(https://wellcome.org/research-funding/schemes/wellcome-discovery-awards)

Wellcome is soliciting applications for their Discovery Awards scheme from established researchers and teams from any discipline. Researchers who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing are eligible to apply.  Successful applicants will be expected to actively promote a diverse, inclusive and supportive research environment within their team and across their organisation.    

Eligibility:

Established researchers  

Award details:

Up to eight years of project expenses.   

Download the PDF outlining UCT’s deadlines for internal approval

Funder deadline:  

Three deadlines annually, with the next one for 2026 being 22 September.

(https://www.thrasherresearch.org/early-career-award)

The Thrasher Research Fund is soliciting applications for the Early Career Awards scheme.  The purpose of this program is to encourage the development of researchers in child health by awarding small grants to new researchers, helping them gain a foothold in this important area. The Fund is open to a wide variety of research topics, but all funded projects deal directly with children's health.

In the Early Career Award Program, the Fund is particularly interested in applicants that show great potential to impact that field of children's health through medical research. Both an applicant's aptitude and inclination toward research are considered. The quality of the mentor and the mentoring relationship are also considered to be important predictors of success.
 

Eligibility  

• Clinicians who are in a residency/fellowship training program, or who completed that program no more than one year before the Concept Paper deadline.

• Post-doctoral researchers who received the doctoral level degree no more than three years before the Concept Paper deadline

• Each project needs to be under the guidance of a mentor. The qualifications and experience of the mentor will be considered in the evaluation of the application. A mentor may have only one Thrasher Research Fund Early Career Awardee at a time.
   

Award details    

• The grant amount is based on the actual budgetary needs of the project, with a maximum of $25,000 in direct costs for the entire grant

• The duration of the project can be up to two years

Download the PDF outlining UCT’s deadlines for internal approval

Funder deadline:  

Concept submission deadline: 1 September 2026

(https://researchscholars.gilead.com/public_health/about)

The Gilead Research Scholars Program supports innovative research from emerging investigators around the world to incorporate new perspectives in pursuit of scientific understanding and progress. This program is exclusively focused on implementation science and clinical epidemiology focused on HIV and/or viral hepatitis, with the aim of strengthening aspects of the care cascade.

Eligibility  

• Hold an MD/MBChB/MBBS, PhD or equivalent degree at time of award
• No more than 10 years have elapsed since the degree was awarded
• Currently working with an academic research institution or public health organization (e.g. Department of Health or within a hospital) and be on track to achieving a Researcher appointment, faculty appointment or other equivalent positions
• Have a strong interest in public health research focused on HIV and/or viral hepatitis
• Have a research mentor with extensive experience in the field of HIV and/or viral hepatitis or expertise in a discipline relevant to implementation science e.g., economics, engineering, psychology, anthropology etc.
• Be able to devote approximately 50% of professional time to research for the next two years (versus administrative, patient care or teaching responsibilities)
• Be able to complete the proposed research within the two-year award period
   

Award details    

• Up to $100,000 for two years

Download the PDF outlining UCT’s deadlines for internal approval

Funder deadline:  

28 August 2026

(https://www.samrc.ac.za/funding/samrc-researcher-development-programme-phd-research-funding-clinical-medical-or-health)

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) is soliciting applications through its Clinician-Researcher Development Porgramme. This funding instrument is intended to support individuals employed at public academic institutions, SAMRC intramural and extramural research units, and SAMRC research centres, who are engaged in health, medical or clinical research, to improve their academic qualifications. This once-off award is aimed at emerging researchers in the final 12 months of their PhD studies and is intended to alleviate pressures that may hinder the timely completion of the degree. The funds can be used to afford dedicated time to spend on research activities, either as a salary while on unpaid leave or to pay for work relief, or any other justified intervention that will facilitate PhD completion. Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate a high likelihood of successful completion within 12 months of being awarded funding, including those with a strong publication track record or at least one accepted publication arising from their PhD research. The programme targets designated groups and is expected to increase the number of academics with PhD degrees as part of overall research capacity strengthening and transformation

Eligibility  

• South African citizen or permanent resident.
• Full-time employees of public academic institutions in South Africa or SAMRC researchers.
• Officially approved research proposal and ethics clearance (where applicable) for the PhD project.
• Must have at least one accepted publication emanating from their PhD studies.
• Must complete their thesis write-up within twelve (12) months from the date of commencement of the award.
• Research abstract to be provided.
• Full research proposal to be provided.

Please see RFA for more information

Award details    

• R250,000, for up to 12 months

Download the PDF outlining UCT’s deadlines for internal approval

Funder deadline:  

18August 2026

The Groote Schuur Hospital Clinical Ethics Committee is now up and running. 

If you require ethical guidance or support, please reach out to us through VULA. 

For enquiries, contact heidi.matisonn@uct.ac.za or jackie.hoare@uct.ac.za.

(https://professional.dkms.org/research-publications/impact-grant)

DKMS, an international non-profit organisation dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with blood cancer and other blood disorders, invites applications for the DKMS Impact Grant 2027. The programme supports emerging physicians and scientists in low- and middle-income regions to develop research or sustainable implementation projects that improve access to diagnosis, treatment, management of complications, and supportive care for patients with malignant and non-malignant haematological diseases.

Projects may be:
• Research projects that generate actionable knowledge; or
• Sustainable implementation projects that develop scalable, long-term approaches to improving patient care.

Eligibility  

• Open to emerging physicians and scientists in the field of haematology.
• Researchers with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Principal Investigator.

Award details    

• Up to €120,000 per project, for 2years (with the possibility of a 2-year extension for outstanding projects)

Download the PDF outlining UCT’s deadlines for internal approval

Funder deadline:  

Letter of Intent deadline: 31 August 2026

(https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/grant/global-science-summit-programme-2026/)

The Novo Nordisk Foundation invites applications for the Global Science Summit Programme 2026, which supports interdisciplinary, international collaborative research aimed at developing scalable, science-based solutions to improve the early detection and long-term management of cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs). The programme focuses on projects that leverage digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), and health data to address global health challenges.

Eligibility  

• Applications must be submitted by a collaboration consisting of 2–3 research groups (one main applicant and one or two co-applicants).
• Collaborations must demonstrate:
  • Interdisciplinary expertise;
  • Contextual understanding of the proposed research;
  • International engagement (co-applicants may be from different countries and disciplines).
• Projects should address one or more of the following:
  • Earlier detection of cardiometabolic diseases in high-risk populations;
  • Integration of screening and follow-up into existing health services;
  • Patient-centred strategies to improve treatment adherence;
  • Health system innovations that support management of multiple cardiometabolic diseases and their comorbidities.
• Proposed innovations should be beyond the conceptual stage but not yet fully mature or implemented.
   

Award details    

• Up to DKK 50 million (approximately USD 7.2 million), for 1-3 years

Download the PDF outlining UCT’s deadlines for internal approval

Funder deadline:  

01 September 2026

This    award    is    to    acknowledge    the    outstanding    contributions    of    young    researchers    in the    FHS’s    research    publication    output.    Three    awards    will    be    made    in    3    categories    in the    fields    of:    Clinical    Sciences;    Basic    Laboratory    Sciences;    Public    Health    & Rehabilitation    Sciences    together    with    Health    Sciences    Education.

Eligibility 

• Postgraduate    Award:    Postgraduate    student    or    postdoctoral    fellow    within    one    year of    completing    PhD 
• Early    Career    Award:    Member    of    staff    or    postdoctoral    fellow    within    five    years    of completing    their    PhD.)

  
Award details 

• Postgraduate    Award:    R5    000    
• Early    Career    Awards:    R10    000

Funder deadline
28 August 2026

Download the full call for more information

(https://orphandiseasecenter.submittable.com/submit/363962/2026-mast-genes-research-foundation-pilot-grant-program-loi)

The MAST Genes Research Foundation, in collaboration with the Orphan Disease Center, is pleased to announce the 2026 MAST Genes Research Foundation Pilot Grant Program, which will support two investigator-initiated research projects aimed at advancing the biological understanding of the MAST genes and/or accelerating the discovery or development of therapeutic approaches. This pilot grant is intended to generate high-impact preliminary data, support novel or underexplored approaches, and position investigators for future external funding.

Eligibility  

• Researchers with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Principal Investigator.
• Early career investigators and postdoctoral fellows may apply, provided the application includes documented institutional and mentor support.
   

Award details    

• Two awards of $50,000 total costs
• Project duration: up to 12 months

Funder webinar on 11 August 2026, register here.

Download the PDF outlining UCT’s deadlines for internal approval

Funder deadline:  

Letter of Intent deadline: 28 August 2026

(https://www.samrc.ac.za/funding/south-african-national-health-research-enterprise-research-tb-hiv-other-infectious-diseases)

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) invites applications for research projects that will strengthen the South African National Health Research Enterprise by advancing research on tuberculosis (TB), HIV and other infectious diseases. This RFA invites applications from eligible South African researchers and institutions for projects that generate knowledge, evidence, tools, innovations, platforms, interventions or implementation models to address priority gaps in TB, HIV and other infectious diseases. Applications should be aligned with South Africa’s health priorities and demonstrate clear potential to contribute to improved health outcomes, strengthened research capacity, equitable access to innovation and public health impact.

Eligibility  

• Researchers with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Principal Investigator.
• Principal Investigators must be South African citizens or permanent residence holders and must be employed by an eligible South African institution capable of administering the grant. 

Award details    

• Up to R5 million per annum, to a maximum of R15 million over three years.

   

Download the PDF outlining UCT’s deadlines for internal approval

Funder deadline:  

11 October 2026

(https://gcgh.grandchallenges.org/challenge/multiplex-platforms-assess-indicators-micronutrient-status-and-infection-and-inflammation)

The Grand Challenges initiative invites applications for innovative technologies to develop or improve low-cost multiplex assay platforms that can simultaneously measure biomarkers of micronutrient status, infection, and inflammation. The aim is to support the development of robust, affordable laboratory-based tools for population surveillance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, enabling more effective monitoring of nutritional status and informing public health interventions.

Eligibility  

• Researchers with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Principal Investigator.
   

Award details    

• Two funding tracks are available:
  o Alternative A (Minimum Scope): Up to US$200,000 for projects of up to 12 months.
  o Alternative B (Optimistic Scope): Up to US$800,000 for projects of up to 24 months.
  • Projects should develop scalable, affordable multiplex assays capable of measuring key biomarkers of micronutrient status alongside indicators of infection and inflammation

Funder webinar on 11 August 2026, register here.

Download the PDF outlining UCT’s deadlines for internal approval

Funder deadline:  

08 September 2026

(https://www.omt.org.za/new-frontiers)

The Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (OMT) invites applications for its New Frontiers Award. This recognises the efforts of visionary early-to-mid-career researchers determined to build high-performance research teams and the South African academy. The award is intended to provide researchers with the freedom and flexibility to pursue their research, without bureaucratic constraints, helping them produce significant work and gain international recognition.

Eligibility  

Applications from all disciplines are welcome
• Hold a PhD or equivalent (e.g., MD if in a medical field).
• Be an early-to-mid-career researcher (i.e., between 5 and 15 years of research experience post-PhD qualification in their field).
• Be employed at or have a confirmed offer from the proposed host institution.
• Be able to demonstrate a significant body of work and already enjoy considerable national and/or emerging international recognition for high-quality and impactful research outputs..
 

Award details    

This grant is a five-year award, with a monetary value of ZAR 1.5 million per annum.
• OMT intends to fund 1 award nationally per year.
• Applicants need to be willing and able to dedicate at least 70% of their time to research.

Application process
• This application involves two stages. The first stage requires the PI to submit a concept note through the funder portal by 30 September 2026. Institutional approval via UCT’s electronic Research Administration (eRA) system is not needed at the Concept Note stage. Refer to the Concept Note guidelines here.
• If your concept note is accepted, you will be invited to submit a full application:
o Full applications: Opens early November 2026 and closes 31 January 20276 (this will require UCT eRA approval – contact FHS.ResearchFunding@uct.ac.za for internal deadlines).

Funder deadline:  

30 September 2026