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NIH Director's New Innovator Award (DP2) is sponsored by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Common Fund. The NIH Director's New Innovator Award, part of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research program, supports early-career investigators 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 NIH mission.
This award explicitly does not require preliminary data and encourages risky, transformative ideas. Research areas relevant to AI are included.
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NIH Director's New Innovator Award | NIH Common Fund NIH Director's New Innovator Award NIH Director's New Innovator Award FY2026 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award informational video Part of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research program, the NIH Director's New Innovator Award supports early career investigators 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 NIH mission.
Part of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research program , the award supports early career investigators 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 NIH mission.
Must have Early Stage Investigator status (completed doctoral degree or postgraduate clinical training within last 10 years and never received a substantial NIH independent research award) No preliminary data required Minimum of 25% research effort $475,000/year for 5 years See the Award Overview for more information. Applications due August 17, 2026.
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According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Early Stage Investigators (ESIs). An ESI is a program director/principal investigator who has completed their terminal research degree or the end of post-graduate clinical training (whichever is later) within the past ten years, and who has not previously competed successfully for a substantial NIH independent research award. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows up to $475,000 in direct costs per year for five years (total direct costs $2,375,000). Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Applications for NIH Director's New Innovator Award (DP2) are due August 17, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, and final submission checks.
NIH Director's New Innovator Award (DP2) is funded by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Common Fund. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
Past winners and funding trends for this program
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Read articleAvoid common NIH grant proposal mistakes including vague specific aims, weak methodology, and poor budget justification that lead to rejection.
Read articleThe NIH Director's New Innovator Award (DP2, RFA-RM-27-002) closes August 17, 2026, offering roughly 30 Early Stage Investigators up to $475,000 in direct costs a year for five years — $2.375 million total — to pursue bold ideas without the preliminary data a standard R01 demands. Here is how the High-Risk, High-Reward program actually evaluates applications, who qualifies, and why the usual R01 instincts will sink you.
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