[Wellcome Trust](https://wellcome.org/research-funding)

July 29, 2025 (closed to new applications) | November 25, 2025 (closed to new applications) | March 31, 2026 | September 22, 2026 | February 23, 2027

Typical award: £3.5M (average); requests above £5M undergo extra scrutiny; duration up to 8 years.

Supports established researchers or teams to pursue bold, creative research that advances understanding or methodologies in health-related fields.

--- ## Description This opportunity provides substantial, flexible funding for established researchers or teams led by established researchers to pursue ambitious, high-impact research in any discipline, provided the work has the potential to improve human life, health, and wellbeing. Projects can be single-discipline or multidisciplinary, and proposals are evaluated for their boldness, creativity, and potential to shift understanding or develop new methodologies, frameworks, tools, or techniques relevant to health-related research. The scheme emphasizes leadership, research environment, and a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and positive research culture. --- ## Due Dates - July 29, 2025: Full application deadline (closed to new applications) - November 25, 2025: Full application deadline (closed to new applications) - March 31, 2026: Full application deadline (March 2026 round) – submit by 15:00 BST - September 22, 2026: Full application deadline (September 2026 round) – submit by 15:00 BST - February 23, 2027: Full application deadline (February 2027 round) – submit by 15:00 GMT --- ## Funding Amount - Applicants should request the resources needed for their research; justification is required. - Typical award size is £3.5 million; applications above £5 million receive additional scrutiny. - Funding duration is up to 8 years (average duration 7 years; range 3–8 years); may be longer for part-time awards. - Covers research expenses, salaries for staff (not the lead applicant unless based in a low- or middle-income country), equipment, travel, training, and other justified costs. --- ## Eligibility - **Lead Applicant:** Must be an established researcher with international standing, experience leading innovative research, and a track record in managing and training others. - **Career Stage:** Lead applicants must hold (or have a guarantee of) a permanent, open-ended, or long-term rolling contract at the time of application (not conditional on this award). - **Location:** The administering organisation must be in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or a low- or middle-income country (excluding India and mainland China). - **Coapplicants:** Teams (2–8 researchers) are allowed; coapplicants can be at any career stage and based anywhere except mainland China. All must be at eligible organisations able to sign Wellcome's grant conditions. - **Collaborators:** May be included without eligibility restrictions, but cannot receive salary from the grant. - **Restrictions:** Lead applicants cannot have two other pending Discovery Award applications. Activities involving transfer of funds to mainland China are not eligible. --- ## Application Process 1. **Preparation:** Review all scheme guidance and eligibility. Ensure your research fits the Discovery Research remit. 2. **Submission:** Complete the application on the [Wellcome Funding platform](https://funding.wellcome.org/). Leave time for institutional review and approval—applications must be submitted by the organisation's authorised approver by the deadline. 3. **Documentation:** Depending on requested costs, provide letters of support for salary/teaching buyout/overheads/equipment as required. 4. **Assessment:** Applications are reviewed for boldness, creativity, quality, leadership, and research environment. Shortlisted applicants are invited to interview. 5. **Decision:** Final decisions are made by the Discovery Research Decision Board; applicants are notified by email. --- ## Additional Information - Research can be in any discipline (STEM, humanities, social sciences, clinical/allied health sciences, public health) as long as it aims to advance human health. - Funding cannot be used for large clinical trials primarily testing interventions, PhD stipends, or activities in mainland China or India. - The scheme is highly competitive (recent success rate ~22%). - Applicants may resubmit once if not successful, but must make significant changes. --- ## External Links - [Wellcome Discovery Awards scheme page](https://wellcome.org/research-funding/schemes/wellcome-discovery-awards) - [Eligibility and guidance for established researchers](https://wellcome.org/research-funding/guidance/prepare-to-apply/established-researcher) - [What we fund in Discovery Research](https://wellcome.org/grant-funding/guidance/prepare-to-apply/discovery-research-schemes-remit) - [List of eligible low- and middle-income countries](https://wellcome.org/research-funding/guidance/prepare-to-apply/low-and-middle-income-countries) - [Sample Discovery Award application form (PDF)](https://cms.wellcome.org/sites/default/files/2021-08/sample-full-app-form-wellcome-discovery-award.pdf) - [How to write a Wellcome grant application](https://wellcome.org/grant-funding/guidance/how-to-write-wellcome-grant-application) - [Wellcome Funding platform (apply)](https://funding.wellcome.org/) --- ## Contact Information | Type | Details | |---------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | General Enquiries | [Wellcome Funding Information Team](https://wellcome.org/about-us/contact-us/funding-enquiry) | | Phone | +44 (0)20 7611 5757 | | Additional Info | [Wellcome Trust Contact Page](https://wellcome.org/contact-us) | ---

Wellcome Discovery Awards

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