuters.