RFA-RM-27-001: The NIH Director’s Pioneer Award supports exceptionally creative scientists who propose bold and highly innovative research projects with the potential to produce a major impact on broad areas relevant to the mission of NIH. The proposed research must reflect substantially different scientific directions from those already being pursued in the investigator’s research program or elsewhere. Research may involve basic, translational, or clinical research. The NIH Director’s Pioneer Award is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) program of the NIH Common Fund.

Application deadline: September 9, 2026