Wellcome Discovery Awards
Wellcome Discovery Awards support established researchers and teams pursuing bold discovery research to advance understanding and research methods that improve human life, health and wellbeing.
Funder: Wellcome Trust
Due Dates: Rolling (current applications) | November 2026 (September round shortlisting) | March 9–11, 2027 (September round interviews)
Funding Amounts: Average award £3.5 million for 7 years; awards up to 8 years, with longer durations possible part-time
Summary: Supports established researchers and teams pursuing bold, creative discovery research that advances understanding or research methods to improve human life, health and wellbeing.
Key Information: From October 29, 2026, lead applicants must be based at eligible organisations in the UK or eligible low- and middle-income countries in Africa, South Asia or South-East Asia.
Description
Wellcome Discovery Awards support established researchers, individually or leading teams, who seek significant shifts in understanding or advances in methodologies, conceptual frameworks, tools and techniques for health-related research. Projects can span a single discipline or combine STEM, experimental medicine, humanities, social sciences, clinical and allied health sciences, and public health. The emphasis is on research ambition, novelty and quality, with a clearly defined connection to human life, health and wellbeing.
The scheme funds research expenses and can support training, collaboration, public engagement, patient involvement and dissemination. Research may explore fundamental biology, health and disease, health inequalities, communities’ priorities, health systems, or the social and historical contexts of health. Wellcome also expects applicants to foster a diverse, inclusive and supportive research culture.
