Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 27 001
The NIH Director's Pioneer Award (DP1; Clinical Trial Optional) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity designed to back individual investigators who are known for exceptional creativity and who want to pursue bold, unusually innovative ideas. The central purpose is to enable high-impact research that could change the trajectory of a broad and important area connected to NIH's mission. What makes this program distinct is its explicit focus on "pioneering" work, meaning the proposed project should point in a substantially different scientific direction than what the applicant is already doing in their existing research program, and it should not simply follow well-established paths that others in the field are already pursuing. NIH is essentially looking for ideas that are genuinely unconventional but plausible enough to justify a significant investment.
The scope is intentionally wide. NIH welcomes applications across any topic that fits within the broad NIH mission, and the work can be basic, translational, or clinical in nature. The "clinical trial optional" designation means applicants may propose studies that include clinical trials if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required. This flexibility allows investigators to propose whatever design best fits a transformative idea, whether that involves fundamental discovery science, technology development, mechanistic studies, or patient-oriented research.
This award sits within the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) program portfolio, which is known for supporting ideas that may be too novel, early, or unconventional for traditional funding mechanisms. The Pioneer Award is specifically geared toward empowering the investigator to take a major creative leap, with the expectation that the outcome could be a major advance rather than an incremental step forward.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is issued by NIH as a discretionary grant under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-RM-27-001, and it falls under the health funding activity category (CFDA 93.310). The application deadline (original closing date) is 2026-09-09. NIH anticipates making about 8 awards under this competition. The listed award ceiling is $700,000, which typically refers to the maximum amount available per budget period as defined in the notice of funding opportunity (applicants should confirm exact budget structure, allowable costs, and project period details in the official NOFO text).
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organization types, spanning public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities), for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits that are not small businesses), and various government entities (state, county, city or township, special district governments), as well as certain tribal governments and tribal organizations, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Because this is an investigator-focused award, the NOFO's Section III (Eligibility Information) is especially important for confirming investigator-level requirements and any constraints that go beyond organizational eligibility.
On the international participation side, the rules are restrictive for applicants but still allow certain forms of collaboration. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply directly, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to serve as components of the applicant organization. However, "foreign components" are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S. applicant may still incorporate certain foreign collaborations or elements if they meet NIH's definition and are appropriately justified and structured under NIH policy.
Overall, this opportunity is best suited for investigators with a track record of creativity who want to make a major pivot or take on a conceptually daring problem, and who can articulate why their approach is truly different from standard lines of work and how it could produce an outsized impact on health-related science or medicine. For anyone considering applying, the critical success factors are usually the novelty and boldness of the core idea, the credibility of the investigator to execute it, and a clear explanation of why the project could be transformative even if the path is uncertain.Apply for RFA RM 27 001
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIH Director’s Pioneer Award (DP1 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.310.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-09. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $700,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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NIH Director's Pioneer Award (DP1) - FAQs
What is the NIH Director's Pioneer Award (DP1)?
The NIH Director's Pioneer Award (DP1; Clinical Trial Optional) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity designed to support individual investigators with exceptional creativity who want to pursue bold, unusually innovative research ideas. The program is intended to enable high-impact work that could shift the direction of a broad and important area related to NIH's mission.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The central goal is to support pioneering research that can produce transformative, high-impact advances rather than incremental progress. NIH is looking for projects that could change the trajectory of a significant area of health-related science or medicine.
What does NIH mean by "pioneering" research in this program?
In this context, "pioneering" means the proposed work should point in a substantially different scientific direction than what the applicant is already doing in their existing research program. It should not simply follow well-established approaches or paths that others in the field are already pursuing. The idea should be genuinely unconventional, while still plausible enough to merit substantial investment.
How innovative does the proposed idea need to be?
The program emphasizes boldness and unusually innovative concepts. NIH is seeking ideas that may be too novel, early, or unconventional to fit comfortably within traditional funding mechanisms, but that still have a credible rationale and the potential for outsized impact.
Is this opportunity focused on the investigator or the institution?
This is an investigator-focused award. While organizations apply and administer awards, the program is specifically geared toward empowering an individual investigator to take a major creative leap. Because of that, the eligibility requirements and expectations at the investigator level are especially important.
What kinds of research topics are allowed under this opportunity?
The scope is intentionally broad. NIH welcomes applications on any topic that fits within the NIH mission. Projects may be basic, translational, or clinical in nature.
Are clinical trials required?
No. The opportunity is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may propose studies that include clinical trials if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required.
Can an application include a clinical trial?
Yes. Since the opportunity is "Clinical Trial Optional," a clinical trial may be included when it fits the transformative idea and the proposed design.
What program portfolio is this award associated with?
The Pioneer Award is part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) program portfolio, which supports ideas that can be unusually novel, early-stage, or unconventional.
What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-RM-27-001.
What is the funding activity category and CFDA listing?
This opportunity is a discretionary NIH grant under the health funding activity category, and it is listed under CFDA 93.310.
What is the application deadline (closing date)?
The original closing date listed is 2026-09-09.
How many awards does NIH expect to make?
NIH anticipates making about 8 awards under this competition.
What is the award ceiling?
The listed award ceiling is $700,000. This typically refers to the maximum amount available per budget period as defined in the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). Applicants should confirm the exact budget structure, allowable costs, and project period details in the official NOFO text.
Which types of U.S. organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organization types, including:
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3))
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits that are not small businesses)
- Government entities (state, county, city or township, and special district governments)
- Certain tribal governments and tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply directly?
No. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply directly for this opportunity.
Can a U.S. applicant include a non-U.S. component as part of the applicant organization?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to serve as components of the applicant organization under this opportunity.
Are foreign collaborations allowed in any form?
Yes, in certain cases. "Foreign components" are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement. This means a U.S. applicant may incorporate certain foreign collaborations or elements if they meet NIH's definition and are properly justified and structured under NIH policy.
Where should applicants look to confirm investigator-level eligibility requirements?
Because this is an investigator-focused award, the NOFO's Section III (Eligibility Information) is especially important for confirming investigator-level requirements and any constraints that go beyond organizational eligibility.
What kinds of projects are likely to be competitive?
Projects are likely to be most competitive when they clearly present a conceptually daring idea that is substantially different from the applicant's current work, avoid well-trodden approaches, and explain why the research could be transformative even if the path is uncertain. NIH is also looking for credibility that the investigator can execute the work.
Does the program favor incremental improvements or major leaps?
The program is designed to support major creative leaps. The expectation is that the outcome could be a major advance rather than an incremental step forward.
What is one of the most important framing expectations for the proposal?
A key expectation is that the project should be a significant pivot or move in a substantially different scientific direction compared to the applicant's existing research program, rather than an extension of current lines of work.
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