NIH Director’s Pioneer Award (DP1 Clinical Trial Optional)
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Assistance Listings: 93.310 -- Trans-NIH Research Support
Last Updated: June 29, 2026
Description
The NIH Director"s Pioneer Award supports individual scientists of exceptional creativity who propose bold and highly innovative research projects with the potential to produce a major impact on broad, important areas relevant to the mission of NIH. To be considered pioneering, the proposed research must reflect substantially different scientific directions from those already being pursued in the investigator"s research program or elsewhere. Applications in all topics relevant to the broad mission of NIH are welcome. Research may involve basic, translational, or clinical research. The NIH Director"s Pioneer Award is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) program of the NIH Common Fund.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants
Nonprofit
- Nonprofits non-higher education without 501(c)(3)
- Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)
- Other Native American tribal organizations
Government
- Special district governments
- City or township governments
- Public and Indian housing authorities
- State governments
- County governments
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
Business
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
Miscellaneous
- Other
Education
- Public and state institutions of higher education
- Independent school districts
- Private institutions of higher education
Additional information
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.
Grantor contact information
Description
NIH Director's Pioneer Award Program
PioneerAwards@mail.nih.gov
PioneerAwards@mail.nih.gov
Documents
| File name | Description | Last updated |
|---|---|---|
| RFA-RM-27-001-Full-Announcement.html | RFA-RM-27-001-Full-Announcement.html | Jun 29, 2026 12:20 PM UTC |
Link to additional information
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Closing: September 9, 2026
Award
$8,000,000
Program Funding
8
Expected awards
$700,000
Award Minimum
$700,000
Award Maximum
Funding opportunity number:
RFA-RM-27-001
Cost sharing or matching requirement:
No
Funding instrument type:
Grant
Opportunity Category:
Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
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Category of Funding Activity:
Health
Category Explanation:
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History
Version:
1
Posted date:
June 29, 2026
Archive date:
November 8, 2026
