The Wellcome Trust has opened applications for its Career Development Awards, designed for mid-career researchers ready to lead ambitious, high-impact programmes.
Aim
The awards support bold and original research that can shift scientific understanding, introduce new tools or methodologies or build innovative conceptual frameworks.
Projects must show clear potential to advance human health or generate foundational scientific knowledge that contributes to global wellbeing.
The programme encourages long-term, transformative thinking and research with the capacity to redefine or significantly shape a field.
Benefits
Recipients benefit from long-term support, with funding available for up to eight years.
The award may cover:
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Full research costs.
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The applicant’s salary (where justified).
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Team recruitment and development.
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Resources needed to establish or scale an independent research programme.
This sustained funding structure enables researchers to pursue ambitious questions without the constraints of short-term grants.
Eligibility
Applications are open to researchers working across diverse disciplines, including:
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Biomedical and life sciences.
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Clinical and public health research.
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Social sciences and humanities related to health.
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Interdisciplinary discovery research.
Eligible applicants must:
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Be at the mid-career stage with a strong independent research record.
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Be hosted by an eligible institution.
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Be based at institutions worldwide—including LMICs—except those in India and mainland China.
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Propose work aligned with Wellcome’s discovery research priorities.
Requirements
Applicants must submit a well-developed, ambitious research plan demonstrating originality, feasibility and clear scientific value.
Proposals should outline how the work advances discovery research while contributing to global health knowledge. A strong case for leadership development, team-building strategy and a commitment to responsible research culture is essential.
Host institutions must also confirm their support and capacity to nurture long-term research growth.
Deadline
Sign up on the Wellcome Funding platform to begin your application. The closing date is March 26, 2026.
Explore more international research awards on our Opportunities page.
Summary not available at this time.
