Wellcome: open calls

Early-career research award for researchers across biomedical, clinical, population health, arts & humanities, and social sciences. Applicants must be affiliated with an administering organisation; UK-based applicants may be eligible for Global Talent visa endorsement. Clinical training completion during the award is supported. Interviews held in London (remote participation available).

For early-career researchers (PhD passed + ≤3 years postdoc) at UK, Republic of Ireland, or LMIC (excl. India & mainland China) not-for-profit institutions. Must contribute ≥80% research time. No co-applicants accepted. Covers any discipline with health relevance. Funds cannot be transferred to mainland China.

Early-career researchers across biomedical, clinical, population health, arts, humanities and social sciences. Administering organisation must submit by 15:00 GMT/BST on deadline day. Global Talent visa endorsement available for UK-based award holders. Applications open 4 March 2026.

Career development award for researchers seeking to establish independence. Applications submitted via Wellcome Funding platform and approved by administering organisation by 15:00 BST deadline. Host organisation may be worldwide; UK-based hosts can support Global Talent visa endorsement. Covers clinical, epidemiological, qualitative, and basic research across multiple Discovery Advisory Group areas.

Supports researchers at the career development stage across a broad range of disciplines (biomedical, clinical, social sciences, arts & humanities, data sciences). Applications managed in English via the Wellcome Funding platform; host organisation must administer the grant. Global eligibility; UK-hosted awardees may access Global Talent visa endorsement.

For established researchers or teams (2–8 applicants) pursuing bold, creative research to deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing. Lead applicant must be based at a not-for-profit organisation (HEI, research institute, healthcare org, charity) in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or eligible LMIC (excl. India and mainland China). No salary for lead applicant unless LMIC-based.

Open to researchers at eligible organisations globally; lead applicant salary not covered unless based in a low- or middle-income country with a permanent/long-term contract requiring external salary recovery. Applications managed in English. Covers discovery research across a broad range of disciplines including sciences, arts, humanities, and social sciences.

Open to research-active clinical lecturers (or veterinary equivalent) based at UK administering organisations who hold a PhD or MD, a medical/dental/veterinary undergraduate degree, and are in higher speciality training. Covers directly incurred research costs (consumables, equipment); no salary, research assistants, PhD students, or postdoctoral staff. Administered by the Academy of Medical Sciences.

Open to established researchers or teams led by an established researcher based at eligible not-for-profit organisations in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or low- and middle-income countries (excluding India and mainland China). Research must fit within Wellcome's Discovery Research remit and have potential to improve human life, health, and wellbeing across any discipline including STEM, humanities, social science, and public health.

Funds international exchange programmes in health-related humanities, social sciences, or bioethics. Lead applicant must be based at an eligible UK organisation; at least one co-applicant must be outside the UK (mainland China excluded). All applicants must hold permanent/open-ended contracts. High-income country organisations must demonstrate significant additional resource commitment.

For established researchers and teams pursuing bold, creative research questions across any discipline with a clear link to human health. Lead PI must have international standing. Open to applicants in UK, Republic of Ireland, or OECD low- and middle-income countries (excluding China and India). Covers all resources needed. Large-scale clinical trials not funded.

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 a low/middle-income country (excl. India and mainland China). Applicants in UK/Ireland cannot claim salary. Coapplicants accepted from any discipline/country (excl. mainland China).

For researchers ready to develop their research identity; requires PhD or equivalent plus no more than 3 years full-time postdoctoral experience. Open to applicants based in UK, Republic of Ireland, or OECD-defined low- and middle-income countries (excluding China and India). Covers salary and up to £400k in research costs. Not for large-scale clinical trials.

For mid-career researchers ready to lead a substantial research programme. Host institution must be a not-for-profit (HEI, research institute, or healthcare org) in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or a low/middle-income country (excluding India and mainland China). Applicant must contribute ≥80% research time. Co-applicants not accepted. Annual expenditure usually below £250k excluding salary.

Lead applicant must be based at a not-for-profit organisation in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or a low/middle-income country (excl. India and mainland China). Teams of 3–5 applicants required; coapplicants can be worldwide except mainland China. Supports novel bioimaging technology development at cell-tissue scale. Lead must contribute ≥20% research time and hold a permanent/open-ended contract. UK/Ireland leads cannot claim salary.

Open to emerging or established research groups in health-related humanities, social sciences or bioethics. Lead applicant must have programme/network leadership experience; all applicants need permanent or long-term contracts. Organisations worldwide eligible except mainland China. High-income country hosts must show significant additional resource commitment.

Open to individuals or teams at any career stage, based at eligible host organisations worldwide (excluding mainland China). Requires evidence of research training and open-source software development experience. Funds development of open-source digital tools for climate-sensitive infectious disease modelling. Grant funds cannot be transferred into mainland China.

Funds research into causal mechanisms underpinning active ingredients of early interventions for anxiety, depression and/or psychosis. Lead applicant must contribute ≥20% research time; co-applicants ≥10%. Lived experience involvement required. Overheads capped at 20% of direct costs. UK universities cannot claim overheads. Open to universities, not-for-profits, and small companies globally.

Open to researchers at eligible organisations (HEIs, research institutes, non-academic healthcare, NGOs, commercial orgs with working capital). Lead/co-applicants must contribute ≥20% research time. UK/Republic of Ireland-based leads cannot claim salary. Funds research on biological, psychological and/or social mechanisms of anxiety/trauma-related problems; at least one priority area required (multi-level explanation or LMIC context). No transfer of funds to mainland China.

Open to teams from higher education institutions, research institutes, non-academic healthcare organisations, not-for-profits, or companies worldwide (excluding mainland China). Lead applicant based in UK or Republic of Ireland cannot claim salary. Min 20% research time commitment required. Lived experience involvement encouraged. Overheads capped at 15–20% of direct costs.

For researchers with a PhD wanting to develop a novel idea toward a larger grant. Host institution must be in UK, Republic of Ireland, or eligible LMIC (excl. India). Particularly encourages early-career independent researchers. Joint applications not permitted; no current Wellcome salary funding. Covers pilot/scoping studies, preliminary data, proof-of-principle work.

Funds research on early intervention for cognitive and functional outcomes in people experiencing or at risk of psychosis. Host organisations include universities, research institutes, non-academic healthcare orgs, NGOs, and companies worldwide (excluding mainland China). Lead applicant must contribute ≥20% research time. Lived experience involvement is mandatory. Phase III pharmacological trials and animal-model research are excluded.

Open to multidisciplinary teams worldwide (excluding mainland China and sanctioned territories) from eligible organisations. Lead applicant must contribute ≥20% research time and hold a permanent/long-term contract. Must involve people with lived experience of anxiety, depression and/or psychosis. UK/Republic of Ireland leads cannot request salary. Overheads capped at 15–20% of direct costs.

For mid-career researchers ready to lead a substantial research programme. Host institution must be a not-for-profit (HEI, research institute, or healthcare org) in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or a low/middle-income country (excluding India and mainland China). Applicant must contribute ≥80% research time. Co-applicants not accepted. Research must fit Wellcome Discovery Research scope and have potential to improve human health.

For basic biomedical scientists within 5 years of first independent post (e.g. lecturer), based at eligible UK higher education institutions. Practising clinicians are excluded. Covers research expenses, equipment, research assistance, and travel; personal salary costs not funded. Co-applicants not accepted. Administered in partnership with the Academy of Medical Sciences.

Climate and health research scheme. Applications submitted via Wellcome Grant Tracker and approved by administering organisation. Open access costs covered via block grant or supplementary funding. Fieldwork, engagement, and dissemination costs eligible. The full application deadline was July 2023 — this call appears to be closed.

Open to researchers self-identifying as Black, Bangladeshi, or Pakistani heritage who are currently working in or ordinarily resident in the UK, with an undergraduate or PhD degree from a UK institution. Co-applicants not accepted. Host organisation must be UK-based. Covers research or research-adjacent activities aligned with Wellcome's Discovery Research remit. Annual until 2028.

Supports transdisciplinary teams to co-develop discovery research agendas at the intersection of genomics, humanities, social sciences and bioethics. Lead applicant must hold a PhD (or 4 years equivalent experience), have a permanent/long-term contract, and be based at an eligible non-commercial organisation anywhere in the world except mainland China. Commercial organisations ineligible as administering organisations.