Wellcome is launching a major funding initiative to establish approximately 12 new doctoral programmes for registered healthcare professionals in the UK and Republic of Ireland. This is a significant opportunity for research institutions to build world-leading training environments.

Key Opportunity Details:

• Goal: To train and retain the next generation of healthcare professional academics (like doctors, nurses, dentists, and allied health professionals) in high-quality research environments.
• Funding:An average of £12 million per programme to support five intakes of 3-5 fellows each.
• Location: UK
• Frequency: One-off
• Funding duration: 5 Cohorts with the first intake in autumn 2027.
• Deadline: 10 February 2026.
• Coapplicants: Accepted

Who Can Apply:

This call is for established researchers to lead a programme. The lead applicant must be based at an eligible host organization in the UK and can form a team with up to seven co-directors. Including:

• The lead applicant
• The teams
• Coapplicants
• Collaborators

Who Can’t Apply:

You should not apply for this call if:

• You are looking for funding to do your own PhD/DPhil.
• You intend to carry out activities which involve the transfer of funds into mainland China
• You cannot demonstrate that your team can dedicate enough time and resources to the programme, if funded
• You are already an applicant on two applications for this funding call:

you can only be a lead applicant on one application and a coapplicant on another one, OR you can be a coapplicant on two applications

What a Successful Programme Looks Like:

Provide outstanding research training within Wellcome’s Discovery Research remit.

• Have a clear and ambitious vision, addressing an unmet need.
• Detail a robust plan for recruiting a diverse cohort of healthcare professionals (e.g., doctors, nurses, dentists, allied health professionals).
• Include a specific strategy for supporting fellows’ career progression before and after their doctorate.
• Actively foster a positive, inclusive, and supportive research culture.

Essential Criteria and Weightings:

• Your training programme (50%)
• Your team’s skills and experience (25%)
• Your programme management plans (25%)

How To Apply:

Apply via the Wellcome Funding platform by 10 February 2026. Submit the online form with two required documents, ensuring your administering organization approves and submits the final application by the deadline. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interview, with final decisions in Summer 2026.

Funding & Support:

The award is a flexible block grant that covers:

• Fellows’ PhD fees and salaries.
• Research expenses and training costs.
• Travel and conference allowances.
• A dedicated career progression fund.

Next Steps for Applicants:

Full details and the application form are available on the Wellcome Funding platform. The application process includes

• Information webinar in 4 November 2025
• Application deadline in 10 February 2026
• Shortlisting stage in March 2026
• Interviews in May 2026
• Final decisions expected in July 2026

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