Wellcome Early-Career Awards
The Wellcome Early-Career Awards support early-career researchers to independently lead innovative research advancing understanding or methods relevant to human health and wellbeing across any discipline.
Funder: Wellcome Trust
Due Dates: July 21, 2026 | November 10, 2026 | April 6, 2027
Funding Amounts: Award covers salary plus up to £400,000 for research expenses (certain additional costs not counted against this cap); typical duration up to 5 years.
Summary: Supports early-career researchers to lead independent, innovative research advancing understanding or methodologies relevant to human health and wellbeing.
Description
The Wellcome Early-Career Awards are designed to support early-career researchers who are ready to develop and lead their own independent research projects. The scheme funds research across all disciplines—including STEM, humanities, social sciences, clinical and allied health sciences, and public health—provided the work advances understanding of human life, health, and wellbeing or develops new methodologies, tools, or frameworks beneficial to health-related research. The award aims to enable recipients to expand technical skills, build collaborative networks, develop management abilities, and foster responsible, inclusive research cultures. By the end of the award, recipients are expected to be prepared to lead independent research programs or have developed transferable skills for related careers.
