NIH Director's Early Independence Award (DP5 Clinical Trial Optional)
Forecasted Federal grant Posted
- Opportunity number
- RFA-RM-28-004
- Agency
-
National Institutes of Health
Department of Health and Human Services
- Applications expected due
- Award size
- $350,000
Opportunity facts
- Expected posting
- Assistance listings
-
- 93.310 Trans-NIH Research Support
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Health
- Eligible applicants
-
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Special District Governments
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- For Profit Organizations
- County Governments
- City/Township Governments
- Small Businesses
- Independent School Districts
- Other
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- State Governments
- Public or Indian Housing Auth.
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Points of contact
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Institutes of Health is forecasting applications for the Director's Early Independence Award (DP5 Clinical Trial Optional), a grant supporting early-career investigators transitioning to independent research immediately after doctoral or post-graduate clinical training, with applications welcome across all NIH mission-relevant fields. This is a High-Risk, High-Reward Research Program award; the closest hard date is the September–October 2026 application window referenced in the Trans-NIH Research Support program description.
Eligible applicants include higher education institutions (public and private), nonprofits (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations, small businesses, state and local governments, tribal governments (federally recognized and other), special district governments, independent school districts, Indian housing authorities, regional organizations, faith-based and community-based organizations, U.S. territories and possessions, and non-domestic entities (foreign institutions).
The award funds research across all scientific disciplines within NIH's mission and is designed to accelerate transition to independent research careers, bypassing the traditional postdoctoral pathway. The award operates under CFDA 93.310 (Trans-NIH Research Support), which emphasizes scientific merit and program relevance in funding decisions. Applications undergo peer review for scientific and technical merit by a scientific review group and for program relevance by a national advisory council or board. The review cycle runs four to nine months. Almost all awards cover at least one year, with up to four additional years of support contingent on scientific review group and national advisory council recommendation, successful annual performance, and fund availability.
Forecast synopsis
The NIH Director's Early Independence Award supports outstanding early-career investigators who are ready to pursue independent research soon after completing their doctoral degree or post-graduate clinical training, without following the traditional postdoctoral path. The award is designed to accelerate the transition to an independent research career. Applications are welcome across all fields relevant to the NIH mission. The Early Independence Award is part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research Program.
Eligibility
Other Eligible ApplicantsIndian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized);Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government;U.S. Territory or Possession;Faith-based or Community-based Organizations;Regional Organizations;Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions).
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