REMINDER: 24 November deadline to submit proposals for WADA’s 2026 Social Science Research Grant Program

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) would like to remind stakeholders that the deadline to submit proposals for its 2026 Social Science Research (SSR) Grant Program is 24 November 2025 (23:55 UTC). Prospective applicants are invited to submit applications via the Agency’s WADA Grants platform.  

WADA would kindly like applicants to note that there has been a significant change for the 2026 Grant Program; specifically that, for Tier 1 and Tier 2 applications, a portion of the Principal Investigator’s time will qualify to be covered in the budget (up to 40% for Tier 1 and 20% for Tier 2). 

Background 

WADA’s commitment to and investment in SSR stems from the understanding that doping is a complex behavioral issue that is influenced by social, psychological, cultural, economic, and systemic factors. As detailed in the 2025-2029 SSR Strategy published on 10 September, WADA’s SSR Grant Program is a key tool through which the Agency facilitates and funds social science research that develops evidence-informed approaches to clean sport and doping prevention.  

Since the Grant Program’s inception in 2005, WADA has funded 160 projects, awarding more than USD 6 million in SSR grants to organizations of all kinds (including universities, colleges, small businesses, for-profit, and not-for-profit organizations). The details of the projects most recently selected for funding were announced on 10 September and can be viewed here. 

Research Priorities 

Based on an athlete-centered model that identifies six overarching levels of influence, WADA’s SSR Grant Program centers around the following 12 research priorities: 

• Athlete pathway and experience 
• Clean sport behaviors 
• Role and influence of athlete support personnel (ASP) 
• Experience of ASP in clean sport 
• People investment 
• Prevention model  
• Effectiveness of anti-doping education programs 
• Anti-doping policy impact 
• Sport policy 
• Evolution of sport practices 
• Horizon scanning 
• Non-sport influences 

Applications should feature a primary research priority that is aligned with one of those listed above, though others may be considered with a strong rationale. More information on the research priorities can be found in the Overview & Guidance for Applicants. 

To submit an application 

We kindly ask for applications to be submitted via the Agency’s WADA Grants platform by 24 November 2025 (23:55 UTC). Please note that applications in French are also accepted.  

2026 Grant Program Timeline 

For further information or guidance regarding the 2026 Grant Program, please refer to: 

• the Overview and Guidance for Applicants document; 
• the webinar delivered by the Education Department to support prospective applicants; and 
• the Frequently Asked Questions section of the WADA Grants platform.  

Additional questions can be directed to the Agency’s Education Department at ssr@wada-ama.org.