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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| Funding Opportunity |
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| National Lupus Outreach and Clinical Trial Education Program Apply for MP CPI 21 005 Funding Number: MP CPI 21 005 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Enhancing WASH Activity Apply for 72062421RFA0000 Funding Number: 72062421RFA0000 Agency: Agency for International Development, Ghana USAID-Accra Category: Health Funding Amount: $39,000,000 |
| Early Detection of Certain Medical Conditions Related to Environmental Health Hazards Supplement Apply for CDC RFA TS19 19020301SUPP21 Funding Number: CDC RFA TS19 19020301SUPP21 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - ATSDR Category: Health Funding Amount: $999,999 |
| Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program Competing Supplement Apply for HRSA 21 111 Funding Number: HRSA 21 111 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: $187,500 |
| Enhancing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Activity Apply for 720624RFA00003 Funding Number: 720624RFA00003 Agency: Agency for International Development, Ghana USAID-Accra Category: Health Funding Amount: $39,000,000 |
| Community-Based Workforce for COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach Apply for HRSA 21 136 Funding Number: HRSA 21 136 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Technical Collaboration to Strengthen and Expand Capacity to Detect, Prevent, Respond and Mitigate the Effects of Public Health Threats of National and Global Importance with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) in the Kingdom of Thailand Apply for CDC RFA GH21 2106 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH21 2106 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH Category: Health Funding Amount: $9,500,000 |
| NHLBI Emerging Investigator Award (EIA) (R35 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA HL 23 005 Funding Number: RFA HL 23 005 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| NHLBI Outstanding Investigator Award (OIA) (R35 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA HL 23 004 Funding Number: RFA HL 23 004 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| Technical Collaboration to Strengthen Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Capacity to Detect, Prevent, Respond, Monitor, and Mitigate The Effects of Public Health Threats In The Kingdom of Thailand. Apply for CDC RFA GH21 2107 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH21 2107 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH Category: Health Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Research Program Award (R35 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA NS 21 020 Funding Number: RFA NS 21 020 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Regional Pediatric Pandemic Network Apply for HRSA 21 104 Funding Number: HRSA 21 104 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: $9,700,000 |
| Enhancing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Activity Apply for 72064121RFA00003 Funding Number: 72064121RFA00003 Agency: Agency for International Development, Ghana USAID-Accra Category: Health Funding Amount: $39,000,000 |
| Closing the Gap with Social Determinants of Health Accelerator Plans Apply for CDC RFA DP21 2111 Funding Number: CDC RFA DP21 2111 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - NCCDPHP Category: Health Funding Amount: $125,000 |
| Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Payment Program Apply for HRSA 22 051 Funding Number: HRSA 22 051 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| CDC's Collaboration with Academia to Strengthen Public Health Workforce Capacity Apply for CDC RFA OE17 17010502SUPP21 Funding Number: CDC RFA OE17 17010502SUPP21 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CSELS Category: Health Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Strengthening detection, prevention and response to infectious disease threats in Kazakhstan Apply for CDC RFA GH21 2167 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH21 2167 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Rural Northern Border Region Planning Program Apply for HRSA 21 106 Funding Number: HRSA 21 106 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: $190,000 |
| Strengthening detection, prevention and response to infectious disease threats in Uzbekistan Apply for CDC RFA GH21 2169 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH21 2169 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Projects of National Significance: Empowering Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to Manage Their Healthcare Transitions Apply for HHS 2021 ACL AOD DNCE 0100 Funding Number: HHS 2021 ACL AOD DNCE 0100 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living Category: Health Funding Amount: $485,000 |
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