NIH Announces Director’s Pioneer and New Innovator Awards
2021 NIH Director's Pioneer Award (DP1 - Clinical Trial Optional): RFA-RM-20-011
Supports scientists with outstanding records of creativity proposing pioneering approaches to major challenges in any area of science relevant to the broad mission of NIH. Individuals from diverse backgrounds and from the full spectrum of eligible institutions in all geographic locations are strongly encouraged to apply to this Funding Opportunity Announcement. In addition, applications in all topics relevant to the broad mission of NIH are welcome, including, but not limited to, topics in the behavioral, social, biomedical, applied, and formal sciences and topics that may involve basic, translational, or clinical research.
- Open to all career stages
- Single-PI applications only
- No preliminary data required
- Must be new scientific research direction
- $700,000 direct costs per year for 5 years
- See website for more information and FAQs
- Application deadline: September 11, 2020
2021 NIH Director's New Innovator Award (DP2 - Clinical Trial Optional): RFA-RM-20-012
Supports exceptionally creative early career scientists proposing unusually innovative and high-impact projects. Individuals from diverse backgrounds and from the full spectrum of eligible institutions in all geographic locations are strongly encouraged to apply to this Funding Opportunity Announcement. In addition, applications in all topics relevant to the broad mission of NIH are welcome, including, but not limited to, topics in the behavioral, social, biomedical, applied, and formal sciences and topics that may involve basic, translational, or clinical research.
- Early Stage Investigator only
- Single-PI applications only
- No preliminary data required
- $1.5 million in direct costs disbursed in first year of 5-year project period
- See website for more information and FAQs
- Application deadline: August 21, 2020
The High-Risk High-Reward Research Program and other Common Fund programs are managed by the Office of Strategic Coordination, Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives in the NIH Office of the Director, in partnership with the component NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices. The NIH Common Fund encourages collaboration and supports a series of exceptionally high impact, trans-NIH programs.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) – “The Nation's Medical Research Agency” – includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit the NIH website.