Research Programme Consortia: Health research – filling the gaps in evidence in infectious diseases, health systems and vulnerable groups This programme in the Ross Fund Portfolio (which focusses on neglected tropical diseases, diseases of emerging resistance and diseases of epidemic potential) aims to build the evidence based on effective interventions and delivery mechanisms to tackle infectious diseases in low and middle income countries. The research programmes will take an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach to help DFID and the development community better understand what works most effectively to tackle infectious diseases, building upon the existing evidence base. The research addresses a number of core themes, including delivery through health systems, value for money of interventions, vulnerable groups, gender and building evidence on interventions in a range of contexts including (but not limited to) fragile and conflict affected states.