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.

Scheme at a glance 

Where the host organisation of the lead applicant is based:
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.

Deadline for new applications

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Eligibility and suitability 

What we offer 

How to apply 

Log in to our online grants system (Grant Tracker). You can save your application and return to it any time.

Watch our webinar for established researchers and collaborative teams to hear more about our goals for Discovery Research at Wellcome.

Key dates 

You must submit your application by 17:00 (GMT/BST) on the deadline day. We don’t accept late applications.

December 2022 round

Opening soon

  1. 27 July 2022

    Applications open

  2. 06 December 2022, 17:00 GMT

    Application deadline

  3. February 2023

    Shortlisting

  4. 23-25 May 2023

    Interviews

April 2023 round

Opening soon

  1. 07 December 2022

    Applications open

  2. 11 April 2023, 17:00 GMT

    Application deadline

  3. June 2023

    Shortlisting

  4. 12-14 September 2023

    Interviews

July 2023 round

Opening soon

  1. 01 June 2023

    Applications open

  2. 25 July 2023, 17:00 GMT

    Application deadline

  3. October 2023

    Shortlisting

  4. 23-25 January 2024

    Interviews

Contact us 

If you have a question about eligibility, what we offer or our funding remit, contact our funding information advisers:

Send us a message

Phone us on(0)20 7611 5757

We do not answer questions on the scope or competitiveness of proposals.