Wellcome

Discovery Award

Average £3.5M; applications above £5M subject to additional scrutiny3-8 years (average 7 years)

Continuous applications begin on 23 September 2026, without deadlines.

Last seen in a scan/import: 18 Oct 2026.

Catalog updated: 18 Oct 2026.

These timestamps are not source verification. Confirm the current deadline and your eligibility on the funder’s call page before applying.

No deadline is on file for this call. Check Wellcome's own call page for the current round's status before you plan around it.

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This call page belongs to the Wellcome Discovery Award programme. The programme guide covers eligibility, budget, success rate and FAQ across every round.

Discovery Awards accepts continuous applications from 23 September 2026. The scheme funds established researchers and teams working on questions relevant to health.

Details

Funder	Wellcome
Budget	Average £3.5M; applications above £5M subject to additional scrutiny
Duration	3-8 years (average 7 years)
Consortium	Optional — coapplicants accepted, team of 2-8 applicants led by an established researcher, or individual applicant without coapplicants
Application	Single stage, apply anytime
TRL	Discovery science
Frequency	Continuous
Next round	2026-09
Eligible countries	GBIE

Eligibility & scope

Funds bold, creative research in any discipline (STEM, experimental medicine, humanities, social science, clinical/public health) with potential to improve health. Administering organisation must be a not-for-profit in UK, Republic of Ireland, or a low/middle-income country (excluding India and mainland China); lead applicant needs a permanent or long-term contract. Location rules change for submissions from 29 October 2026: check the current funder requirements for the UK and eligible low- and middle-income countries in Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia.

Key Dates

•Current round: 22 September 2026, 15:00 BST.
•Continuous applications from 23 September 2026.
•Location eligibility changes on 29 October 2026; submissions through 28 October use the earlier rules.

Related on Grantsby

Wellcome writing tips & FAQ
Evaluation criteria, proposal structure, common mistakes.
Wellcome Discovery Award, full programme guide
Eligibility, budget, success rates, application timeline, FAQ.
Wellcome Discovery Award past winners & funded projects
Recent recipients, host institutions, and funded project titles. See who tends to win before you apply.

View full call → Wellcome writing tips

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Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.