Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 20 012
The NIH Director's New Innovator Award Program (DP2, Clinical Trial Optional) is a competitive NIH Common Fund grant designed to help exceptionally creative early stage investigators launch bold, high-impact research programs. The emphasis is on highly innovative ideas that could substantially shift understanding or practice around major problems aligned with the broad NIH mission. Compared with more traditional NIH mechanisms, this program is intentionally geared toward high-risk, high-reward projects where the approach may be unconventional, exploratory, or cross-cutting, but where the potential payoff is large. Clinical trials may be included if they are appropriate to the proposed work, but they are not required.
A central theme of the opportunity is broad encouragement for applicants across the full diversity of the research workforce and across a wide range of institutions and geographic locations. NIH signals that it wants to support the strongest science from investigators of varied backgrounds and from many kinds of eligible organizations, not just the most research-intensive universities. Research topics can span behavioral, social, biomedical, applied, and formal sciences, and the work can be basic, translational, or clinical in nature, as long as it connects to NIH priorities and has the hallmark "new innovator" profile of originality and potential for major impact.
This award is positioned as a complement to NIH's standard R01 pathway for early stage investigators. While R01 grants remain the main funding route for many new investigators, the DP2 mechanism is meant for applicants whose ideas may not fit neatly into conventional review expectations and who could benefit from a distinct high-risk, high-reward funding channel. The program is part of NIH's broader High-Risk, High-Reward Research Program under the NIH Common Fund, which supports unusually innovative proposals that may open new directions or transform fields.
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes many categories of public and private entities. Eligible applicants listed for this opportunity include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible institution types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), as well as eligible federal agencies and faith-based or community-based organizations.
At the same time, the announcement draws clear boundaries around foreign eligibility. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant organization may include certain international elements in the project when permitted under NIH policy.
The opportunity is administered by the National Institutes of Health under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-RM-20-012, categorized as a discretionary grant in the health funding area (CFDA 93.310). The original closing date listed for the opportunity was August 21, 2020, and the posting creation date was May 19, 2020. The source information does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, but the overall intent is clear: provide substantial, early-career support to enable unusually innovative investigators to pursue ideas with the potential to make a major difference in health-related science and outcomes.Apply for RFA RM 20 012
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIH Directors New Innovator Award Program (DP2 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 2020-05-19.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-08-21. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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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FAQs: NIH Director's New Innovator Award Program (DP2, Clinical Trial Optional)
What is the NIH Director's New Innovator Award Program (DP2)?
The NIH Director's New Innovator Award Program (DP2, Clinical Trial Optional) is a competitive NIH Common Fund grant designed to help exceptionally creative early stage investigators launch bold, high-impact research programs. It emphasizes highly innovative ideas with the potential to substantially shift understanding or practice around major problems aligned with the broad NIH mission.
What kind of research does this program aim to support?
The program is intentionally geared toward high-risk, high-reward projects. Proposed work may be unconventional, exploratory, or cross-cutting, as long as the potential payoff is large and the topic connects to NIH priorities. Research may be basic, translational, or clinical in nature.
Are clinical trials required under this opportunity?
No. Clinical trials are optional. They may be included if they are appropriate to the proposed work, but they are not required.
How does the DP2 New Innovator Award differ from a traditional NIH R01 grant?
This award is positioned as a complement to the standard R01 pathway for early stage investigators. While R01 grants are a main route for many new investigators, the DP2 mechanism is intended for applicants whose ideas may not fit neatly into conventional review expectations and who could benefit from a distinct high-risk, high-reward funding channel.
What is the larger NIH program that this award belongs to?
The DP2 New Innovator Award is part of NIH's broader High-Risk, High-Reward Research Program under the NIH Common Fund, which supports unusually innovative proposals that may open new directions or transform fields.
Who is the target investigator group for this award?
The opportunity is designed to support "early stage investigators" and is described as supporting exceptionally creative early career researchers to launch bold, high-impact research programs.
What research areas or disciplines are allowed?
Research topics can span behavioral, social, biomedical, applied, and formal sciences. The work can be basic, translational, or clinical, provided it aligns with NIH priorities and fits the "new innovator" profile of originality and potential for major impact.
Does NIH encourage applications from certain institutions or backgrounds?
Yes. A central theme is broad encouragement for applicants across the full diversity of the research workforce and across a wide range of institutions and geographic locations. NIH signals it wants to support strong science from investigators of varied backgrounds and from many kinds of eligible organizations, not only the most research-intensive universities.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes many categories of public and private entities. Eligible applicants listed include:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
- Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
- Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
Are specific minority-serving institutions mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The announcement explicitly highlights eligibility for institution types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The opportunity lists faith-based or community-based organizations among the eligible organization types.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible federal agencies are explicitly included among eligible applicants.
Can foreign (non-U.S.) organizations apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply.
Can a U.S. organization apply if the project includes non-U.S. components?
The announcement states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant organization may include certain international elements in the project when permitted under NIH policy.
Which NIH organization administers this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the NIH Common Fund.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-RM-20-012.
How is this grant categorized?
It is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health funding area, with CFDA 93.310.
When was this opportunity posted, and what was the original closing date?
The posting creation date was May 19, 2020, and the original closing date listed was August 21, 2020.
Does the provided information list an award ceiling or expected number of awards?
No. The source information provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
What is the overall intent of the New Innovator Award?
The overall intent is to provide substantial, early-career support to enable unusually innovative investigators to pursue ideas with the potential to make a major difference in health-related science and outcomes.
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