Wellcome Early-Career Awards
The Wellcome Early-Career Awards support early-career researchers to lead independent, innovative projects advancing health-related research or methods across any discipline.
Funder: Wellcome Foundation
Due Dates: September 30, 2025 | February 17, 2026 | July 21, 2026 | November 10, 2026 | April 6, 2027
Funding Amounts: Salary plus up to £400,000 for research expenses, typically over 5 years; additional costs (overheads, adjustment support, overseas allowances) may be available.
Summary: Supports early-career researchers to lead independent, innovative research projects advancing understanding or methods in health-related research across any discipline.
Key Information: Open to researchers in the UK, Republic of Ireland, and low- and middle-income countries (excluding India and mainland China); three rounds per year.
Description
This opportunity funds early-career researchers ready to design, plan, and deliver their own innovative research projects in any discipline, provided the work fits within Wellcome’s Discovery Research remit and is relevant to human life, health, or wellbeing. The scheme aims to help researchers develop technical and management skills, expand collaborations, and foster positive research cultures, with the expectation that recipients will be prepared to lead independent research programs by the end of the award.
Projects can focus on advancing understanding in a chosen field or developing methodologies, frameworks, tools, or techniques that benefit health-related research. The scheme is deliberately broad, welcoming proposals from STEM, humanities, social sciences, public health, and interdisciplinary fields, as long as there is a clear link to human health.
