NIH Director's Early Independence Award (DP5 Clinical Trial Optional)
View forecast on Grants.gov →Forecasted — not yet open
- Posted
- September 3, 2026
- Closes
- See announcement
- Award ceiling
- $350,000
- Award floor
- $350,000
- Program funding
- $5,700,000
- Expected awards
- 10
- Cost sharing
- No
- Instrument
- Grant
- Assistance listing
- 93.310
- Category
- Health
Program funding history
Awards made under Assistance Listing 93.310 across FY2025–FY2027, from public federal spending records.
- FY2025 obligated
- $1B
- FY2026 obligated
- $993.8M
- FY2027 (to date) obligated
- $0
- Awards in window
- 4,544
Top recipients: Washington University, the, The Leland Stanford Junior University, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The Broad Institute, Inc, New York University
Source: USAspending.gov · refreshed October 2026 · Program page: awards, recipients and the opportunities under this listing →
Synopsis
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.
Who can apply
- City or township governments
- Small businesses
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- State governments
- Private institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- County 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
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Special district 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).
How to apply
Applications go through the official government listing. Grants Radar links you straight to the source — applying is free.
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