Skip to main content
High-Risk, High-Reward Research Programs

Award Differences

Comparison of High-Risk, High-Reward Research Awards
 Pioneer AwardNew Innovator AwardTransformative Research AwardEarly Independence Award
Target GroupIndividuals of exceptional creativity proposing pioneering approachesIndividual early-stage investigators of exceptional creativity proposing bold and highly innovative research with high impact potentialIndividuals or teams proposing transformative research that may require very large budgetsPromising, newly-graduated scientists wishing to "skip the postdoc" and immediately begin independent research
Multiple PIsSingle PD/PI onlySingle PD/PI onlyMultiple PD/PIs allowedSingle PD/PI only
EligibilityOpen to all career stagesMust be an Early Stage Investigator who has completed their terminal research degree or end of post-graduate clinical training (whichever date is later) within the past 10 years and who has not previously competed successfully as PD/PI for a substantial NIH independent research award.Open to all career stagesMust complete terminal research degree or end of post-graduate clinical training within previous 16 months or expect to do so within following 12 months of application submission date 

Maximum of two applications per institution (or grant submitting entity) 

Must be in non-independent position at time of application
Preliminary DataNot required; may be includedNot required; may be includedNot required; may be includedNot required; may be included
Research Strategy5-page limit; respond to questions about the challenge, potential impact, suitability for the award, investigator's innovativeness, and how the research qualifies as new research direction10-page limit; respond to questions about significance and potential impact, innovativeness of approach, how risks and challenges will be addressed, suitability for the award, and investigator qualifications12-page limit; respond to questions about the challenge, innovativeness of approach, potential impact, and appropriateness for the award12-page limit; respond to questions about the challenge, innovativeness of approach, investigator's qualifications, and plans for development; in addition, host institution must provide details of commitment
Reference Letters3 letters requiredNone acceptedNone accepted3-5 letters required
EffortMajor portion (at least 51%) of research effort must be devoted to activities supported by the award for first 3 years, followed by 33% effort in year 4, and 25% effort in year 5Minimum of 25% research effort must be devoted to activities supported by the awardEffort should be commensurate with project needs and follow general guidelines for other NIH projects of similar size, complexity, and duration9.6 person-months (80% effort) must be devoted to award project for first 2 years, followed by 9.6-person months towards independent research in general
BudgetNo detailed budget information submitted 

Awards of $700,000 per year for each of 5 years, plus standard F&A (indirect) costs
Minimal budget information submitted 

Awards of $1.5 million split into two multi-year segments during the 5 year project period, plus standard F&A (indirect) costs
No limit on budget up to maximum funds available for the entire initiative 

No prior approval required for budgets over $500,000 in direct costs in any year 

5 year project period
Awards up to $250,000 per year for 5 years, plus standard F&A (indirect) costs
Review FormatMulti-phased, "editorial board," interview of finalistsMulti-phased, "editorial board"Multi-phased, "editorial board," anonymized review being pilotedMulti-phased, "editorial board"
Websitecommonfund.nih.gov
/pioneer
commonfund.nih.gov
/newinnovator
commonfund.nih.gov
/TRA
commonfund.nih.gov
/earlyindependence
Contact EmailPioneerAwards@
mail.nih.gov
NewInnovatorAwards@
mail.nih.gov
Transformative_Awards@
mail.nih.gov
EarlyIndependence@
od.nih.gov

 

Join our Listserv or contact us at:

This page last reviewed on March 21, 2024