Deadline: 25-Nov-2025
The Wellcome Discovery Awards provide funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who wish to pursue bold and creative research ideas that can bring about significant advances in understanding related to human life, health, and wellbeing. These awards are designed to support projects that have the potential to transform their research field through innovative approaches and meaningful contributions.
The average size of a Discovery Award is £3.5 million, with applications exceeding £5 million undergoing additional scrutiny. Awards can last up to eight years, though most are around seven years in duration, with some as short as three years. Part-time arrangements are possible, and in some cases, awards may run for longer.
The administering organisation must be based in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, or a low- or middle-income country (excluding India and mainland China). It must be a not-for-profit institution such as a higher education institution, research institute, healthcare organisation, charity, or social enterprise.
Applicants must be researchers aiming to make a major contribution to their field by generating significant new insights or by developing methodologies, conceptual frameworks, tools, or techniques that can benefit health-related research. Awards can be held by an individual established researcher or by a team led by one. Research teams typically consist of two to eight applicants, with the primary location and leadership based in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, or a low- or middle-income country. Individuals applying alone cannot include coapplicants but may collaborate with others.
Applicants are ineligible if they are already the lead applicant on two other Discovery Award applications awaiting a decision, or if their proposed activities involve transferring grant funds into mainland China.
For more information, visit Wellcome.
