Wellcome Career Development Awards

  • Start Date:

  • Deadline:

  • Agency:
    Wellcome

The Office of Grants and Research (OGR), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology wishes to inform the university community of a funding opportunity under the Wellcome Career Development Awards programme.

This programme, funded by the Wellcome Trust, provides long-term funding for mid-career researchers with the potential to become international research leaders. The award supports researchers to develop their research capabilities, lead innovative programmes of work, and deliver significant advances in understanding human life, health, and wellbeing.

Key Highlights:
Funder: Wellcome Trust

Award Type: Research: Career Development Award

Award Amount: Typically below £250,000 per year (excluding applicant’s salary); applicants may request resources appropriate to their research programme

Funding Duration: Usually up to 8 years (may vary depending on discipline and part-time status)

Application Deadline: 26 March 2026

Strategic Programme: Discovery Research; Climate and Health; Infectious Disease; Mental Health

Objectives:

  • Support mid-career researchers to become international leaders in their fields.

  • Enable the development and delivery of innovative, high-impact research programmes.

  • Advance knowledge and understanding related to human life, health, and wellbeing.

  • Strengthen research leadership capacity and institutional research excellence.

Research Scope / Disciplines:

  • Human health and wellbeing research

  • Climate and Health

  • Infectious Diseases

  • Mental Health

  • Discovery research across biomedical, health, and interdisciplinary fields

Eligibility:

  • Open to mid-career researchers based in eligible host organisations in the UK, Republic of Ireland, and Low- and Middle-Income Countries (excluding India and mainland China).

  • Applicants must demonstrate strong research leadership potential and a clear, innovative research vision.

  • Applications must be submitted by an eligible administering organisation.

  • Co-applicants are not permitted under this scheme.

Application Process:

  • Prepare and submit applications through the Wellcome Trust online grant management system.

  • Applicants must work closely with their host institution to develop and justify the proposed research programme and budget.

  • Applications must demonstrate scientific excellence, innovation, leadership potential, and long-term impact.

Benefits:

  • Provides long-term, flexible funding to support independent research leadership.

  • Enables development of innovative, high-impact research programmes.

  • Supports career progression toward international research leadership.

  • Strengthens institutional research capacity and global research competitiveness.