HE IS one of the richest men on the planet and one of the great inventors of our generation.

Co-founder of the world's largest PC software company and business magnate, Bill Gates is now helping Southampton scientists to save millions of lives.

The former Microsoft boffin inventor and his wife Melinda has handed over £370,000 from their joint foundation to researchers at the University of Southampton.

The cash boost will help scientists map where investment into infectious disease research has proved successful around the world.

By studying how research funding is allocated relative to the global burden of disease, and assessing the impact of that research, the resulting data will be used to better inform future investment decisions to ensure the money goes to where it is needed most.

Daily Echo: Southampton scientists at work.

Dr Stuart Clarke, from the University of Southampton’s Faculty of Medicine, who is leading the study, said it would save countless lives in some of the world’s poorest countries.

He said: "We will quantify the contribution of research funds that these infections receive compared to research involving other pathogens that are important in human health.

"This will give policy makers a comprehensive picture of where there’s been a lack of funding relative to the impact of the disease and help to set global research investment priorities.”

Pneumonia and other infectious diseases such as influenza and tetanus have been cited as priority areas by both the World Health Organisation and the Gates Foundation.

A study in 2013 estimated that 800,000 people die every year from pneumonia worldwide and continues to be the number one infectious killer of children under the age of five, with more deaths than HIV, TB and malaria combined.

This is despite the existence of lifesaving treatments and vaccines.

Until now, research investments in these diseases have been poorly documented and global investments are not systematically measured or tracked, meaning little is known about the impact or relevance of funding decisions.

The study, which begins in October, will comprehensively map the research investment to institutions in the 20 richest countries in the world demonstrating the impact of research funding and highlight research gaps globally and nationally.