Mental Health Award: Using Physical Activity and Circadian-Based Interventions to Reduce Anxiety and Depression in Young People
Funds trials of physical activity and circadian-based interventions to reduce anxiety and depression in 10–18 year olds in the UK and/or Africa, requiring mechanistic focus and multidisciplinary teams.
Funder: Wellcome Foundation
Due Dates: June 29, 2026 (Scope check, 17:00 BST) | July 14, 2026 (Full application, 15:00 BST)
Funding Amounts: £1–4 million per grant | 3–4 years duration | 5–10 awards expected
Summary: Funds mechanistically informed trials of scalable physical activity and circadian-based interventions to reduce anxiety and depression in young people (ages 10–18) in the UK and/or Africa.
Key Information: Team must include expertise in mental health, circadian systems and/or physical activity, clinical trials, and lived experience; interventions must target 10–18 year olds and measure both circadian rhythms and physical activity.
Description
This funding opportunity from the Wellcome Foundation supports mechanistically informed trials of interventions that use physical activity and/or circadian-based approaches to reduce anxiety and depression in young people aged 10–18. Projects must target populations in the UK and/or Africa and focus on early intervention strategies that are scalable and ready for future effectiveness trials. The call emphasizes multidisciplinary teams, inclusion of lived experience experts, and robust plans for real-world implementation. All funded projects are required to measure both circadian rhythms and physical activity, use at least one recommended common measure in new data collection, and provide a strong evidence base for the proposed intervention.
