Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 27 002
The NIH Director's New Innovator Award (DP2 Clinical Trial Optional), funding opportunity number RFA-RM-27-002, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant designed to back early-stage investigators who have a track record of unusual creativity and who want to pursue bold, high-impact ideas that may be too new, unconventional, or high-risk for more traditional NIH funding mechanisms. The central aim is to catalyze genuinely innovative research with the potential to shift thinking or create major advances across broad areas that align with the NIH mission. The program is intentionally open to proposals across the biomedical sciences, and it can support basic research, translational work, or clinical research. As the title notes, clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants can propose projects that do or do not include a clinical trial component, depending on what the science requires.
This award is part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) program, a set of initiatives built around the idea that transformative breakthroughs often come from ambitious projects that challenge established assumptions or explore novel directions before there is extensive preliminary data. In that sense, the New Innovator Award also functions as a complement to the broader set of NIH and Institute/Center programs that support early-stage investigators, but with a special emphasis on originality, potential for major impact, and a willingness to support work that is conceptually daring.
Eligibility spans a wide range of U.S.-based applicant organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities as described in the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). While many organizational types can apply, the award itself is specifically oriented toward early-stage investigators, and the detailed investigator-level requirements and definitions are addressed in Section III of the NOFO.
There are important restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed when they meet the NIH Grants Policy Statement definition, which generally means a U.S. applicant organization may include certain substantive project elements conducted outside the United States, provided they are justified and compliant with NIH policy.
From a funding and competition standpoint, the opportunity is listed under CFDA number 93.310 (Health) and uses the grant funding instrument. NIH anticipates making about 30 awards under this announcement. The listed award ceiling is $475,000. The original closing date for applications is August 17, 2026, and the opportunity record indicates a creation date of June 26, 2026. Taken together, this is a highly competitive, prestige-level NIH mechanism aimed at enabling a small cohort of exceptionally promising early-career investigators to pursue innovative research with the potential for outsized scientific or clinical impact.Apply for RFA RM 27 002
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIH Director’s New Innovator Award (DP2 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 2026-06-26.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-17. (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 $475,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 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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FAQs: NIH Director's New Innovator Award (DP2 Clinical Trial Optional) - RFA-RM-27-002
What is the NIH Director's New Innovator Award (DP2 Clinical Trial Optional)?
The NIH Director's New Innovator Award is an NIH discretionary grant mechanism intended to support early-stage investigators with a track record of unusual creativity who want to pursue bold, high-impact research ideas that may be too new, unconventional, or high-risk for more traditional NIH funding mechanisms.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The central aim is to catalyze genuinely innovative research with the potential to shift scientific thinking or create major advances in areas that align with the NIH mission.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is RFA-RM-27-002.
What does "DP2 Clinical Trial Optional" mean?
"Clinical Trial Optional" means an applicant may propose a project that includes a clinical trial or a project that does not include a clinical trial, depending on what the science requires.
What kinds of research does this program support?
The program is intentionally open to proposals across the biomedical sciences. It can support basic research, translational research, or clinical research, as long as it aligns with the NIH mission and fits the program's emphasis on innovation and potential for major impact.
Is this opportunity focused on high-risk, high-reward science?
Yes. This award is part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) program, which is built on the idea that transformative breakthroughs often come from ambitious projects that challenge established assumptions or explore novel directions before extensive preliminary data exist.
How is this award different from more traditional NIH funding mechanisms?
It places a special emphasis on originality, the potential for major impact, and a willingness to support work that is conceptually daring, including projects that may be considered too new, unconventional, or high-risk for more traditional NIH grant mechanisms.
Who is the award intended for?
The award is specifically oriented toward early-stage investigators. While many organizational types are eligible to apply, the detailed investigator-level requirements and definitions are addressed in Section III of the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO).
Which organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility spans a wide range of U.S.-based applicant organizations, including:
- State, county, city, or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Other Native American tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), other than institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Other eligible entities as described in the NOFO
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply.
Can a U.S. organization apply if part of the project will be conducted outside the United States?
Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed when they meet the NIH Grants Policy Statement definition, meaning a U.S. applicant organization may include certain substantive project elements conducted outside the United States if they are justified and compliant with NIH policy.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 93.310 (Health).
What type of funding instrument is used?
This opportunity uses the grant funding instrument.
How many awards does NIH expect to make under this announcement?
NIH anticipates making about 30 awards under this announcement.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $475,000.
When is the application closing date?
The original closing date for applications is August 17, 2026.
When was this opportunity record created?
The opportunity record indicates a creation date of June 26, 2026.
How competitive is this award?
This is described as a highly competitive, prestige-level NIH mechanism that supports a small cohort of exceptionally promising early-career investigators pursuing innovative research with the potential for outsized scientific or clinical impact.
Where are the detailed investigator eligibility requirements defined?
The detailed investigator-level requirements and definitions for early-stage investigators are addressed in Section III of the NOFO.
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| Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C Capacity Development Program Apply for HRSA 26 061 Funding Number: HRSA 26 061 Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Institutional Mentored Career Development Award (Parent K12) (Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for PA 27 030 Funding Number: PA 27 030 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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