The Wellcome Trust has announced applications for its Career Development Award Scheme to provide funding for mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders.
The award will allow researchers to develop their research capabilities, foster novel programmes, and deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and well-being.
Funding Information
- The annual expenditure for a Career Development Award is usually below £250,000 excluding the applicant’s salary.
Expected Outcomes
- During the award, successful candidates are expected to:
- develop research capabilities and leadership skills
- support others to undertake research responsibly and promote a positive and inclusive culture
- Start training the next generation of researchers and develop their research skills and careers.
- By the end of the award, you should have achieved international standing in your area of research.
- You should also have the skills and experience to apply for permanent positions at research organisations.
Eligibility Criteria
- You can apply for a Wellcome Career Development Award if you are a mid-career researcher and you are ready to lead a substantial and innovative research programme. But you must aim to make a key contribution to your field by:
- generating significant shifts in understanding and/or
- developing methodologies, conceptual frameworks, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research.
- To be eligible, you will already be driving your own research:
- You must have:
- completed one or two substantial periods of research after your initial research training
- made important contributions to your area of research.
- You must have:
- The administering organisation must be in one of the following:
- UK
- Republic of Ireland
- a low- or middle-income country (apart from India and mainland China).
- It can be a:
- higher education institution
- research institute
- non-academic healthcare organisation
- not-for-profit organisation.
Ineligibility Criteria
- You are not eligible to apply if:
- you hold, have held, or have accepted an offer for an equivalent award at this career stage (an exception to this is that their current Wellcome grantholders at an equivalent stage can apply to this scheme)
- you have made an application to this scheme and you are waiting for a decision.
- You cannot apply to carry out activities that involve the transfer of grant funds into mainland China.
Deadline: July 24, 2025
How to apply: Click HERE
The Wellcome Trust's Career Development Award Scheme aims to fund mid-career researchers from various disciplines with the potential to become international research leaders.
The grant supports the development of research capabilities, novel research programs, and significant advancements in understanding health, human life, and well-being.
The annual award expenditure is typically below £250,000, not including the applicant’s salary.
Successful candidates are expected to enhance their research and leadership skills, foster a positive and inclusive research culture, and mentor the next generation of researchers.
By the award's end, recipients should have gained international recognition in their field and be equipped to apply for permanent research positions.
Eligibility for the award requires applicants to be mid-career researchers leading innovative research programs, having completed significant research beyond initial training and made notable contributions to their field.
Applicants must be affiliated with an institution in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or eligible low- or middle-income countries, excluding India and mainland China.
Ineligible applicants include those holding or awaiting similar awards, except for current Wellcome grantees, and those transferring funds to mainland China.
