Posted by: Francis Koster Published: June 21, 2024

National Institutes of Health New Innovator Award Program (Opens June 19, 2026; Exp. August 19, 2026)

Purpose

Please note that details for the following funding opportunity are forecast to be announced on June 19, 2026.  On this date, interested parties can begin fulfilling application requirements.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director’s New Innovator Award supports early-stage investigators of exceptional creativity who propose bold and highly innovative research projects with the potential to produce a major impact on broad, important areas relevant to the mission of NIH. Applications in any area within the biomedical sciences are welcome. The NIH Director's New Innovator Award complements other ongoing efforts by NIH and its Institutes and Centers to fund early-stage investigators. The NIH Director’s New Innovator Award is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) Program of the NIH Common Fund.

Assistance Listings:  93.310 -- Trans-NIH Research Support

Eligible Entities

The following types of organizations are eligible to apply for the award:

      • Independent school districts
      • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
      • Private institutions of higher education
      • Nonprofits with or without a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
      • City or township governments
      • County governments
      • Native American tribal organizations or governments (Federally recognized or not)
      • Special district governments
      • Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
      • Faith-based or Community-based Organizations
      • Regional Organizations and

      • Small businesses and for-profit organizations other than small businesses.

Eligible Activities

To be announced.

Award

Estimated Total Program Funding:  $23,000,000

Estimated Number of Awards:  30

Award Ceiling:  $475,000

Award Floor:  $475,000

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement:  No

Important Dates

Estimated Post Date: June 19, 2026

Estimated Application Due Date:  August 19, 2026

Estimated Award Date:  August 30, 2026

Estimated Project Start Date:  September 30, 2026

Fiscal Year:  2027

Next Steps

Please contact via e-mail at NewInnovatorAwards@mail.nih.gov.
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