Open — closes in 51 daysFederal grant

NIH Director’s Pioneer Award (DP1 Clinical Trial Optional)

National Institutes of Health Nonprofit eligible

National Institutes of Health is funding health projects through this opportunity, which is open to nonprofits and other eligible applicants, with applications due Sep 9, 2026. It provides awards up to $700K.

Apply on Grants.gov
Deadline
Sep 9, 2026
Award amount
Up to $700K
Expected awards
8
Posted
Jun 29, 2026
Opportunity number
RFA-RM-27-001
CFDA
93.310

Opportunity 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.

Who can apply

  • Special district governments
  • For profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • County governments
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Small businesses
  • City or township governments
  • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
  • Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
  • Independent school districts
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
  • Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • State governments

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.

Funding

Award floor
$700K
Award ceiling
$700K

Agency contact

National Institutes of Health

NIH Director's Pioneer Award Program PioneerAwards@mail.nih.gov

PioneerAwards@mail.nih.gov

Next steps to apply

To apply, head to the official Grants.gov listing — that is where registration and submission happen. Always re-check the closing date there, as agencies can revise it.

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