Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 18 010
The NIH Director's Early Independence Award (DP5, clinical trial optional) is a National Institutes of Health grant opportunity designed for unusually promising early-career scientists who are ready to launch an independent research program almost immediately after finishing a terminal doctoral or research degree, or after completing post-graduate clinical training. The central idea is to let exceptional investigators skip the standard postdoctoral apprenticeship stage and move straight into running their own lab or independent research effort, which can significantly speed up the transition into a long-term, independent research career.
This award is intentionally broad in scientific scope. NIH welcomes applications that address any topic aligned with the wide-ranging NIH mission in health and biomedical research, and it explicitly encourages participation by individuals bringing diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. The "clinical trial optional" designation means proposed projects may include a clinical trial if appropriate, but they do not have to; applicants can propose either clinical-trial or non-clinical-trial research, depending on what best fits the scientific question.
The program sits within the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research portfolio, which signals the emphasis on bold, potentially transformative ideas and investigators with the capability to pursue them. In practice, that framing indicates NIH is looking for candidates who not only have strong training and a compelling research vision, but also show clear readiness for independence, including the ability to drive an original research direction without the usual extended mentored postdoctoral period.
Administratively, the opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the National Institutes of Health. The funding mechanism is a discretionary grant under the health funding activity category, with CFDA number 93.310. The funding opportunity number is RFA-RM-18-010, originally created on March 26, 2018, with an original closing date of September 27, 2018. NIH anticipated making about 10 awards under this announcement, and the listed award ceiling is $250,000.
Eligibility is broad on the institutional side, covering many types of applicant organizations that could host an independent investigator. Eligible applicants include various levels of government entities (state, county, city/township, and special districts), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments and certain tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories as specified), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and other entities as allowed under the announcement's additional eligibility language. This breadth reflects the program's focus on enabling the right investigator and research environment, rather than limiting participation to a narrow set of institution types.
Overall, the DP5 Early Independence Award is best understood as a competitive NIH pathway for fast-tracking exceptional, newly trained researchers into full independence, supporting high-impact ideas across the NIH mission, and doing so within a program culture that values originality, significant potential upside, and a readiness to lead independent research early.Apply for RFA RM 18 010
- The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIH Director's Early Independence Award (DP5 - 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 Mar 26, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 27, 2018. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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NIH Director's Early Independence Award (DP5) - FAQs
What is the NIH Director's Early Independence Award (DP5)?
The NIH Director's Early Independence Award (DP5, clinical trial optional) is a National Institutes of Health grant opportunity meant for unusually promising early-career scientists who are prepared to begin an independent research program almost immediately after finishing a terminal doctoral or research degree, or after completing post-graduate clinical training.
What is the main purpose of this award?
The central purpose is to allow exceptional investigators to skip the traditional postdoctoral apprenticeship stage and move directly into running an independent research effort. The idea is to speed up the transition to a long-term, independent research career by enabling independence earlier than the standard pathway.
Who is this program designed for?
This opportunity is designed for unusually promising early-career scientists who demonstrate clear readiness to lead an original research direction without an extended mentored postdoctoral period, and who are ready to launch an independent program soon after completing their terminal degree or post-graduate clinical training.
Does the award support only certain scientific areas?
No. The award is intentionally broad in scientific scope. NIH welcomes applications on any topic that aligns with the NIH mission in health and biomedical research.
What does "clinical trial optional" mean for this opportunity?
"Clinical trial optional" means the proposed project may include a clinical trial if it fits the scientific question, but a clinical trial is not required. Applicants can propose either clinical-trial or non-clinical-trial research depending on what is appropriate for their aims.
How does this program fit within NIH programs?
The DP5 Early Independence Award is part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research portfolio. That placement signals an emphasis on bold, potentially transformative ideas and on investigators with the capacity to pursue them.
What kind of investigator readiness is NIH looking for?
Based on the description, NIH is looking for candidates with strong training and a compelling research vision who also show clear readiness for independence, including the ability to drive an original research direction without the usual extended mentored postdoctoral period.
Which federal agency is offering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What type of funding mechanism is this?
It is a discretionary grant under the health funding activity category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this funding opportunity is 93.310.
What is the funding opportunity number (FOA)?
The funding opportunity number is RFA-RM-18-010.
When was this funding opportunity originally created?
The announcement was originally created on March 26, 2018.
What was the original closing date for this announcement?
The original closing date listed is September 27, 2018.
How many awards did NIH anticipate making under this announcement?
NIH anticipated making about 10 awards under this announcement.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed?
The listed award ceiling is $250,000.
What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply as the host institution?
Eligibility on the institutional side is broad and includes many types of applicant organizations that could host an independent investigator.
Are state and local government entities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments.
Are educational institutions eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education.
Are tribal governments or tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and certain tribal organizations are listed among eligible applicants.
Are housing authorities eligible applicants?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are included in the eligible applicant types.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligible applicant list includes nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, with the caveat stated in the opportunity that these nonprofit categories exclude institutions of higher education as specified.
Are for-profit entities eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.
Does the program encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly encourages participation by individuals bringing diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
Is this opportunity limited to a narrow set of institution types?
No. The description emphasizes that institutional eligibility is broad, reflecting a focus on enabling the right investigator and research environment rather than limiting participation to a narrow set of organizations.
In plain terms, what is this award best understood as?
It is a competitive NIH pathway for fast-tracking exceptional, newly trained researchers into full independence, supporting high-impact ideas across the NIH mission, and doing so within a program culture that emphasizes originality, significant potential upside, and early readiness to lead independent research.
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