Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 22 018
The NIH Directors Pioneer Award Program (DP1 Clinical Trial Optional), announced by the National Institutes of Health under funding opportunity number RFA-RM-22-018 (CFDA 93.310), is a competitive grant program designed to back individual scientists who show exceptional creativity and who are willing to pursue research ideas that are unusually bold. The central purpose is to support highly innovative, potentially transformative work that could meaningfully advance human health. This program sits within NIH's broader High-Risk, High-Reward Research effort funded through the NIH Common Fund, which is aimed at enabling projects that may be too unconventional or early-stage to fit neatly into standard funding mechanisms.
A defining feature of this opportunity is its emphasis on "pioneering" research, meaning the proposed project should represent a substantially different scientific direction compared with what the applicant is already doing, and it should stand apart from directions already being widely pursued by others. NIH is explicitly looking for new trajectories, not incremental extensions of an existing research portfolio. At the same time, the program is deliberately broad in scientific scope: proposals can come from across NIH's mission areas, including behavioral, social, biomedical, applied, and formal sciences, and may span basic, translational, or clinical research. As indicated by "Clinical Trial Optional," applications may include a clinical trial when appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required.
The announcement also places a strong, explicit priority on reaching the best researchers by encouraging applications that reflect the full diversity of the research workforce. Individuals from diverse backgrounds, and from the full spectrum of eligible institutions across all geographic locations, are strongly encouraged to apply. Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities, such as state, county, city, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The opportunity also highlights additional categories of applicants that are especially encouraged or recognized, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Foreign eligibility is restricted in specific ways. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities or foreign institutions are not eligible to apply directly, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are permitted, which generally means a U.S. applicant organization may include certain allowable international elements of the project when justified and consistent with NIH policy.
From the funding details provided, this is a discretionary grant mechanism, with an award ceiling listed as 700,000. The original closing date for the opportunity was 2022-09-09, and the posting indicates it was created on 2022-04-13. Overall, the program is best understood as a prestigious NIH pathway for individual investigators who can articulate a compelling, high-risk idea with the potential for outsized impact, especially when that idea breaks meaningfully from established lines of work and could open up new scientific ground relevant to improving human health.Apply for RFA RM 22 018
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIH Directors Pioneer Award Program (DP1 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 2022-04-13.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-09-09. (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 $700,000.00 in funding.
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NIH Director's Pioneer Award Program (DP1 Clinical Trial Optional)?
The NIH Director's Pioneer Award Program is a competitive NIH grant program designed to support individual scientists who demonstrate exceptional creativity and a willingness to pursue unusually bold research ideas. The aim is to fund highly innovative, potentially transformative research that could meaningfully advance human health.
What is the funding opportunity number for this program?
The funding opportunity number is RFA-RM-22-018.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 93.310.
What does "DP1" refer to in this announcement?
"DP1" refers to the activity code associated with the NIH Director's Pioneer Award mechanism.
What does "Clinical Trial Optional" mean for applicants?
"Clinical Trial Optional" means an application may include a clinical trial if appropriate for the proposed research, but including a clinical trial is not required.
What is the main purpose of the Pioneer Award?
The central purpose is to support "pioneering" research that is highly innovative and potentially transformative, especially work that could open new scientific directions and advance human health.
What kind of research is NIH looking for under this program?
NIH is explicitly seeking unusually bold, high-risk ideas with the potential for outsized impact. The project should represent a substantially different scientific direction from what the applicant is already doing and should not be an incremental extension of an existing research portfolio.
How should a proposed project relate to an applicant's existing research?
The proposed project should represent a substantially different scientific direction compared with the applicant's current work. NIH is looking for new trajectories rather than continuations or small stepwise advances of an established program of research.
Does the research need to be in a specific scientific field?
No. The program is deliberately broad in scientific scope and can support research across NIH mission areas, including behavioral, social, biomedical, applied, and formal sciences.
Can the proposed work be basic, translational, or clinical?
Yes. The announcement indicates projects may span basic, translational, or clinical research.
Is this program part of a larger NIH initiative?
Yes. It sits within NIH's broader High-Risk, High-Reward Research effort funded through the NIH Common Fund, which aims to enable projects that may be too unconventional or early-stage for standard funding mechanisms.
What is meant by "pioneering" research in this announcement?
"Pioneering" research, as described here, means work that represents a substantially different scientific direction for the applicant and stands apart from directions already being widely pursued by others. The emphasis is on opening new ground rather than following well-established paths.
Who is the intended applicant profile for this award?
This award is aimed at individual scientists who can articulate a compelling, high-risk research idea and who demonstrate exceptional creativity and willingness to pursue unusually bold approaches.
How does NIH describe the type of impact it wants to fund?
NIH is seeking potentially transformative research with the possibility of meaningfully advancing human health, particularly through ideas that are unconventional or early-stage compared to typical funding routes.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizations and government entities, including:
- State, county, city, and special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized governments)
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status, outside of higher education)
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
Are specific types of institutions especially encouraged to apply?
Yes. The opportunity highlights and encourages applications from a wide range of institutions and organizations, including:
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Hispanic-serving Institutions
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
- Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
- Faith-based or community-based organizations
- Eligible federal agencies
- Regional organizations
- Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized
- U.S. territories or possessions
Does the announcement encourage applications from diverse backgrounds?
Yes. The announcement states a strong priority on reaching the best researchers by encouraging applications that reflect the full diversity of the research workforce. Individuals from diverse backgrounds, and from the full spectrum of eligible institutions across all geographic locations, are strongly encouraged to apply.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply directly?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities or foreign institutions are not eligible to apply directly under this opportunity.
Are non-domestic components of U.S. organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
Are any international elements allowed in projects funded under this opportunity?
Yes. Foreign components, as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are permitted. This generally means a U.S. applicant organization may include allowable international elements of the project when justified and consistent with NIH policy.
What type of grant is this described as?
The funding details describe this opportunity as a discretionary grant mechanism.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed is 700,000.
When was this opportunity created (posted)?
The posting indicates it was created on 2022-04-13.
What was the original closing date for the opportunity?
The original closing date listed is 2022-09-09.
Is this program intended for incremental research extensions?
No. NIH explicitly emphasizes that it is looking for new trajectories and substantially different scientific directions, not incremental extensions of an existing research portfolio.
How competitive or prestigious is this opportunity described to be?
Based on the description provided, it is presented as a prestigious pathway for individual investigators who can propose a compelling, high-risk idea with the potential for outsized impact and meaningful advancement of human health.
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