Grant✓ Small businesses may apply
NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (DP5 Clinical Trial Optional)
National Institutes of Health
Award ceiling
$350,000
Award floor
$350,000
Program funding
$5,700,000
- Opportunity #
- RFA-RM-27-004
- Agency
- National Institutes of Health
- ALN (CFDA)
- 93.310
- Status
- posted
- Posted
- Jun 26, 2026
- Closes
- Sep 10, 2026
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
- Health
- Cost sharing required
- No
Who can apply
- •Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- •Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- •Independent school districts
- •Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- •Small businesses
- •Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
- •Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- •Private institutions of higher education
- •For profit organizations other than small businesses
- •Special district governments
- •State governments
- •City or township governments
- •County governments
- •Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- •Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
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.
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.
Contact
National Institutes of Health · EarlyIndependence@od.nih.gov