Wellcome
Wellcome Discovery Awards
Twice a year — upcoming deadline in March 2026 (past as of 2026-06-14; next cycle date not specified)
Last verified:
Details
| 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 | GBIE |
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.
Related on Grantsby
- 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.
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