Wellcome
Accelerator Award
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The Wellcome Accelerator Awards fund early-career researchers from Black, Bangladeshi, or Pakistani heritage to pursue discovery research in the UK, with up to £200,000 for project expenses over two years. Applicants must hold an undergraduate or PhD degree from a UK institution and be currently working in or ordinarily resident in the UK; the host organisation must also be UK-based. The scheme runs annually through 2028 and does not permit co-applicants.
Details
| Funder | Wellcome |
| Budget | Your salary (if required) and up to £200,000 for project expenses |
| Duration | Up to 2 years |
| Consortium | No - individual applicant; coapplicants not accepted, collaborators may support without meeting eligibility requirements |
| Application | Single stage |
| TRL | Translational |
| Frequency | Annual - Until 2028 |
| Career stage | Early-career opportunity |
| Eligible countries | GB |
Eligibility & scope
Open to UK-based researchers self-identifying as Black, Bangladeshi or Pakistani heritage (including mixed heritage), who hold an undergraduate or PhD degree from a UK institution and are early- to mid-career. Funds research or research-adjacent career development activities; coapplicants not accepted.
Who Should Apply
- •Early-career researchers self-identifying as Black, Bangladeshi, or Pakistani heritage
- •Researchers with an undergraduate or PhD degree from a UK institution
- •Currently working in or ordinarily resident in the UK
- •Host organisation based in the UK
- •Discovery research projects or research-adjacent activities aligned with Wellcome's remit
Key Dates
- •Check scheme page for current deadline (annual call)
- •Single-stage application
- •Up to two-year project duration
Tips for Applicants
- ✓No co-applicants allowed, this is an individual award; design your team around collaboration letters from partners rather than formal co-PI structures.
- ✓Heritage self-identification is the entry criterion; centre your statement on your research ambition and fit with Wellcome's Discovery Research remit, not your background.
- ✓Two years is tight; scope your project tightly and foreground early milestones to demonstrate momentum.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Wellcome Accelerator Award pay?
Up to £200,000 for project expenses over two years; salary costs may also be included depending on your host institution's policy.
Who is eligible for the Wellcome Accelerator Award?
Researchers self-identifying as Black, Bangladeshi, or Pakistani heritage, holding an undergraduate or PhD degree from a UK institution, currently working in or ordinarily resident in the UK, with a UK-based host organisation.
Can I have co-applicants on a Wellcome Accelerator Award?
No, the award is for an individual researcher; co-applicants are not accepted.
How long does a Wellcome Accelerator Award last?
Up to two years.
Is the Wellcome Accelerator Award recurring?
Yes, the scheme runs as an annual call through 2028.
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Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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