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 any area within the biomedical sciences are welcome. The NIH Director’s Pioneer Award is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) Program of the NIH Common Fund.

Education

• Public and state institutions of higher education
• Independent school districts
• Private institutions of higher education

Government

• Public and Indian housing authorities
• County governments
• City or township governments
• State governments
• Special district governments
• Federally recognized Native American tribal governments

Business

• For-profit organizations other than small businesses
• Small businesses

Nonprofit

• Other Native American tribal organizations
• Nonprofits non-higher education without 501(c)(3)
• Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)

Miscellaneous

• Other