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

About this grant

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, Hig Grant Number: RFA-RM-26-004. Expected awards: 10.

What the funding covers

• Award Range: $350K to $350K
• Expected Number of Awards: 10
• Total Program Funding: $5.7M

How to apply

1. 1Check eligibility: Confirm your organization type (e.g., nonprofit, state government), project alignment, and deadlines from the opportunity synopsis.
2. 2Register: Create a Grants.gov account via Login.gov, complete SAM.gov and UEI registration, and authorize organization representatives (takes 2-4 weeks).
3. 3Prepare application: Select "Apply" to open Workspace, download forms (e.g., SF-424), complete offline/online with validation checks, and upload supporting docs like budgets and narratives.
4. 4Submit and track: Check package for errors, sign/submit via Authorized Organization Representative (AOR), and monitor status with your tracking number
5. 5Applications must be submitted through grants.gov
6. 6Grant Number: RFA-RM-26-004
7. 7Posted: 2025-12-11

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