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NIH Director's New Innovator Award

NIH Director's New Innovator Award

Supports early-stage researchers with transformative ideas in high-risk biomedical studies.

Between cyclesNIH Common FundUnited States
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About

The NIH Director's New Innovator Award is part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward (HRHR) Research Program. Established in 2007, the award is specifically reserved for Early Stage Investigators — researchers who have completed their terminal degree or postdoctoral clinical training within the past ten years — and supports bold, innovative biomedical or behavioral research proposals tha…

What this grant funds

Funds Early Stage Investigators within ten years of their terminal degree to pursue bold, high-risk biomedical or behavioral research, awarding $475,000 per year for five years.

Key facts
CycleiHow often this grant runs — e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.Annual
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.—
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.—
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.60 months
Award typeiThe form of funding — grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.0%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.$69.4M
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Last verified: 24 Jul 2026Source: commonfund.nih.gov