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Program

NIH Director's Early Independence Award

Funds exceptional early researchers moving directly into independent science leadership.

NIH Common FundUnited StatesGrant
About

The NIH Director's Early Independence Award sits inside the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research portfolio and is meant to let exceptional junior scientists move directly into independent research. Established in 2011, it is reserved for researchers who completed their terminal research degree or postgraduate clinical training within the previous 16 months, or who will complete it wit…

Industries covered
AIBiotechMedtechNeurotechSynthetic Biology
Grants under NIH Director's Early Independence Award

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.

NIH Director's Early Independence Award
Between cycles

Funds rapid transition of recent PhD researchers into independent research within sixteen months.

$21.4M pool
Last verified: 29 May 2026Source: commonfund.nih.gov