Wellcome Trust offers $500,000 grants for genomics and society research: Apply now

The Wellcome Trust has launched the Genomics in Context Awards, a new funding initiative designed to support innovative collaborations that connect genomics with the humanities, social sciences and bioethics.

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Focus What’s on offer Who can apply Deadline

This call encourages early-stage, discovery-driven research that examines how genomics intersects with human life, ethics and society, fostering fresh perspectives on the social dimensions of scientific advancement.

Focus

The Genomics in Context Awards aim to spark transdisciplinary collaborations that bridge genomics and other fields of inquiry.

The programme supports idea-stage projects that bring together expertise across disciplines to pose new research questions, test innovative methodologies, and explore how genomics shapes—and is shaped by—cultural, ethical and social contexts.

What’s on offer

Awardees will receive up to $500,000 for projects lasting 12 to 24 months.

Funding may be used to cover:

Research staff and materials
Equipment and fieldwork
Travel and training
Public engagement activities
Open-access publication fees

The awards are flexible and designed to help teams experiment, collaborate and lay the groundwork for long-term research impact.

Who can apply

Applications are open to transdisciplinary teams that include:

One researcher from a genomics-related life science field (as lead or co-applicant)
One researcher from the humanities, social sciences or bioethics (as lead or co-applicant)
One key stakeholder from a relevant sector (e.g., community, policy, NGO or industry) involved in shaping the research

The lead applicant must hold a PhD or have equivalent research experience (minimum of four years) and have the capacity to lead collaborative research.

They should hold a permanent, open-ended or long-term contract—or provide evidence that such a position will be secured for the duration of the grant.