Wellcome: open calls

For established researchers or teams pursuing bold, creative research to deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing. Administering organisation must be a not-for-profit (HEI, research institute, healthcare org, or charity) based in UK, Republic of Ireland, or an eligible LMIC (excluding India and mainland China). No salary for lead applicant unless LMIC-based. Any discipline including STEM, humanities, social science, and public health.

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 research into causal mechanisms underpinning active ingredients that could inform early interventions for anxiety, depression and/or psychosis. Lead applicant must contribute ≥20% research time; co-applicants ≥10%. Lived experience involvement required at multiple project stages. Overheads capped at 20% of direct research costs; UK universities cannot claim overheads.

Open to multidisciplinary teams from eligible organisations worldwide (excluding mainland China and sanctioned territories). Lead applicant must contribute ≥20% research time and hold a permanent/long-term contract. All applications must involve people with lived experience of anxiety, depression and/or psychosis. UK/Republic of Ireland lead applicants cannot request their own salary unless salary recovery is contractually required.

For mid-career researchers ready to lead a substantial research programme. Administering organisation must be a not-for-profit in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or a low/middle-income country (excluding India and mainland China). Applicant must contribute ≥80% research time. Annual expenditure usually below £250k excluding salary. Any discipline within Wellcome Discovery Research scope.

PhD training fellowships for health professionals, delivered through 12 named UK university programmes (e.g. 4Ward North, ECAT-I, GW4-CAT, HARP, King's Mental Health, LHIIP, Liverpool Global South, Midlands MH&N, Multimorbidity, Cambridge/UEA, Primary Care, Global Health Africa). Applicants must apply directly to the relevant programme, not to Wellcome. UK-based host institutions only.

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 based outside the UK (mainland China excluded). All applicants must hold a permanent or long-term contract. Participants gain career development through academic exchanges abroad. High-income country organisations must demonstrate significant additional resource commitment.

Funds research on early intervention for cognitive and functional outcomes in people experiencing or at risk of psychosis. Open to HEIs, research institutes, non-academic healthcare orgs, NGOs, and companies worldwide (excluding mainland China and sanctioned countries). Lived experience involvement is mandatory. Animal-model research is excluded; human participants only. Lead applicant must contribute ≥20% research time.

Open to researchers at any career stage and discipline. Host organisations include HEIs, research institutes, non-academic healthcare orgs, not-for-profits, and companies worldwide (excluding mainland China). UK/ROI-based lead applicants cannot request their own salary. Proposals must focus on anxiety and depression treatment stratification. Lived experience involvement is encouraged.

Open to researchers self-identifying as Black, Bangladeshi, or Pakistani heritage, currently working in or ordinarily resident in the UK, with a UK undergraduate or PhD degree. Must have completed substantive research training. Funds research or research-adjacent activities aligned with Wellcome's Discovery Research remit (human life, health and/or wellbeing). At least 80% research time required. UK administering organisation mandatory.

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 and a permanent/long-term contract; administering organisation can be anywhere except mainland China; commercial organisations ineligible as administering organisations. Funds up to £500k for 12–24 months.

For researchers with a PhD who want to develop a novel idea for a future larger grant. Host institution must be in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or a low/middle-income country (excluding India). Applicants must hold an academic/research post or personal fellowship. Cannot be a postdoctoral researcher on another grant or currently hold equivalent-level funding. Particularly encourages early-career and interdisciplinary researchers.

For established researchers or teams pursuing bold, creative research with potential to improve human health. Lead applicant must be based at a UK, Republic of Ireland, or LMIC (excl. India and mainland China) not-for-profit institution with a permanent/open-ended contract. Research can span any discipline including STEM, humanities, social science, and public health. Grant funds cannot be transferred to mainland China.

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 must hold permanent, open-ended or long-term rolling contracts. Organisations worldwide eligible except mainland China. High-income country applicants must show significant additional resource commitment from their organisation or another funder.

For basic biomedical scientists within 5 years of their first independent post (e.g. lecturer), based at an eligible UK higher education institution. Practising clinicians are not eligible. Covers research expenses, equipment, research assistance, and travel; personal salary costs are excluded. Administered by the Academy of Medical Sciences in collaboration with Wellcome Trust.

For early-career researchers (up to ~3 years post-PhD) at UK, Republic of Ireland, or LMIC (excl. India and mainland China) not-for-profit organisations. Applicant must contribute ≥80% research time. Covers salary plus up to £400k research expenses; overheads and overseas allowances excluded from the £400k cap. No co-applicants permitted. Research must relate to human health within Wellcome's Discovery Research remit.

Funds research into biological, psychological and/or social mechanisms by which causal factors lead to anxiety- and trauma-related problems. Open to HEIs, research institutes, non-academic healthcare orgs, NGOs and commercial organisations globally. UK/Ireland-based lead applicants cannot request their own salary. Funds may not be transferred to mainland China. Lived experience involvement required.