High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR)
High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR)
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Award Differences
| Pioneer Award | New Innovator Award | Transformative Research Award | Early Independence Award | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target Group | Individuals of exceptional creativity proposing pioneering approaches | Individual early-stage investigators of exceptional creativity proposing bold and highly innovative research with high impact potential | Individuals or teams proposing transformative research that may require very large budgets | Promising, newly-graduated scientists wishing to "skip the postdoc" and immediately begin independent research |
| Multiple PIs | Single PD/PI only | Single PD/PI only | Multiple PD/PIs allowed | Single PD/PI only |
| Eligibility | Open to all career stages | Must 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 stages | Must 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 Data | Not required; may be included | Not required; may be included | Not required; may be included | Not required; may be included |
| Research Strategy | 5-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 direction | 10-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 qualifications | 12-page limit; respond to questions about the challenge, innovativeness of approach, potential impact, and appropriateness for the award | 12-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 Letters | 3 letters required | None accepted | None accepted | 3-5 letters required |
| Effort | Major 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 5 | Minimum of 25% research effort must be devoted to activities supported by the award | Effort should be commensurate with project needs and follow general guidelines for other NIH projects of similar size, complexity, and duration | 9.6 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 |
| Budget | No 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 Format | Multi-phased, "editorial board," interview of finalists | Multi-phased, "editorial board" | Multi-phased, "editorial board," anonymized review being piloted | Multi-phased, "editorial board" |
| Website | commonfund.nih.gov /pioneer | commonfund.nih.gov /newinnovator | commonfund.nih.gov /TRA | commonfund.nih.gov /earlyindependence |
| Contact Email | PioneerAwards@ mail.nih.gov | NewInnovatorAwards@ mail.nih.gov | Transformative_Awards@ mail.nih.gov | EarlyIndependence@ od.nih.gov |
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