The Wellcome Prize for Mental Health Science with Nature 2026 is a major international prize supporting innovative interventions that can improve the lives of people affected by anxiety, depression and psychosis. The prize is organised by Wellcome in partnership with Nature and is open to eligible research teams around the world.
The overall winning team will receive US$1 million, while three finalist teams will each receive US$250,000. The prize also provides global visibility, opportunities to connect with policymakers and other leaders, and practical support to help promising interventions move towards adoption and policy integration.
Applications are open until 18 September 2026.
About the Wellcome Prize for Mental Health Science
The Wellcome Prize for Mental Health Science with Nature aims to accelerate the development, adoption and policy prioritisation of effective interventions for anxiety, depression and psychosis.
The prize recognises new interventions supported by robust scientific evidence and meaningful clinical benefit. Eligible interventions may be pharmacological, psychological, social or digital in nature.
The programme is intended to support promising interventions that are still at an early stage of implementation and have the potential to achieve wider adoption.
Prize Amount
The Wellcome Prize provides substantial financial support to selected teams:
- Overall winner: US$1 million
- Three finalist teams: US$250,000 each
In addition to the prize money, the winning team and finalists will receive global visibility and opportunities to participate in a mental health science symposium and prize ceremony in London in July 2027.
The programme also offers a tailored development programme designed to help promising interventions progress towards adoption and policy integration.
Areas Supported
The prize focuses on interventions addressing:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Psychosis
These conditions are broadly defined by the programme and include areas such as bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and postnatal and perinatal mental health conditions.
Eligible interventions may include:
- Pharmacological interventions
- Psychological interventions
- Social interventions
- Digital interventions
The intervention should demonstrate clear and measurable clinical benefit.
Who Can Apply?
The Wellcome Prize is open to research teams developing new and effective interventions for mental health.
Eligible teams may be based at:
- Universities
- Research institutes
- Hospitals
- Government organisations
- Not-for-profit organisations
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
Teams can be located in any country, subject to the programme’s restrictions.
For NGOs and nonprofit organisations, this means the opportunity may be relevant where the organisation is part of a research team developing an eligible mental health intervention and meets the programme requirements.
Key Eligibility Requirements
The intervention must demonstrate clear and measurable clinical benefit.
It should be at an early stage of implementation and should not yet have been adopted as the standard of care in more than two countries.
The research team should have developed or discovered the intervention and the lead applicant should be a core member of the research group.
The programme also places importance on meaningful involvement of people with lived experience throughout the intervention’s lifecycle.
Applicants should carefully review the full eligibility requirements before beginning an application.
What Will Applications Be Assessed On?
Applications will be assessed against several key criteria.
Novel
The intervention should introduce a new approach to addressing a mental health challenge and have the potential to improve on existing treatments.
Credible
The intervention should be supported by robust research and informed by lived experience.
Effective
The intervention should demonstrate improvement in clinically relevant outcomes and be supported by strong evidence.
Adoptable
The intervention should have a realistic pathway towards integration and sustained delivery within relevant clinical or care systems.
Important Dates
Applications open: 14 May 2026
Application deadline: 18 September 2026
Shortlist announced: April 2027
Finalists announced: May 2027
Winner announced: 7 July 2027
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through the official online application process for the Wellcome Prize for Mental Health Science with Nature.
Applicants should review the official eligibility requirements, application guidelines and supporting information before submitting their application.
The application must be completed and submitted by the stated deadline.
Official application information:
https://www.nature.com/immersive/wellcomeprizementalhealth/for-applicants/index.html
Why This Opportunity May Be Relevant to Indian NGOs
The Wellcome Prize is an international opportunity and eligible teams can be based in different countries. Indian nonprofit organisations may therefore find it relevant if they are part of a research team developing a qualifying mental health intervention.
However, this is a specialised research and innovation prize rather than a general NGO grant. Organisations should carefully assess whether their intervention, research evidence, team structure and stage of implementation meet the eligibility requirements.
FAQs
What is the Wellcome Prize for Mental Health Science with Nature?
It is an international prize supporting innovative interventions for anxiety, depression and psychosis that demonstrate clear and measurable clinical benefit.
How much funding does the winner receive?
The overall winning team receives US$1 million. Three finalist teams receive US$250,000 each.
Can Indian organisations apply?
The programme welcomes applications from around the world, subject to its eligibility and country restrictions. Eligible teams may be based at not-for-profit organisations, universities, research institutions, hospitals, government organisations and SMEs.
Can NGOs apply directly?
Eligible not-for-profit organisations can be part of an eligible research team. However, this is not a general-purpose NGO grant. The team must be developing a qualifying mental health intervention and meet the programme’s requirements.
What mental health conditions are covered?
The prize focuses on anxiety, depression and psychosis, with the programme using broad definitions that include several related conditions.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is 18 September 2026.
Does NGOportal provide funding through this programme?
No. NGOportal only disseminates information about funding opportunities. Applicants should review the official programme information and apply directly to the respective funding organisation.
Disclaimer:NGOportal only disseminates information about funding opportunities. Publication of an opportunity does not guarantee eligibility, funding, partnership or selection. Applicants should verify the current eligibility requirements, deadline, application process and other conditions with the respective funding organisation before applying.