At a glance
NIH Director's Early Independence Award (DP5 Clinical Trial Optional) is a federal competitive grant from National Institutes of Health for the science & technology sector. Funding is up to $350K. Eligible applicants: State governments; Public and State controlled institutions of higher education; Special district governments; For profit organizations other than small businesses; Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities;. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Apply via the official listing at www.grants.gov.
- Amount
- Up to $350K
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Type
- Competitive
- Status
- Forecasted
About this program
The NIH Director's Early Independence Award supports outstanding early-career investigators who are ready to pursue independent research soon after completing their doctoral degree or post-graduate clinical training, without following the traditional postdoctoral path. The award is designed to accelerate the transition to an independent research career. Applications are welcome across all fields relevant to the NIH mission. The Early Independence Award is part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research Program.
Who can apply
State governments; Public and State controlled institutions of higher education; Special district governments; For profit organizations other than small businesses; Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; Independent school districts; City or township governments; Small businesses; Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized); County governments; Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; Private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments); Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification). Other Eligible ApplicantsIndian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized);Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government;U.S. Territory or Possession;Faith-based or Community-based Organizations;Regional Organizations;Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions).
How to apply
Apply through Grants.gov using funding opportunity number RFA-RM-28-004. Register your organization (SAM.gov + Grants.gov) before the deadline, then submit the application package listed in the official notice.
Apply at official sourceRelated grants
- Museum Grants for American Latino History and Culture (2027) IMLS · $5K–$500K · Nov 13, 2026 Open
- NICHD Small Research Grant Program (R03 Clinical Trial Required) NIH · Up to $50K · Jan 7, 2028 Open
- NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required) NIH · See listing · Jan 7, 2028 Open
- Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) Planning Grants (R34 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) NIH · See listing · Jul 7, 2028 Open