The new funding scheme will be targeted to Researchers of Black, Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage in the UK to stay in research and advance their careers.
In the UK, researchers who identify as being from a Black, Bangladeshi or Pakistani heritage background, are widely underrepresented in research. Increasing the representation from these communities leads to richer understanding and more impactful research.
Designed to help researchers from underrepresented groups, £20 million of funding will be made available to help underrepresented groups fulfil their potential in science.
Beginning in Spring this year, approximately £4.5 million will be available and awarded annually, initially for four years. Researchers can apply for £200,000 each for up to two years. Researchers at a UK higher education institution can apply at any stage of their career from postdoctorate onwards, up to but not including professorship.
The Wellcome Trust said the following on the reasons they are launching the new funding scheme:
From our data and insight work, we could see that researchers of Black, Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage are underrepresented in research in the UK. This gave us an opportunity to help in a practical way.
We believe that this targeted funding will help underrepresented researchers to progress their careers in research and contribute to life-saving discoveries.
We'll continue to work towards becoming a more inclusive funder because we need people from all backgrounds to contribute and share their insights and expertise if we are to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone.
Shomari Lewis-Wilson, Senior Manager, Research Culture and Communities at Wellcome, said:
“The world of academia is precarious. The ‘hidden’ requirements for connections and support in order to get ahead have a greater impact on racially minoritised researchers.
Researchers of Black, Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage are not adequately represented in scientific research in the UK, if we are to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone, we need the creativity and expertise of people from all backgrounds."
Further information on the targeted funding, including details on how to be notified when the scheme launches is available from the Wellcome Trust: We’re launching targeted funding for researchers of Black, Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage in the UK