Wellcome, one of the world’s leading philanthropic foundations dedicated to improving global health through research and innovation, has opened two major contract opportunities aimed at strengthening research ecosystems and advancing knowledge in critical areas of health science.

Through these opportunities, Wellcome seeks external organisations, research institutions, and experts capable of delivering high-quality analytical and evaluation work that will inform future strategies in mental health research collaboration and research culture transformation.

The two open contract opportunities focus on:

1. Improving infrastructure for lived experience collaboration in mental health research

2. Independent evaluation of research culture change initiatives funded by Wellcome

Both opportunities are part of Wellcome’s broader mission to fund discovery research and generate solutions to major global health challenges including mental health, infectious disease, and climate-related health risks.

These contract opportunities offer organisations the chance to collaborate with Wellcome while contributing valuable insights that can shape future research policies, funding models, and institutional practices.

About Wellcome’s Global Research Mission

Wellcome is internationally recognised for supporting scientific discovery and innovation that improves health outcomes worldwide. The organisation invests in research that addresses urgent global challenges while promoting equity, collaboration, and sustainability in research systems.

Wellcome’s strategic priorities focus on three key areas:

• Mental Health

• Infectious Disease

• Climate and Health

Beyond funding research itself, Wellcome also invests in initiatives that improve research culture, strengthen collaboration between institutions, and create environments where researchers can thrive.

The two contract opportunities currently open reflect these priorities by addressing:

• Collaboration between researchers and individuals with lived experience in mental health

• Evaluation of institutional initiatives aimed at improving research culture

Contract Opportunity 1

Improving Infrastructure for Lived Experience Collaboration in Mental Health Research

Wellcome is seeking a qualified supplier to conduct a detailed analysis of how research institutions support collaboration with individuals who have lived experience of mental health challenges.

The aim of this project is to understand how research institutions incorporate lived experience perspectives into mental health research processes, structures, and decision-making.

This work will help Wellcome identify best practices and challenges in integrating lived experience into research environments.

Purpose of the Project

The selected organisation will be responsible for mapping and analysing institutional approaches that facilitate collaboration with people who have lived experience relevant to mental health research.

The project will primarily focus on institutions in the United Kingdom, though some international examples may also be included.

The analysis should examine:

• Institutional practices that support lived experience engagement

• The development of structures that enable collaboration

• How organisations achieved internal support and buy-in

• Lessons learned and challenges encountered

• Opportunities for improving lived experience collaboration

Examples of Institutional Practices to be Studied

The research should investigate a range of existing models and practices used by research institutions, including:

• Lived experience advisory panels that help develop funding applications

• Institutional support systems that help research projects integrate lived experience perspectives

• Mentorship and career support structures for researchers with lived experience

• Frameworks that enable meaningful participation of community members in research projects

Expected Outcomes

The selected supplier will generate insights that help Wellcome and research institutions better understand how to:

• Design inclusive mental health research environments

• Support researchers with lived experience

• Strengthen collaboration between academic researchers and communities

• Improve the relevance and impact of mental health research

Download the Full RFP PDF

Submission Deadline
17 April 2026

Contract Opportunity 2

Independent Evaluation of Research Culture Change Initiatives

Wellcome is also seeking an independent organisation to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of initiatives funded through the Institutional Fund for Research Culture (IFRC).

These initiatives aim to foster healthier, more inclusive, and collaborative research environments across UK institutions.

Through this contract, Wellcome seeks to generate evidence-based insights that can guide the future development of equitable research ecosystems.

Background of the Initiative

Through the Institutional Fund for Research Culture, Wellcome supported UK institutions in experimenting with new strategies that promote:

• Cultural change in research environments

• Collaboration across disciplines

• Equity and inclusivity in research systems

• Improved wellbeing for researchers

Alongside the funding initiative, Wellcome also established the Institutional Research Culture Community (IRCC), a collaborative network bringing together participating institutions.

The IRCC was designed to enable institutions to:

• Share learning and experiences

• Support one another in implementing culture change initiatives

• Build cross-institutional collaborations

Objectives of the Evaluation

The selected supplier will conduct an independent evaluation of both the IFRC and IRCC initiatives.

The main goal is to generate actionable insights that inform future strategies of Wellcome’s UK Equitable Research Ecosystems team.

The evaluation should examine:

• The effectiveness of funded culture change initiatives

• The impact of the Institutional Research Culture Community

• Lessons learned from participating institutions

• Recommendations for future funding and policy development

Importance of the Evaluation

This evaluation is essential to understanding how research culture initiatives can:

• Improve working conditions for researchers

• Foster diversity and equity in academic environments

• Strengthen collaboration between institutions

• Enhance the long-term sustainability of research ecosystems

The findings will play a critical role in shaping Wellcome’s future funding strategies and policy priorities.

Download the Full RFP PDF

Download the supplier questions and answers PDF

Submission Deadline
7 April 2026

Why These Opportunities Matter

These contract opportunities represent a significant chance for organisations to contribute to improving the global research ecosystem.

By participating in these projects, suppliers can help advance:

• Inclusive mental health research practices

• Stronger research culture across institutions

• Better collaboration between researchers and communities

• Evidence-based policies that support equitable research environments

Organisations selected for these contracts will work closely with one of the most influential research funding organisations in the world while generating insights that could shape the future of global research systems.

Eligibility and Participation

Both contract opportunities are open to organisations and suppliers with the relevant expertise and experience required to complete the projects described in the Requests for Proposals (RFPs).

Applicants are expected to demonstrate strong capabilities in areas such as:

• Research evaluation

• Policy analysis

• Mental health research collaboration

• Institutional research culture studies

• Data analysis and impact assessment

Full eligibility requirements and submission instructions are outlined in the official Request for Proposal documents available through Wellcome’s procurement system.

How to Apply

Interested organisations must review the full Request for Proposal documents and submit their applications through the Oracle portal.

The RFP documents include detailed information on:

• Project scope

• Deliverables

• Eligibility criteria

• Submission requirements

• Evaluation criteria

Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the documents before submitting their proposals.

For more information and access to the RFP documents, visit Here.

Click HERE to discover more grant opportunities on OFY.