Wellcome

Mental Health Award: Understanding How Anxiety and Trauma-Related Problems Develop

Up to £4 millionUp to 5 years

Deadline not specified in this page segment; preliminary and full application stages apply

Last verified: 18 June 2026

The Wellcome Mental Health Award funds research on how anxiety and trauma-related problems develop across biological, psychological, and social levels, with grants up to £4 million over five years. The call is open to researchers at UK and international eligible organisations, including universities, research institutes, NGOs, and commercial bodies, and requires at least one multi-level explanation or LMIC-focused research component. This is a two-stage competitive process with preliminary and full applications.

Details

Funder	Wellcome
Budget	Up to £4 million
Duration	Up to 5 years
Application	2-stage: preliminary application → full application

Eligibility & scope

Open to researchers at eligible organisations (HEIs, research institutes, non-academic healthcare, NGOs, commercial orgs with working capital). Lead/co-applicants must contribute ≥20% research time. UK/Republic of Ireland-based leads cannot claim salary. Funds research on biological, psychological and/or social mechanisms of anxiety/trauma-related problems; at least one priority area required (multi-level explanation or LMIC context). No transfer of funds to mainland China.

Who Should Apply

•Researchers investigating biological, psychological, or social mechanisms of anxiety and trauma-related disorders
•Research teams at HEIs, independent research institutes, healthcare organisations, NGOs, or commercial organisations
•Lead or co-applicants able to commit at least 20% research time to the project
•Projects with multi-level explanatory frameworks or a focus on low- and middle-income country contexts
•Researchers hosted in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or other eligible international organisations

Key Dates

•Two-stage application: preliminary application followed by full application for invited teams
•Up to five-year project duration

Tips for Applicants

✓Include a clear multi-level research component (biological, psychological, and/or social mechanisms) or a strong LMIC justification; single-level proposals without these hooks score poorly.
✓Ensure all named leads and co-applicants confirm ≥20% research time and understand funder restrictions (UK/Ireland-based leads cannot claim salary).
✓Use the preliminary stage to test your framing: focus on mechanism and novelty, not just symptom reduction or service delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Wellcome Mental Health Award provide?

Up to £4 million per project over five years.

Is there a salary cost restriction for UK-based researchers?

Yes, lead and co-applicants based in the UK or Republic of Ireland cannot claim salary costs, though other eligible expenses apply.

What research areas does the Mental Health Award cover?

The award funds research on biological, psychological, and social mechanisms underlying anxiety and trauma-related disorders; projects must address at least one priority area (multi-level explanation or low- and middle-income country focus).

Who is eligible to apply for the Mental Health Award?

Researchers at HEIs, research institutes, healthcare organisations, NGOs, and commercial organisations are eligible; lead and co-applicants must commit at least 20% research time.

Is this a single-stage or multi-stage application?

It is a two-stage process: first a preliminary application, then a full application for invited teams.

wellcomemental-healthanxiety-traumatranslational-researchmulti-disciplinarymid-careerlmic-focus

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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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