NIH Director's Early Independence Award (DP5 Clinical Trial Optional)
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- RFA-RM-27-004
- Agency
-
National Institutes of Health
Department of Health and Human Services
- Applications due
- Award size
- $350,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
-
- 93.310 Trans-NIH Research Support
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Health
- Eligible applicants
-
- Public or Indian Housing Auth.
- State Governments
- For Profit Organizations
- City/Township Governments
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- County Governments
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Small Businesses
- Other
- Special District Governments
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Independent School Districts
- Points of contact
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Institutes of Health seeks applicants for the Director's Early Independence Award (DP5), a grant supporting early-stage researchers launching independent careers immediately after completing their terminal doctoral degree or clinical training, with applications due September 10, 2026. The award is open to higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, state and local governments, and federally recognized tribal governments. Principal investigators must be U.S. citizens or have appropriate visa authorization; must have completed their terminal doctoral degree or clinical training between May 1, 2025, and September 30, 2027; and must commit at least 80 percent effort to the project. Applicants must be in a non-independent research position at application time but must have secured a guaranteed independent research position by project start. Each institution may submit a maximum of two applications.
The award provides up to $350,000 per year in direct costs plus allowable indirect costs for project periods up to five years, with approximately 10 awards totaling $5.7 million anticipated in FY 2027. Applications are accepted in any research area aligned with the NIH mission and may include clinical trials. The program is administered through the NIH Common Fund as part of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research initiative and is assigned to CFDA 93.310 (Trans-NIH Research Support).
Review emphasizes investigator qualifications and institutional environment over preliminary data. Applications must include research strategy, justification for early independence, personal development plans, three to five reference letters, and facilities and resources documentation demonstrating institutional commitment. Required registrations include System for Award Management, unique entity identifier, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov accounts.
Synopsis
The NIH Director's Early Independence Award helps talented new researchers begin their own independent research program soon after finishing their doctoral degree or clinical training, without first doing postdoctoral training.The award accepts applications on any topic fitting the NIH mission. It is part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research program.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| RFA-RM-27-004-Full-Announcement.html | HTML file |
On GovTribe
Work this opportunity
- Track it in your pipeline
- Find teaming partners
- Similar grant opportunities
- Ask GovTribe AI about this opportunity