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HCN Grants Est. 2026
No. RFA-RM-27-004 · National Institutes of Health
Open

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

Dealbreakers No cost share required Audit: not stated Reimbursement-only: not stated

At a glance

No plain-language summary yet for this grant — the official description below is the best source.

What it funds

  • Health
  • Training, Fellowship & Career Development
  • Researchers & Scholars
  • Biomedical & Disease Research
Official description from grants.gov

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 any area within the biomedical sciences are welcome. The NIH Director's Early Independence Award is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research program of the NIH Common Fund .

Who can apply

  • City or township governments
  • County governments
  • For-profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Independent school districts
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized)
  • Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
  • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
  • Others
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
  • Small businesses
  • Special district governments
  • State governments
Geographic restriction None found in the announcement — likely nationwide

Change history

  1. Jul 11, 2026 Title updated
  2. Jul 11, 2026 Status: forecasted → open
  3. Jul 11, 2026 Deadline set: Sep 10, 2026