Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 16 007

  • The HHS-NIH11 in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIH Director's Transformative Research Awards (R01)" 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 Oct 07, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • 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).
Apply for RFA RM 16 007

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Opportunity Summary:

The NIH Director's Transformative Research Awards (R01), announced under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-RM-16-007 by HHS-NIH (NIH11), is a discretionary grant program in the health funding category (CFDA 93.310) designed to push beyond the usual boundaries of investigator-initiated research. Its central purpose is to fund research that is intentionally high-risk and high-reward: proposals are expected to be bold, unconventional, and unusually innovative, with the potential to reshape how a major biomedical or behavioral problem is understood or addressed. Rather than emphasizing incremental advances, the program targets ideas that could create entirely new scientific paradigms, open up fundamentally new directions for research, establish dramatically improved clinical approaches, or produce transformative technologies that change what is possible in research or care.

A defining feature of this opportunity is that little or no preliminary data are expected, which signals that NIH is explicitly making room for proposals that might be too early, too speculative, or too nontraditional to fare well in standard review environments. Applicants are still expected to make a compelling case for feasibility and potential payoff, but the emphasis is on the magnitude and originality of the concept and the clarity of the argument that, if successful, the work would have major impact across a broad area of biomedical or behavioral research. In other words, the project needs to aim for a step-change, not a modest improvement, and it should be framed in a way that highlights how it could influence more than a narrow niche.

The award uses the R01 funding instrument, meaning it is structured as a research project grant and can support an individual scientist or a group of scientists working together. Eligibility is broad and spans many common U.S. research and public service entities, 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; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those specific nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as further clarified in the opportunity's additional eligibility information. This wide eligibility reflects NIH's intent to attract transformative ideas from many sectors, not only traditional academic settings.

Key administrative details from the posted record include an original and current closing date of October 7, 2016, with the opportunity created and posted on April 1, 2016. While the listing does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided fields, the program description makes clear that selection is driven by the potential for exceptionally high impact and transformative outcomes rather than by conventional expectations like extensive preliminary evidence. Overall, this funding opportunity is best suited for applicants with daring, well-articulated research visions that challenge prevailing assumptions and can credibly argue that success would produce major, field-shifting advances in biomedical or behavioral science.

FAQs: NIH Director's Transformative Research Awards (R01) - RFA-RM-16-007

What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is the NIH Director's Transformative Research Awards (R01), offered by HHS-NIH (NIH11) under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-RM-16-007. It is a discretionary government grant program in the health funding category (CFDA 93.310).

What is the main goal of the Transformative Research Awards program?

The central goal is to support research that intentionally pushes beyond the usual boundaries of investigator-initiated research. The program is designed for high-risk, high-reward projects that are bold, unconventional, and unusually innovative, with the potential to reshape how a major biomedical or behavioral problem is understood or addressed.

What kinds of projects is NIH looking for under this program?

The program targets ideas that could create entirely new scientific paradigms, open fundamentally new directions for research, establish dramatically improved clinical approaches, or produce transformative technologies that change what is possible in research or care. The emphasis is on step-change advances rather than incremental progress.

What does "high-risk, high-reward" mean in the context of this opportunity?

In this program, "high-risk, high-reward" means NIH is explicitly making room for proposals that may be early, speculative, or nontraditional, and that might not perform well in standard review environments. The payoff is expected to be potentially large and field-shifting if the work succeeds.

Is preliminary data required to apply?

Little or no preliminary data are expected for this opportunity. Applicants still need to make a compelling case for feasibility and potential payoff, but the program signals that extensive preliminary evidence is not a central expectation.

If preliminary data are not expected, what should applicants emphasize instead?

Applicants should emphasize the magnitude and originality of the concept, along with a clear, credible argument that success would have major impact across a broad area of biomedical or behavioral research. The proposal should be framed to show how it could influence more than a narrow niche.

What funding mechanism does this opportunity use?

The award uses the R01 funding instrument, meaning it is structured as a research project grant.

Can the award support a team of investigators, or only an individual PI?

It can support an individual scientist or a group of scientists working together, consistent with an R01 research project structure.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S. research and public service entities, such as 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; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions within those specific nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as further clarified in the opportunity's additional eligibility information.

Is this opportunity limited to universities and academic medical centers?

No. The eligibility list is intentionally broad and includes government entities, nonprofits, for-profits, small businesses, tribal governments and organizations, and other eligible organizations, reflecting NIH's intent to attract transformative ideas from many sectors.

What research areas does this opportunity cover?

The description focuses on major biomedical or behavioral problems. The key requirement is that the proposed work is transformative in its potential impact on biomedical or behavioral science, rather than being limited to a narrow topic area.

What makes a proposal a good fit for this specific program?

A good fit is a daring, well-articulated research vision that challenges prevailing assumptions and credibly argues that success would produce major, field-shifting advances, such as new paradigms, dramatically improved clinical approaches, or transformative technologies.

Does the listing provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?

No. In the provided record fields, the listing does not state an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.

What are the key dates listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity was created and posted on April 1, 2016. The original closing date and the current closing date are both listed as October 7, 2016.

What does the selection emphasis appear to be based on the description?

Selection is driven by the potential for exceptionally high impact and transformative outcomes, rather than conventional expectations such as extensive preliminary evidence or incremental advances.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 93.310.

Which agency is associated with this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with HHS-NIH (NIH11), and it is described as an NIH Director's award program.

Is this described as a discretionary or mandatory grant program?

It is described as a discretionary grant program.

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