NIH Director's Early Independence Award (DP5 Clinical Trial Optional)
UpcomingNational Institutes of Health · Opportunity number RFA-RM-28-004 · Forecast
Eligibility
Nonprofits are listed as eligible applicants.
- City or township governments
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- State governments
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public and state controlled institutions of higher education
- Special district governments
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- County governments
- Independent school districts
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
Other Eligible ApplicantsIndian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized);Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government;U.S. Territory or Possession;Faith-based or Community-based Organizations;Regional Organizations;Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions).
Description
The NIH Director's Early Independence Award supports outstanding early-career investigators who are ready to pursue independent research soon after completing their doctoral degree or post-graduate clinical training, without following the traditional postdoctoral path. The award is designed to accelerate the transition to an independent research career. Applications are welcome across all fields relevant to the NIH mission. The Early Independence Award is part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research Program.
Funding
| Total program funding | $5,700,000 |
|---|---|
| Award floor | $350,000 |
| Award ceiling | $350,000 |
| Category | Health |
| Assistance listing | 93.310 |
Official sources
Last verified on Grants.gov Nov 4, 2026. Grantvello is not affiliated with Grants.gov or National Institutes of Health. The notice on Grants.gov is the binding text.