Three New Wellcome Trust Schemes to Open in August 2021

The Wellcome Trust has announced three new funding initiatives for early, mid and senior career researchers, which will open to applications in August 2021.

The Wellcome Trust has announced three new funding initiatives for early, mid and senior career researchers, which will open to applications in August 2021. The research carried out can be in any discipline – including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), experimental medicine, humanities and social science, clinical/allied health sciences, and public health – as long as it has the potential to improve human life, health and wellbeing, and aligns with the Trust’s funding remit.

All applicants must have sponsorship from or should be based at an eligible host organisation. The host organisation can be based in the UK, Republic of Ireland or a low and middle-income country (apart from India and mainland China). The host can be a higher education institution, research institute, non-academic healthcare organisation or not-for-profit organisation.

The three new schemes are:

Early Career Awards

These awards will provide funding for early career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. Salary for the grantholder and up to £400,000 for research expenses for up to five years will be provided. The first funding round will open in August 2021 and have an application deadline of 26 October 2021. It has not been confirmed when the second funding round will open, however, the application deadline will be 15 February 2022.

Career Development Awards

Career Development Awards provide funding for mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. Applicants should already be driving their own research and be ready to lead a substantial and innovative research programme. The Trust provides the salary for the grantholder and research expenses for up to eight years. The first funding round will open in August 2021 and have an application deadline of 16 November 2021. It has not been confirmed when the second funding round will open, however, the application deadline will be 29 March 2022.

Discovery Awards

This new scheme is aimed at established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas. This scheme funds eligible research expenses for up to eight years. The first funding round will open in August 2021 and have an application deadline of 11 November 2021. It has not been confirmed when the second funding round will open, however, the application deadline will be 24 March 2022.

For all three schemes, candidates must ensure they submit an application to the host organisation for approval. The host organisation must then review the application and submit it through the Wellcome Trust Grant Tracker (WTGT) system.