Wellcome Discovery Awards

This scheme provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing.

Where the administering organisation of the lead applicant is based: UK, Republic of Ireland, Low- or middle-income countries (apart from India and mainland China)

Level of funding:You should ask for the resources you need for your research programme – see the 'What we offer' section on this page. You will need to justify this in your application. 

Duration of funding:Usually 8 years, but may be less for some disciplines, and may only be longer if held on a part-time basis.

You can apply for a Wellcome Discovery Award if you are a researcher who wants to pursue bold and creative research ideas. You must aim to make a major contribution to your research field by: Generating significant shifts in understanding and/or  developing methodologies, conceptual frameworks, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research.

You will be expected to actively promote a diverse, inclusive and supportive research environment within your team and across your organisation.

Your research can be in any discipline – including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), experimental medicine, humanities and social science, clinical/allied health sciences, and public health – as long as it has the potential to improve human life, health and wellbeing, and aligns with our funding remit.

The research can be in a single discipline or multidisciplinary.

Whether you are applying as the sole applicant or the lead applicant for a team, you must have:

international standing as a research leader in your field
experience of leading innovative and creative research
a track record of managing and training others.