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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.
The published deadline was August 17, 2026, which has passed. Check the official notice for any future application windows before investing time in a proposal.
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
Smart Health and Biomedical Research in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Data Science (SCH) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) & National Institutes of Health (NIH). This interagency program supports high-risk, high-reward advances in AI and data science for biomedical and public health research. Projects must cross disciplinary boundaries.
Innovation Grant is a grant from the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation that funds nonprofit organizations pursuing unique, high-impact projects that improve health and wellness in Arizona communities. This two-year award supports original initiatives with measurable real-world impact, including programs serving underserved and uninsured populations through oral health education, disease prevention, and nutritional access. Projects must demonstrate the potential to make a meaningful difference in the community and stand apart from conventional approaches. Eligible applicants are Arizona-based nonprofit organizations. Awards total $100,000 per recipient over two years. The 2026 application cycle closed October 16, 2025, with recipients notified in late 2025 and funding made available shortly after.
The NIH Common Fund launched PRIMED-AI — Precision Medicine with AI: Integrating Imaging with Multimodal Data — as five coordinated funding opportunities (RFA-RM-27-011 through -015) that build a full pipeline from standards to clinic. Here is how the Playbook, Data-to-Model partnerships, Model-to-Clinic translation, Validation Center, and Logistics Center fit together, what each pays, who is eligible, and how to position before the October 2026 deadlines.
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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