The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director’s New Innovator Award supports early career investigators of exceptional creativity who propose bold and highly innovative research projects with the potential to produce a major impact on broad, important areas relevant to the NIH mission. Early Stage Investigators are defined as those within 10 years of completing their terminal research degree or postgraduate clinical training and who have not yet received substantial NIH support. No detailed experimental plan or preliminary data are required.
The major component of the application is a 10-page essay describing (1) the significance of the problem/challenge being addressed; (2) the general approach to be taken to address the problem/challenge; (3) why the project is unusually innovative; and (4) the qualities and experiences of the investigator that make them especially well-suited to pursue such research.
For more information about the award and application guidelines, visit the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award webpage.
Deadline: 08/17/2026 | Amount: $2,375,000