The NIH Director’s Pioneer Award supports exceptionally creative individual scientists proposing bold, highly innovative research projects with potential for major impact on broad NIH-relevant areas. Research may be basic, translational, or clinical and must represent substantially different scientific directions from current work. This award is part of NIH’s High-Risk, High-Reward Research program and offers $700,000 in funding with a deadline of September 9, 2026.
Eligible applicants include a wide range of U.S.-based organizations such as tribal governments, small businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, and government entities. Foreign organizations and non-U.S. components are not eligible to apply.
