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- This award, in partnership with Nature, aims to recognize breakthrough achievements in mental health science, accelerate the translation of research findings, influence policy-making, and change people’s lives.
- The award recognizes innovative interventions in global pharmacology, psychology, sociology, and digital health.
- The ultimate winner will receive a $1 million prize, while the three finalists will each receive $250,000.
LONDONMay 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Wellcome Mental Health Science Award, launched in partnership with Nature, is officially inaugurated to encourage innovation and drive progress in one of the most pressing and underfunded areas of global health. As the first and largest global award in mental health science, it will recognize and support groundbreaking advances that have demonstrated tangible results in the fields of anxiety disorders, depression, and psychosis.
Professor Miranda Wolpert, Director of Mental Health at Wellcome, stated: “We are in the midst of a wave of transformation in mental health science. Breakthroughs in research are constantly generating new pathways to understand and treat mental health problems. This award will recognize groundbreaking new discoveries with the potential to change people’s lives.”
The award focuses on interventions that can genuinely improve treatment outcomes, showcasing the opportunities and progress within the mental health field. Mental health science has the power to change lives, and related breakthroughs are already altering our understanding and treatment of these conditions. Many disorders are becoming more manageable, especially with earlier and more effective interventions, offering new hope to countless patients.
In recent years, cutting-edge research has spawned a series of breakthroughs, and mental health science is undergoing a dramatic transformation, for which this award is established.
The challenges remain significant. Over one billion people worldwide suffer from mental health conditions, yet many are denied access to help due to systems struggling to respond effectively.1 The global median proportion of government health expenditure allocated to mental health is only 2.1%. In low-income countries, per capita spending is as low as $0.04, compared to $65.89 in high-income countries.1,2 The global median number of mental health professionals is 13.5 per 100,000 people, dropping to as low as 1-2 in low-income countries.2 The entire system is under severe strain.
Today, anxiety and depressive disorders are the leading causes of disability worldwide, and their prevalence continues to rise. Yet, only about 9% of people with depression globally receive adequate treatment.3 This imposes a profound and multifaceted burden on individuals and society as a whole. Untreated mental health conditions increase the risk of physical illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, reduce quality of life, and lead to premature death.3 Furthermore, they cause productivity and economic losses far exceeding healthcare costs. It is estimated that anxiety and depressive disorders result in the loss of 12 billion working days globally each year.3
Dr. Magdalena Skipper, Editor-in-Chief of Nature and Chair of the award’s judging panel, said: “Addressing critical medical issues like the prevention and treatment of mental health conditions requires robust and trustworthy research from numerous disciplines. By focusing on scientifically rigorous, adoptable solutions, this award will help accelerate progress and provide a platform for researchers whose work has the potential to change lives, influence policy, and drive practice globally. I am delighted to partner with Wellcome on this award, as showcasing the multidisciplinary research that drives scientific progress is central to what we do at the Nature journal and across the Nature Portfolio.”
The award is now open for applications from global research teams and small to medium-sized organizations, with a submission deadline of September 18, 2026. Submissions must demonstrate high scientific rigor, be grounded in lived experience, and show clear potential to improve treatment outcomes and change people’s lives on a larger scale. The shortlist will be announced in May 2027, and the ultimate winner will be revealed in June 2027. The final winner will receive a $1 million prize, and the three shortlisted teams will each receive $250,000. Additionally, they will gain global recognition, enhance the impact of their research, and receive practical support through a development program to advance their intervention towards real-world application and policy integration.
The award is established by Wellcome in partnership with Nature, both organizations renowned for scientific excellence and global responsibility. Wellcome is one of the world’s leading funders of mental health research. This global health foundation supports new approaches to early intervention for anxiety, depression, and psychosis. Nature’s awards team will design and execute the award, ensuring it is global in scope, inclusive, and credible. Entries will be evaluated by an expert judging panel (including Nature Editor-in-Chief Magdalena Skipper, Professor Chyrell Bellamy from Yale School of Medicine, Obi Felten from Google X, Moonshot, and Flourish Labs, among others) based on four core criteria: novelty, credibility, effectiveness, adoptability, and the extent to which they draw on lived experience.
Recognizing these scientific breakthroughs will help accelerate the adoption of solutions, enabling more people to access better treatment, interventions, and care.
Applications are now open. Eligible research teams and small to medium-sized enterprises are invited to apply by clicking here.
Notes to Editors
About Wellcome:
Wellcome funds scientific research to tackle the urgent health challenges facing humanity. We fund discovery research exploring life, health, and wellbeing, and we are committed to addressing three global health challenges: mental health, infectious disease, and climate and health.
About Nature:
Nature is a leading international scientific journal, publishing peer-reviewed research across a wide range of disciplines. A journal of Springer Nature, Nature is recognized for its role in advancing scientific discovery and also provides a platform for major breakthroughs that shape global understanding of science and health. Springer Nature is one of the world’s leading research publishers, publishing the largest number of journals and books, and is a pioneer in open research.
With trusted flagship brands spanning over 180 years, Springer Nature provides technology-enabled products, platforms, and services to help researchers discover new ideas, share their findings, assist healthcare professionals in staying at the forefront of medical science, and empower educators to enhance their teaching. We are proud to be part of progress, working in partnership with the communities we serve to share knowledge and advance global scientific understanding. For more information, please visit about.springernature.com or email @SpringerNature
References:
1 World Health Organization (2025) Over a billion people living with mental health conditions – services require urgent scale-up. Link: https://www.who.int/news/item/02-09-2025-over-a-billion-people-living-with-mental-health-conditions-services-require-urgent-scale-up (Accessed: May 2026).
2 World Health Organization (2025) Mental Health Atlas 2024. Link: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240114487 (Accessed: May 2026).
3 World Health Organization (2025) World mental health today: Latest data. Link: https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/31714489-1345-4439-8b37-6cbdc52e15ca/content (Accessed: May 2026).