NIH Directors Pioneer Award Program (DP1 Clinical Trial Optional) RFA-RM-26-001

The NIH Director’s Pioneer Award Program (DP1 Clinical Trial Optional) is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This program is part of the NIH Common Fund’s High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) initiative. The NIH seeks to fund groundbreaking and creative individual scientists who are proposing to explore entirely new directions in biomedical research. Through this program, the NIH aims to support pioneering ideas that may not be feasible through conventional funding mechanisms due to their novelty or perceived risk. This award supports research that is radically different from ongoing efforts in the applicant’s current scientific portfolio. It is intended for bold projects with the potential for extraordinary impact across broad areas relevant to the NIH mission. The scope of funding allows for flexibility in scientific exploration, and projects from any area within the biomedical sciences are welcome. Clinical trials are optional under this program, allowing researchers who wish to include them the opportunity to do so without being restricted by the program’s structure. The program anticipates funding approximately 8 awards, with each award providing $700,000 in direct costs per year. The total estimated funding available through this program is $8,100,000. Applicants are not required to provide matching funds or cost sharing. As a federal discretionary grant, this program is aligned with activity category “Health” under the Assistance Listing number 93.310, which relates to Trans-NIH Research Support. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and inclusive. Eligible applicants include a wide range of government entities such as state, county, and city governments, as well as federally and non-federally recognized tribal governments. Educational institutions, including public, state-controlled, and private higher education institutions, are eligible. Nonprofit organizations, both with and without 501(c)(3) IRS status, for-profit organizations including small businesses, public housing authorities, and special district governments are also eligible. Faith-based organizations, regional organizations, and non-domestic (foreign) institutions are additionally eligible, though NIH Intramural Research Program staff are excluded. Submission is not currently open. The estimated application open date is July 9, 2026, with a closing date of September 9, 2026. Awards are expected to be announced by September 15, 2026, and projects will start on September 30, 2026. As a recurring program, this opportunity is forecasted to be released annually. Given the application due date of September 9, 2026, the next expected cycle would likely occur in September 2027. To submit, applicants will need to apply via Grants.gov following NIH's application protocols. Contact for the program is available by email at PioneerAwards@mail.nih.gov. As this is a forecasted opportunity, potential applicants are encouraged to monitor updates and prepare accordingly for the expected application window.