Climate Impacts Awards

The Climate Impacts Awards by Wellcome is a global funding initiative that aims to drive urgent climate action by making the health effects of climate change more visible. Recognizing the disproportionate burden of climate impacts on vulnerable communities, this scheme supports transdisciplinary research teams in generating and translating evidence that can influence policy and practice. Projects are expected to integrate scientific, economic, and community-based approaches to deepen the understanding of how climate change affects both physical and mental health. The scheme is part of Wellcome’s broader strategy to support innovative, evidence-driven efforts to address pressing global health challenges. Eligible teams must include a lead applicant and at least one coapplicant, with a maximum of eight named applicants. These teams should demonstrate a strong track record in both climate and health research, particularly in engaging with impacted communities and influencing policy at various levels. Transdisciplinary collaboration is essential and should include scientific disciplines, economic expertise, and stakeholders from public, private, and community sectors. All applicants must be based at eligible not-for-profit administering organizations located outside mainland China. Coapplicants may be based in commercial or international organizations if they play a substantive role. While collaborators may support the project, they cannot receive salaries or compensation, although direct expenses can be covered. The funding provides up to £2.5 million per award over a period of up to three years. Around 10 to 15 awards will be granted through this highly competitive call. Funds may be used for staff salaries, consumables, access charges, travel, clinical and fieldwork costs, public engagement activities, open access charges, and overheads. Projects must aim to fill an evidence gap within a short period, typically 12–18 months, and clearly articulate a theory of change linked to a policy opportunity that can be targeted within the grant period. Research methods can include both quantitative and qualitative approaches, with economic analyses required to contextualize the health impacts in financial terms. The 2026 application window closes on April 8, 2026 at 15:00 BST. All applications must be submitted through the Wellcome Funding Platform. A pre-application webinar will be held on February 23, 2026 to provide further information. The application process includes eligibility checks, committee shortlisting, and online interviews scheduled between July 21–23, 2026. Final funding decisions will be announced in August 2026. Applicants must ensure their administering organization is registered with Wellcome, and first-time applicants must request an organization account before applying. Successful proposals will demonstrate policy relevance, methodological rigor, stakeholder engagement, and a clear strategy for translating findings into scalable actions. The focus must be on the direct and environmentally mediated health effects of climate change, excluding socially mediated outcomes, general advocacy, or health system impacts. Applications must include visibility and communication plans to ensure findings are accessible and impactful. Letters of support from collaborators are encouraged, especially for proposals involving Indigenous communities. All research must adhere to principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion, with a demonstrated commitment to inclusive research design and meaningful community involvement.

Clearly define a short-term policy target and ensure transdisciplinary, community-driven design.