Discovery Research

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Our long-term funding spans all fields and disciplines. Our goal is to generate new knowledge that will improve health. We call this discovery research.

From humanities and social sciences, to genomics and clinical research, we're supporting researchers across their careers and creating opportunities to unlock potential.

Standfirst

Our mission is to generate new knowledge that could transform health in ways we can't always anticipate today.

We fund researchers across fields, disciplines and career stages. And we're changing how research is done, through improved tools, technology, methods and culture.

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Discovery Research | What we do | Wellcome
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Discovery research is our term for studies that lead to new knowledge and insights into life, health and wellbeing. Find out about our funding for this research.
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Funding research

We're generating new knowledge with the potential to improve life, health and wellbeing. We don’t always know where new breakthroughs will come from, so our scope in discovery research is deliberately broad.

We run funding opportunities based on career stage three times a year. Research can involve observational, experimental or theoretical approaches. It can be carried out in the laboratory, office, clinic or field. 

We're also creating the conditions for innovation through directed funding for institutions and major initiatives

For example, we support critical research fields such as bioimaging and genomics. 

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Creating better research cultures

We are dedicated to improving research environments, ensuring that researchers have the necessary freedom, resources and time to develop their skills. We also work to break down barriers to promote collaboration and interdisciplinary research. 

By doing this we encourage different questions to be asked, leading to new ideas and breakthroughs. 

Learn how we’re improving research environments

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Enabling innovation

We are working to improve the wider research ecosystem. We do this by supporting the development of tools, technologies and methodologies for innovation and success, and by bringing together the right expertise in the right environments. 

For example, our Discovery Research Platforms are a £73 million investment to overcome practical, technological and methodological barriers in research.

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Autistic people and maternity care
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Human Cell Atlas
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Diamond Light Source
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Unlocking barriers to biomaging
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Supporting discovery research across the globe
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Epistemic injustice
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