Discovery Awards

  • Start Date:

  • Deadline:

  • Agency:
    Wellcome Trust

The Office of Grants and Research (OGR), KNUST, invites the university community to apply for the Discovery Awards, funded by the Wellcome Trust. The programme supports established researchers and research teams pursuing bold, creative projects that have the potential to transform understanding of human life, health, and wellbeing.

Funder: Wellcome Trust

Award Type: Research Grant

Award Amount: Average £3.5 million (applications above £5 million are subject to additional scrutiny)

Duration: Up to 8 years (average 7 years)

Application Deadline: 22 September 2026 (15:00 BST)

Website: Wellcome Discovery Awards

Objectives

  • Support bold and innovative research with the potential to transform understanding of human life, health, and wellbeing.
  • Enable researchers to develop novel methodologies, frameworks, tools, and techniques that advance health-related research.
  • Promote interdisciplinary collaboration to address complex health challenges.
  • Foster research with the potential to generate significant scientific and societal impact.

Research Areas

  • Life Sciences
  • Biomedical Research
  • Public Health
  • Humanities
  • Social Sciences
  • Interdisciplinary Research related to human life, health, and wellbeing

Eligibility

  • Established researchers applying individually or as part of a research team.
  • The lead applicant must be based at an eligible organisation in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, or a low- or middle-income country (excluding India and mainland China).
  • Co-applicants are permitted for team-based applications.

Application Process

Applicants should prepare and submit their proposals through the Wellcome Trust funding portal before the application deadline.

Researchers who intend to apply are encouraged to contact the Office of Grants and Research (OGR), KNUST, for guidance and institutional support throughout the application process.

Benefits

  • Average funding of £3.5 million for ambitious, long-term research projects.
  • Support for projects lasting up to eight years.
  • Opportunity to pursue transformative research with global impact on health and wellbeing.
  • Access to institutional proposal development support through the Office of Grants and Research (OGR), KNUST.