Wellcome Discovery Awards

Lead applicants must be based at an eligible nonprofit institution in the UK, Ireland or a low- or middle-income country excluding India and mainland China. From 29 October 2026, the permitted host locations become the UK and listed low- or middle-income countries in Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia. Team coapplicants may be based elsewhere except mainland China.

An established research leader, alone or leading a team, needs international standing, innovative research leadership and experience managing/training others. A permanent/open-ended/long-term contract or an unconditional guarantee of one is required, with institutional salary support; if fewer than three contract years remain, a secured position at an eligible institution and a support letter are needed. Retired applicants require an institutional appointment and guaranteed resources and cannot request their salary. Team coapplicants must make essential contributions and be at eligible institutions; they may be anywhere except mainland China and at any career stage. Coapplicant contract/underwriting and minimum 10% research-time conditions apply when requesting salary, with different treatment at 80% commitment. Lead salary support is restricted to qualifying externally funded posts in low- or middle-income countries, with at least 10% research-time commitment. Only two concurrent Discovery Award applications as lead applicant are allowed. The administering institution must meet Wellcome’s grant conditions and provide the required support. Before 29 October 2026 it must be in the UK, Ireland or an eligible low- or middle-income country excluding India and mainland China; from that date only the UK and listed low- or middle-income countries in Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia qualify. Transfers of grant funds into mainland China are excluded. Projects must fit the scheme’s discovery-research remit. Projects first submitted from 1 July 2026 may be considered at most twice across Wellcome schemes; eligible resubmissions need substantial development and normally a 12-month gap after rejection. Read the source for earlier-submission exceptions.

1. Complete the application on Wellcome Funding and send it to the administering organisation’s approver. The organisation must approve and submit it to Wellcome. There is no fixed application deadline; the location rules change on 29 October 2026.