Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 27 004
The NIH Director's Early Independence Award (DP5, Clinical Trial Optional) is a competitive NIH grant designed to help exceptionally promising scientists launch fully independent research programs right after completing a doctoral degree or clinical training, rather than following the traditional path of doing one or more postdoctoral fellowships first. It is part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research program, which generally emphasizes bold, potentially transformative ideas and supports investigators who are prepared to take on ambitious research questions. The program is open to projects on any topic that fits within the NIH mission, meaning the science can span the full range of biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and health-related research areas supported by NIH. As a "clinical trial optional" opportunity, applicants may propose studies that do or do not include clinical trials, as long as the proposed work aligns with NIH rules and definitions for clinical trials.
This funding opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a discretionary grant program under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-RM-27-004, with the activity category listed under Health and CFDA number 93.310. The application deadline (original closing date) is September 10, 2026. NIH expects to make about 10 awards under this announcement, and the listed award ceiling is $350,000. Because this mechanism is specifically aimed at early independence, a major focus is whether the applicant can credibly transition into running a lab or equivalent independent program quickly, with the institutional environment, resources, and mentoring structure (as applicable) that make immediate independence realistic and responsible.
A wide range of applicant organization types are eligible, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) organizations, excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories as specified), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and various government entities such as state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and certain Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations, as well as public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. In practical terms, this means the award can be hosted by many different kinds of U.S.-based research-performing institutions, not only universities, as long as all program and NIH policy requirements are met.
On the international side, NIH is clear about what is and is not allowed. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as the applicant. However, foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S. applicant institution may include certain well-justified international elements in the project (for example, a specific collaboration, data source, or performance site abroad) when they meet NIH's definition of a foreign component and when properly disclosed and approved under NIH policy. The detailed eligibility rules and any special conditions that apply to the investigator and institution are referenced as being in Section III (Eligibility Information) of the official NOFO, which is where applicants should verify degree or training completion windows, independence requirements, and any additional constraints specific to the DP5 program.Apply for RFA RM 27 004
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (DP5 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 2026-09-10. (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 $350,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 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 Early Independence Award (DP5, Clinical Trial Optional) - RFA-RM-27-004
What is the NIH Director's Early Independence Award (DP5)?
The NIH Director's Early Independence Award (DP5, Clinical Trial Optional) is a competitive NIH grant intended to help exceptionally promising scientists launch fully independent research programs immediately after completing a doctoral degree or clinical training, instead of following the more traditional route of completing one or more postdoctoral fellowships first.
What is the purpose of this award?
The main purpose is to support unusually talented early-career researchers who are ready to transition directly into independence and lead an ambitious, independent research program right away. A major focus is whether the applicant can credibly and responsibly establish independence quickly, supported by an appropriate institutional environment, resources, and any mentoring structure that may be relevant.
Is this program part of a larger NIH initiative?
Yes. This opportunity is part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research program, which generally emphasizes bold, potentially transformative ideas and supports investigators prepared to pursue ambitious research questions.
What kinds of research topics are allowed?
Projects on any topic that fits within the NIH mission are allowed. This includes the full range of biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and health-related research areas supported by NIH.
What does "Clinical Trial Optional" mean for this award?
"Clinical Trial Optional" means applicants may propose research that includes a clinical trial or does not include a clinical trial. Either approach is acceptable as long as the proposed work aligns with NIH rules and NIH definitions for clinical trials.
Who is the funding agency for this opportunity?
The funding agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (NOFO) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-RM-27-004.
How is this opportunity categorized?
It is a discretionary grant program with the activity category listed under Health. The CFDA number provided is 93.310.
When is the application deadline?
The application deadline (original closing date) is September 10, 2026.
How many awards does NIH expect to make?
NIH expects to make about 10 awards under this announcement.
What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $350,000.
What is NIH looking for in terms of applicant readiness?
Because this mechanism is specifically aimed at early independence, a key consideration is whether the applicant can credibly transition into running a lab or an equivalent independent program quickly. Review considerations emphasized here include having an institutional environment, resources, and (as applicable) a mentoring structure that make immediate independence realistic and responsible.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
A wide range of organization types are eligible, including:
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) organizations, excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories as specified)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Certain Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
In practical terms, the award can be hosted by many different kinds of U.S.-based research-performing institutions, not only universities, as long as all program and NIH policy requirements are met.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply as the applicant organization?
No. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization for this opportunity.
Can a non-U.S. component of a U.S. organization apply as the applicant?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as the applicant.
Are international collaborations or overseas project elements allowed at all?
Yes, certain international elements may be allowed through a "foreign component" as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. A U.S. applicant institution may include well-justified international elements (such as a collaboration, data source, or performance site abroad) when they meet NIH's definition of a foreign component and when they are properly disclosed and approved under NIH policy.
Where should applicants confirm the detailed eligibility rules for the investigator and institution?
The detailed eligibility rules and any special conditions are referenced as being in Section III (Eligibility Information) of the official NOFO. That is where applicants should verify items such as degree or training completion windows, independence requirements, and any additional constraints specific to the DP5 program.
Does this award require a specific scientific area or NIH Institute/Center focus?
The information provided states that the program is open to projects on any topic that fits within the NIH mission, spanning biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and health-related research areas supported by NIH.
Is this funding opportunity designed for applicants who have already completed postdoctoral training?
This opportunity is designed to enable independence right after completing a doctoral degree or clinical training, rather than following the traditional path of completing one or more postdoctoral fellowships first.
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