NIH Director’s Early Independence Awards (DP5 Clinical Trial Optional)

The Office of Strategic Coordination (Common Fund) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for the NIH Director’s Early Independence Award, part of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research program. The NIH Director's Early Independence Award supports rigorous and promising investigators who wish to pursue independent research soon after completion of their terminal doctoral degree or post-graduate clinical training, thereby forgoing the traditional post-doctoral training period and accelerating their entry into an independent research career. Applications in all topics relevant to the broad mission of NIH are welcome, and preliminary data are not required. Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful and responsive projects. Promising, newly graduated scientists with the maturity and skills needed to successfully launch an independent research program are encouraged to begin to consider applying for this new NOFO. This NOFO will utilize the DP5 (Clinical Trial Optional) activity code.