Wellcome Trust Accelerator Awards

Funding to enable researchers of Black, Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage in the UK to undertake activities that put them in a stronger position to reach their next career stage.

Founded in 1936, the Wellcome Trust is an independent foundation that seeks to improve health by supporting researchers, addressing big health challenges, campaigning for better science and encouraging everyone to get involved with science and health research.

The Trust’s Accelerator Awards provide funding to support researchers of Black, Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage in the UK to undertake activities that put them in a stronger position to reach their next career stage. The funding is flexible and can be used for research activities or activities adjacent to research. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Developing a novel research idea, pilot, proof-of-concept, or scoping study and gathering related preliminary data.
• Taking up research skills training opportunities or other appropriate courses.
• Writing and (co-)authoring papers, books, articles, or funding applications.
• Research time at another research institution in the UK or abroad.
• Secondment opportunities for areas allied to research, such as the pharmaceutical industry or NGOs.
• Planning meetings of collaborative networks or conferences.

This list is not exhaustive and applicants are encouraged to propose activities they believe will best enable them to reach their next career stage. Research in any discipline is permitted but must align with Wellcome’s Discovery Research remit.

At the end of their Accelerator Award, researchers should be better positioned to advance their career to the next stage by attracting research funding (from Wellcome or elsewhere), gaining promotion, positions, and recognition, and developing their professional profile.