# Discovery Awards

**Funder:** Wellcome
**Budget:** Average £3.5M; applications above £5M subject to additional scrutiny
**Deadline:** 22 September 2026 (Upcoming deadline in September 2026)
**Duration:** Up to 8 years (average 7 years; may be less for some disciplines or longer if part-time)
**Consortium:** Optional — coapplicants accepted; team size usually 2–8 applicants including lead; individual applications also permitted
**Frequency:** Twice a year
**Next round:** 2026-09
**Eligible countries:** GB, IE
**Official call:** https://wellcome.org/research-funding/schemes/wellcome-discovery-awards
**Last verified:** 29 July 2026

> **Recently updated:** catalog cleanup 2026-07-04: budget copied from duplicate sibling

## Eligibility & scope

For established researchers or teams pursuing bold, creative research to advance understanding or develop methodologies benefiting health-related research. Lead applicant must be based at a not-for-profit organisation in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or a low/middle-income country (excluding India and mainland China). Permanent/open-ended contract required. Coapplicants may be based anywhere except mainland China.

## Summary

Wellcome Discovery Awards fund bold, creative research from established researchers or teams pursuing methodologies or insights that advance health understanding, with average grants of £3.5 million over up to eight years. Lead applicants must be based in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or a low- or middle-income country (excluding India and mainland China); UK and Ireland-based leads cannot claim salary. The call opens twice yearly, with application deadlines in March and September.

## Who should apply

- Established researchers or team leads with a track record of independent research
- Applicants hosted at UK, Republic of Ireland, or low/middle-income country institutions
- Researchers pursuing innovative methodologies or fundamental insights that benefit health
- Projects with genuine creative risk or methodological novelty

## Key dates

- Deadline 22 September 2026 (and recurring March rounds)
- Single-stage written assessment
- Up to eight years project duration (average seven years)

## Tips for applicants

- Applications above £5M face additional scrutiny, justify the scope and cost explicitly if exceeding this threshold.
- Lead from a UK or Ireland institution? You cannot claim salary costs; build your budget around UK salary band restrictions.
- Wellcome prioritises creative risk and methodological innovation here, not incremental progress, frame the bold question, not the straightforward experiment.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much can I apply for in a Wellcome Discovery Award?

The average award is £3.5 million; applications above £5 million are subject to additional scrutiny by the funder.

### Who is eligible to lead a Wellcome Discovery Award?

Established researchers or team leads whose administering organisation is in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or a low- or middle-income country (excluding India and mainland China).

### How long does a Wellcome Discovery Award last?

Up to eight years; the average is seven years, though some disciplines may receive shorter or longer durations.

### Can I include co-applicants or collaborators in a Discovery Award?

Yes, co-applicants and collaborators are permitted; the lead must meet the eligibility criteria.

### How often does Wellcome run the Discovery Awards call?

Twice per year, with deadlines in March and September.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/wellcome-discovery-awards-2026-09) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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