About Organisation
The Wellcome Trust is a global charitable foundation supporting science to solve urgent health challenges. With a strong focus on innovation and cross-disciplinary research, Wellcome funds groundbreaking projects that address the intersection of science, society, and ethics. Its mission is to improve health for all by fostering collaborative research, nurturing talent, and encouraging responsible innovation.
About the Grant
The Genomics in Context Awards support transdisciplinary teams working at the intersections of genomics, humanities, social sciences, and bioethics. These awards are designed to enable early-stage idea formation, new research collaborations, and partnerships that critically explore how genomics interacts with society.
Projects may focus on:
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AI and genomics
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Precision medicine
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Synthetic genomics
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Pathogen genomics
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Public, legal, and ethical dimensions of genomic science
Expected outputs include new research agendas, toolkits, reports, proof-of-concepts, workshops, and stakeholder engagement models.
Who can Apply?
The Genomics in Context Awards are open to applicants of all nationalities, with the exception of mainland China, reflecting Wellcome’s global scope. Applicants must demonstrate at least some research or professional expertise in genomics, humanities, social sciences, or bioethics, but the strongest applications will be team-based and transdisciplinary. Early-career, mid-career, and senior researchers are all welcome to apply, provided they can demonstrate leadership in convening collaborations across fields.
Applicants are expected to either lead or co-lead a team of researchers, practitioners, or community representatives. Partnerships with non-academic actors such as policymakers, NGOs, or indigenous community leaders are strongly encouraged to ensure diverse perspectives and real-world relevance. Importantly, the program seeks to broaden participation by encouraging proposals from individuals and groups underrepresented in global genomic research and ethics conversations.
Projects must be independent of PhD or postdoctoral work, as the awards are intended for more advanced, stand-alone collaborations. Applicants must also demonstrate the capacity to carry out the proposed project within the funding timeframe. Wellcome looks for proposals that demonstrate originality, potential for significant impact, and the ability to generate outputs that inform practice, policy, or public understanding.
How to Apply?
Submit applications via Wellcome’s online portal by 16 March 2026. Register for team matchmaking by 21 November 2025; event on 26 November 2025. Strong, collaborative, interdisciplinary proposals are prioritized.
Application Deadline
The application deadline is 15 March 2026
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
