NIH Director's New Innovator Award Program (DP2) | Apply Online

FAQs: NIH Director's New Innovator Award Program (DP2) - RFA-RM-16-004

What is the NIH Director's New Innovator Award Program (DP2)?

The NIH Director's New Innovator Award Program (DP2) is a competitive NIH grant opportunity intended to identify and support a small group of early stage investigators who show exceptional creativity and want to pursue bold, highly innovative research ideas.

What is the main focus of the DP2 program?

The central emphasis is on new approaches that are high-risk and potentially high-reward. The program is designed for work that may be unconventional or unproven, but that could lead to major advances if successful.

What kind of research does this opportunity support?

The research scope is broad and is intended to address important problems across biomedical and behavioral research. The expectation is that funded projects could have a major impact rather than produce incremental progress.

Which agency runs this grant opportunity?

This opportunity is run by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

How does this program fit within NIH programs?

The DP2 New Innovator Award sits within the NIH Common Fund's High Risk - High Reward Research Program.

How is the DP2 award intended to relate to traditional NIH grants like the R01?

The DP2 New Innovator Award is meant to complement, not replace, traditional NIH funding mechanisms for early investigators, especially the R01. The R01 remains the primary pathway NIH uses to support early stage investigators, while the DP2 targets a smaller number of unusually innovative scientists whose ideas may not fit neatly into standard review expectations or preliminary-data-heavy application styles.

What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?

The funding opportunity number listed for this announcement is RFA-RM-16-004.

How is this opportunity categorized?

Administratively, it is listed as a discretionary grant program. The activity category is Health.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 93.310.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $1,500,000.

About how many awards did NIH expect to make under this announcement?

NIH anticipated making about 33 awards under this announcement, reflecting the program's intentionally selective nature.

Why does the program fund a relatively small number of awards?

The program is designed to back a limited number of standout proposals rather than funding a large portfolio of smaller, more conventional projects.

Who is the program trying to support?

The program is designed to support early stage investigators who demonstrate exceptional creativity and propose bold, highly innovative research ideas with the potential to be transformative.

What types of organizations are eligible to apply?

A wide range of organizations are eligible, including state, county, and 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 and other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding higher education institutions when specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as described in the opportunity's additional eligibility text.

Are government entities eligible to apply?

Yes. Eligible government applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts.

Are higher education institutions eligible to apply?

Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are included in the eligible applicant list.

Are tribal governments or tribal organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations are eligible.

Are nonprofit organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. Both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are included (excluding higher education institutions when specified).

Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The eligible applicant list includes for-profit organizations other than small businesses, as well as small businesses.

What are the key dates for this specific posting?

The opportunity was created and posted on April 1, 2016. The original and current closing date listed is September 9, 2016.

Is this a time-limited competition?

Yes. The announcement describes a time-limited competition in 2016, based on the posted and closing dates provided.

Does the description reflect an ongoing NIH program concept?

Yes. While this specific posting is tied to a 2016 competition, the description also reflects an ongoing NIH program concept that has continued in various forms over time: identifying early career researchers with unusually creative, potentially transformative ideas and providing substantial support and flexibility to pursue those ideas.

What is the overall goal of the funded projects, based on the description?

The overall goal is to support research that could change the direction of a field by enabling major advances, rather than focusing on incremental progress.