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 administering 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 (Wellcome Funding). 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.

April 2023 round

Opening soon

  1. Applications open

    07 December 2022
  2. Application deadline

    11 April 2023, 17:00 BST
  3. Shortlisting

    June 2023
  4. Interviews

    12-14 September 2023

July 2023 round

Opening soon

  1. Applications open

    06 June 2023
  2. Application deadline

    25 July 2023, 17:00 BST
  3. Shortlisting

    October 2023
  4. Interviews

    23-25 January 2024

November 2023 round

Opening soon

  1. Applications open

    16 August 2023
  2. Application deadline

    21 November 2023, 17:00 GMT
  3. Shortlisting

    February 2024
  4. Interviews

    7-9 May 2024

April 2024 round

Opening soon

  1. Applications open

    22 November 2023
  2. Application deadline

    16 April 2024, 17:00 BST
  3. Shortlisting

    June 2024
  4. Interviews

    17-19 September 2024

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.