Wellcome Discovery Awards

About this opportunity

Wellcome Discovery Awards provide funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing. The scheme supports research that aims to make major contributions by generating significant shifts in understanding and/or developing methodologies, conceptual frameworks, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research. Awards can be held by individual established researchers or teams of researchers led by an established researcher. The program provides comprehensive support including salary costs, research expenses, equipment, staff salaries, overseas allowances, and professional development. Researchers are encouraged to put together diverse teams and actively promote inclusive research environments. The average Discovery Award is £3.5 million with a typical duration of 7 years, though awards can last up to 8 years.

36 - 97 mo

6-9 months

research life sciences health research biomedical sciences public health humanities social sciences experimental medicine methodologies tools development technology development

Who can apply

Applicant Types

individual, team

Organization Types

academic, nonprofit, hospital

Residency

🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇮🇪 Ireland

Region

Global

How to apply

Interview required Institutional approval

Stages

1 two_stage

Required documents

cv · research_proposal · budget

Review process

Applications undergo eligibility check, then shortlisting by Discovery Advisory Groups (10 groups covering different research areas), followed by written expert review for shortlisted applications, and finally interviews conducted by Discovery Award Interview Panel. Final funding decisions made by Discovery Research Decision Board.

Additional benefits

mentorship
training
networking
travel_support
equipment

Restrictions

reporting_requirements

Post-award obligations

acknowledge_funder
final_report

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