Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 16 005

  • The HHS-NIH11 in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIH Pioneer Award Program (DP1)" 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 Apr 01, 2016 and posted on Apr 01, 2016.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 02, 2016. (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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:

The NIH Pioneer Award Program (DP1) is a high-profile National Institutes of Health funding opportunity designed to push biomedical and behavioral research in genuinely new directions. Rather than supporting incremental next steps in an established line of work, the program is aimed at individual investigators who can demonstrate exceptional creativity and who want to pursue ideas that are bold, unconventional, and potentially transformative. The central goal is to enable research that could have an unusually large impact on human health, including improving health outcomes, extending life, and reducing illness and disability. A key expectation is that the proposed project is truly "pioneering," meaning it should represent a substantial departure from the applicant's current research trajectory or from what is already being widely pursued in the field.

This opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the National Institutes of Health (Agency name listed as HHS-NIH11). It is a discretionary grant funding opportunity in the health activity category and is associated with CFDA number 93.310 (as well as an additional CFDA listing in the source data). The funding opportunity title is "NIH Pioneer Award Program (DP1)," and the funding opportunity number is RFA-RM-16-005. The program structure signals that NIH is explicitly trying to create space for high-risk, high-reward science that may not fit neatly into traditional review frameworks that often favor extensive preliminary data and predictable outcomes.

In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad and spans many types of organizations. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (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, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, other Native American tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. The listing also includes an "Others" category with a note to consult additional eligibility information in the full announcement for clarification, which typically covers special cases or conditions that do not fit neatly into standard organizational types.

Financially, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $700,000. While the source data does not specify the exact number of expected awards, the presence of a defined ceiling indicates the program’s intent to provide substantial support per awardee, consistent with the NIH Pioneer Award’s reputation as a mechanism meant to give investigators enough resources and flexibility to explore ambitious ideas. The application timeline in the provided data shows an original and current closing date of September 2, 2016, with the opportunity created and posted on April 1, 2016. This places the specific notice in a past cycle, but the program description reflects the broader, ongoing intent of the NIH Director’s high-impact award initiatives.

Overall, the NIH Pioneer Award Program (DP1) is best understood as a mechanism for backing standout scientists and daring research directions, especially where the work could reshape understanding or practice in biomedical or behavioral science. The emphasis is less on extending existing projects and more on enabling a leap into new conceptual territory, with the payoff being the possibility of exceptionally large benefits to health and healthcare outcomes.

NIH Pioneer Award Program (DP1) - FAQs

What is the NIH Pioneer Award Program (DP1)?

The NIH Pioneer Award Program (DP1) is a National Institutes of Health funding opportunity designed to push biomedical and behavioral research in genuinely new directions. It is positioned as a high-profile, high-impact mechanism intended to enable bold, unconventional ideas that could be transformative.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The central goal is to support research that could have an unusually large impact on human health, including improving health outcomes, extending life, and reducing illness and disability. The program is specifically meant to create room for high-risk, high-reward science that may not align with traditional review expectations favoring extensive preliminary data and predictable outcomes.

What kinds of research does the program encourage?

The opportunity emphasizes projects that are bold, unconventional, and potentially transformative in biomedical and behavioral research. It is meant for work that goes beyond incremental next steps and aims for a major leap in ideas, approaches, or impact.

What does "pioneering" mean in the context of this award?

"Pioneering" means the proposed project should represent a substantial departure from the applicant's current research trajectory or from what is already being widely pursued in the field. The expectation is that the project explores new conceptual territory rather than extending an established line of work.

Who is this program intended to support?

The program is aimed at individual investigators who can demonstrate exceptional creativity and who want to pursue daring research directions. The emphasis is on the investigator and the boldness of the idea, rather than on incremental continuation of prior work.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

This opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the National Institutes of Health, with the agency name listed as HHS-NIH11.

What type of funding opportunity is this?

It is a discretionary grant funding opportunity in the health activity category.

What is the official funding opportunity title and number?

The title is "NIH Pioneer Award Program (DP1)," and the funding opportunity number is RFA-RM-16-005.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 93.310, and the source data also references an additional CFDA listing.

How much funding is available per award?

The listing includes an award ceiling of $700,000, indicating a substantial level of support per awardee consistent with the program's intent to enable ambitious, high-risk research.

How many awards will be made?

The provided information does not specify the expected number of awards.

What organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes the following types of organizations:

  • 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
  • Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
  • Other Native American tribal organizations
  • Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
  • Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in that nonprofit category)
  • Nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in that nonprofit category)
  • For-profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Small businesses
  • "Others" (with a note to consult additional eligibility details in the full announcement)

What does the "Others" eligibility category mean?

The listing includes an "Others" category and notes that applicants should consult additional eligibility information in the full announcement for clarification. This typically covers special cases or conditions not captured by standard organization type labels.

When was this opportunity posted?

The opportunity was created and posted on April 1, 2016.

What is the application deadline shown in the provided information?

The original and current closing date listed is September 2, 2016.

Is this a current opportunity or from a past cycle?

Based on the listed closing date of September 2, 2016, the specific notice described is from a past cycle. However, the description reflects the broader intent of the NIH Director's high-impact award initiatives.

How is this program different from more traditional NIH grant mechanisms?

The program is explicitly designed to support high-risk, high-reward ideas that may not fit neatly into traditional review frameworks. It prioritizes bold, unconventional approaches and substantial departures from established trajectories rather than incremental, predictable extensions of existing work.

What kinds of outcomes is NIH hoping to achieve through this program?

The program aims to enable research with the potential for exceptionally large benefits to health, including improved health outcomes, longer life, and reduced illness and disability. The emphasis is on the possibility of reshaping understanding or practice in biomedical or behavioral science.

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