# Wellcome Discovery Awards

**Funder:** Wellcome
**Budget:** Average £3.5M; applications above £5M subject to additional scrutiny
**Duration:** Up to 8 years (average 7 years; 3–8 years range)
**Consortium:** No
**Application:** 2-stage: preliminary → full
**TRL:** Discovery science
**Frequency:** Twice a year
**Next round:** 2026-03
**Eligible countries:** GB, IE
**Official call:** https://wellcome.org/research-funding/schemes/wellcome-discovery-awards
**Last verified:** 14 June 2026

## Eligibility & scope

For established researchers or teams led by an established researcher pursuing bold, creative research to advance understanding or develop methodologies benefiting health. Lead applicant's administering organisation must be in UK, Republic of Ireland, or eligible LMIC (not India or mainland China). Not-for-profit host required. No salary for UK/Ireland-based leads. Coapplicants accepted from any discipline/country except mainland China.

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