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NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (DP5 Clinical Trial Optional)

National Institutes of Health · Opportunity RFA-RM-27-004

Deadline September 10, 2026 1 day left
Award range $350k – $350k
Total program funding $5.7M

≈ 10 awards expected

PostedJune 26, 2026

Who can apply

Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information in the NOFO for additional information on eligibility.Foreign Organizations/International Collaborations:Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

About this opportunity

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.

Portfolio context — this listing covers more than this opportunity

This opportunity is funded under Assistance Listing 93.310 (“Trans-NIH Research Support”), a broad federal program that made about 574 new awards per year over the last five fiscal years (median award $981k). Those figures describe that whole portfolio — not this specific solicitation, so we don't show them as if they were this opportunity's track record.

Applicant counts per solicitation are not published by any federal agency — no one can honestly sell you that number. NIH publishes success rates by institute and activity code — source.

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