This round closed on 22 September 2026. The details below are from that round.
The Wellcome Discovery Award guide lists the next deadline if Wellcome announces one.
Wellcome
Discovery Award
Current round closes on 22 September 2026 at 15:00 BST. Continuous applications begin on 23 September 2026, without deadlines.
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These timestamps are not source verification. Confirm the current deadline and your eligibility on the funder’s call page before applying.
The September 2026 Discovery Awards round closes on 22 September. 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 | Usually 8 years (may be shorter for some disciplines) |
| Consortium | Optional — can apply as individual established researcher or as a team of 2-8 applicants led by an established researcher |
| Application | Single stage: full application → shortlisting (November 2026) → interviews (9–11 March 2027) |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Next round | 2026-09 |
| Eligible countries | GBIE |
Recently updated
catalog cleanup 2026-07-04: budget copied from duplicate sibling
Eligibility & scope
Funding for established researchers or teams (2-8 applicants) to pursue bold, creative research in any discipline (STEM, humanities, social science, clinical/health) to shift understanding of human life, health and wellbeing. 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); grant funds cannot be transferred to mainland China. 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
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- 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.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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