Simpler Grants.gov #RFA-RM-27-004

NIH Director’s Early Independence Award Grant Opportunity for New Researchers

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking applications for the Director’s Early Independence Award, designed to empower exceptional early-career researchers to launch independent research programs immediately after completing their doctoral or clinical training. - Government Buyer: - National Institutes of Health (NIH) - NIH Common Fund, Office of the Director - Opportunity Details: - Supports high-risk, high-reward research initiatives - Enables new investigators to bypass traditional postdoctoral training - Eligibility: - Open to small businesses, higher education institutions, government entities, and nonprofits - Foreign organizations and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible - Funding: - Total available funding: $5,700,000 - Expected number of awards: 10 - Each award valued at $350,000 - Products/Services Requested: - No specific products, OEMs, or vendors requested - Solicitation is for research proposals, not procurement of goods or services - Unique Requirements: - Focus on launching independent research careers - Clinical trial proposals are optional - Emphasis on innovative, high-impact research

Description

The NIH Director's Early Independence Award supports talented new researchers in starting their independent research programs soon after completing their doctoral degree or clinical training, bypassing postdoctoral training. The award accepts applications on any topic aligned with the NIH mission and is part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research program. The total funding available is $5,700,000, with expected awards of 10 grants, each with a fixed amount of $350,000. The opportunity is open to a wide range of applicants including small businesses, educational institutions, government entities, nonprofits, and others, but excludes foreign organizations. The closing date for applications is September 10, 2026.

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