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NIH Common Fund

NIH Director's Early Independence Award

Funds a scientist to skip the postdoc entirely and run their own lab straight after the doctorate — ten awards of $350,000 each.

OpenNIH Common FundUnited States

The normal route into independent research runs through years of postdoctoral work in someone else's lab. This award exists to let a small number of people skip it.

NIH funds exceptionally creative scientists to start their own independent research programme soon after finishing a doctorate or clinical training, without a postdoc first. Any topic fitting the NIH mission is accepted.

Ten awards o

An independent research programme in any area of NIH's mission, run by a scientist who has recently completed a doctoral degree or clinical training and is bypassing postdoctoral training to start it.

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.10 Sept 2026
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.26 weeks
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.
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.
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.$5.7M

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Last verified: 25 Aug 2026Funder reference: RFA-RM-27-004Source: www.grants.gov