Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 21 018
The NIH Director's Early Independence Award (DP5, clinical trial optional) is a competitive NIH grant program designed for unusually promising scientists who are ready to launch an independent research career almost immediately after finishing a terminal doctoral degree (such as a PhD or equivalent) or completing postgraduate clinical training. The central idea is to let exceptional early-career investigators skip the traditional postdoctoral stage and move straight into running their own independent research program, with the expectation that they will pursue ambitious, potentially transformative work rather than incremental projects. As part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research portfolio, the program is positioned to support creative, bold research trajectories that can open new directions for the field.
The opportunity welcomes proposals across the full range of topics that fit the broad NIH mission. That includes, but is not limited to, behavioral and social science, biomedical science, applied research, and formal or computational approaches, spanning basic, translational, and clinical research. The "clinical trial optional" designation signals that applications may include a clinical trial if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required; applicants can propose either clinical-trial or non-clinical-trial research depending on what best fits the scientific aims.
A strong emphasis is placed on building a research workforce that reflects broad diversity, and the announcement explicitly encourages applications from investigators with diverse backgrounds as well as from a wide variety of eligible institutions across all geographic regions. In practice, this means NIH is looking not only for outstanding science and exceptional candidate potential, but also for participation that is not limited to a narrow band of institutions or career pathways.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the National Institutes of Health. The funding opportunity number is RFA-RM-21-018, and it is listed under CFDA 93.310 in the Health activity category. The eligible applicant organizations cover a very broad set of entities, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses, with small businesses explicitly included), and multiple types of government and tribal entities (state, county, city/township, special districts, independent school districts, federally recognized tribal governments, and certain tribal organizations), plus other applicants as described in the announcement's additional eligibility language.
In the source data provided for this specific announcement cycle, the award ceiling is listed as $250,000 and NIH anticipated making about 10 awards. The opportunity record shows a creation date of April 26, 2021, with an original closing date of September 3, 2021. Overall, the program is best understood as an accelerated on-ramp to research independence for rare early-career investigators who can demonstrate both the maturity to lead an independent lab or research program right away and a compelling, high-impact research plan aligned with NIH priorities.Apply for RFA RM 21 018
- The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIH Directors Early Independence Awards (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 Apr 26, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 03, 2021. (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 $250,000.00 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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NIH Director's Early Independence Award (DP5) - FAQs
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 program intended for unusually promising scientists who are ready to begin an independent research career almost immediately after completing a terminal doctoral degree (such as a PhD or equivalent) or finishing postgraduate clinical training. Its purpose is to enable exceptional early-career investigators to move directly into leading an independent research program, rather than following the traditional postdoctoral pathway.
What is the main goal of this program?
The core idea is to support rare early-career investigators who can skip the traditional postdoctoral stage and immediately launch their own independent research programs. The program expects awardees to pursue ambitious, potentially transformative research directions, not incremental or narrowly scoped projects.
Who is this award designed for?
This award is designed for unusually promising scientists who are essentially ready to function as independent investigators right away after completing a terminal doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent) or postgraduate clinical training, and who can demonstrate both the maturity to lead an independent research effort and a compelling, high-impact research plan aligned with the NIH mission.
Does this program require applicants to complete a postdoc first?
No. A defining feature of this award is that it is meant to allow exceptional candidates to bypass the traditional postdoctoral stage and move directly into independence.
What kind of research topics are eligible?
The opportunity welcomes proposals across the full range of topics that fit the broad NIH mission. Examples mentioned include behavioral and social science, biomedical science, applied research, and formal or computational approaches. Projects may span basic, translational, and clinical research.
Is a clinical trial required for this award?
No. The funding opportunity is labeled "clinical trial optional," meaning an application may include a clinical trial if that fits the scientific aims, but a clinical trial is not required.
Can an applicant propose either clinical-trial or non-clinical-trial research?
Yes. Because the opportunity is "clinical trial optional," applicants can propose clinical-trial or non-clinical-trial work depending on what best matches the proposed science.
How is this program positioned within NIH?
The Early Independence Award is part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research portfolio, which is positioned to support creative, bold research trajectories that can open new directions for a field.
What does NIH mean by "high-risk, high-reward" in this context?
Based on the description provided, the program is oriented toward ambitious and potentially transformative work that could open new directions for a field, rather than incremental research. The emphasis is on bold, creative research trajectories.
Is diversity explicitly encouraged in this funding opportunity?
Yes. The announcement places strong emphasis on building a research workforce that reflects broad diversity and explicitly encourages applications from investigators with diverse backgrounds.
Are institutions in all geographic regions encouraged to apply?
Yes. The description notes that applications are encouraged from a wide variety of eligible institutions across all geographic regions, signaling interest in broad participation beyond a narrow band of institutions.
Who administers and funds this grant?
This is a discretionary grant funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the funding opportunity number for this program?
The funding opportunity number provided is RFA-RM-21-018.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.310 in the Health activity category.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicant organizations include a broad set of entities, such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and multiple government and tribal entities. The description also references additional eligibility language in the announcement for other applicants.
Are small businesses eligible to apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations are eligible, and small businesses are explicitly included among eligible applicants.
Are nonprofits required to have 501(c)(3) status to be eligible?
No. The eligibility list includes nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status.
Are government entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes multiple types of government entities, including state, county, city/township, special district governments, independent school districts, as well as federally recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations.
How many awards were anticipated for this announcement cycle?
In the source data provided for this specific announcement cycle, NIH anticipated making about 10 awards.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed in the provided source data is $250,000.
When was this opportunity record created?
The opportunity record shows a creation date of April 26, 2021.
What was the original closing date shown for this opportunity?
The record shows an original closing date of September 3, 2021.
What should a competitive application emphasize, based on the description provided?
Based on the provided description, the program is looking for outstanding science, exceptional candidate potential, and evidence that the applicant has the maturity to lead an independent research program immediately, along with a compelling, high-impact research plan aligned with NIH priorities. The program also emphasizes broad diversity and broad institutional participation.
Is this program limited to a narrow set of research fields?
No. The program welcomes proposals across the full range of topics consistent with the NIH mission, including (but not limited to) behavioral and social science, biomedical science, applied research, and computational or formal approaches, across basic, translational, and clinical research.
Is this program best suited for incremental research projects?
No. The description explicitly frames the expectation that awardees will pursue ambitious, potentially transformative work, rather than incremental projects.
What is the overall intent of the Early Independence Award in one sentence?
It is an accelerated on-ramp to research independence for rare early-career investigators who are ready to lead a high-impact research program almost immediately after completing their terminal training.
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