Wellcome Career Development Award
Usually 8-year award for mid-career researchers in any discipline who are ready to lead a bold, creative programme related to human life, health and wellbeing. Always open since August 2026, with shortlisting three times a year and then an interview.
Scheme details
- Funding range
- No set cap; annual spend usually below £250,000 excluding the applicant's salary. Covers salary where eligible, up to 4 FTE staff and research costs; usually 8 years
- Career stage
- Mid-career
- Scheme type
- Individual
- Eligibility
- Mid-career researchers already driving their own research, after one or two substantial periods of postdoctoral research; no years-since-PhD rule. Host in the UK, Republic of Ireland or an eligible LMIC; from 29 October 2026, only the UK and LMICs in Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia. One award per career.
- Format & limits
- Research summary: 200 words; Research vision: 3,000 words, plus 2 pages of figures; References: 3,000 words; Generation of knowledge: 1,000 words; Development of others: 250 words; Wider research community: 300 words; Research culture: 500 words
- Deadline
- Open now Always open since 25 August 2026, no deadline · shortlisting in February, June and September, interviews in May, September and January · location rules narrow from 29 October 2026
View official scheme page
https://wellcome.org/research-funding/schemes/wellcome-career-development-awards
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Last updated: 2026-09-24
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