← Back to search

National Institutes of Health · Department of Health and Human Services

NIH Director's New Innovator Award (DP2 Clinical Trial Optional)

Opening soon

Key facts

Deadline
Opens Mar 15, 2027 · due about Aug 19, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder ?
Award size
Up to $475K
Total available
$22.7M · about 30 awards
Match ?
Not required · Work out your budget and match
Who can apply
County government, Public college or university, Small business, Private college or university, Tribal organization, City or town government, Special district (utility, fire, etc.), School district, Nonprofit without 501(c)(3), Tribal government, State government, Larger business, Nonprofit with 501(c)(3), and others named in the official notice
Where
Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee

Opening soon: the funder has announced this grant, but you can't apply yet. Use the time to get ready and check whether it fits.

Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist

How this fits you

  • Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
  • No match required
  • Past Tennessee awards on file: 33

Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.

View on Grants.gov Add dates to my calendar

More from National Institutes of Health

About this grant

The NIH Director's New Innovator Award supports exceptionally creative early-stage investigators pursuing bold, innovative research with the potential to transform important areas of science relevant to the NIH mission. Applications are welcome across all fields relevant to NIH. The award complements other NIH programs that support early-stage investigators and is part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research Program.

Who can apply, from the official notice

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).

Ask a partner for a letter

Who in Tennessee has won this program

23 awards to Tennessee groups in 2 counties since 1996. Largest shown:

Past Tennessee winners
Past winnerWhereAmountFiscal year
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$143.7M2016
Meharry Medical CollegeNashville, Davidson County$45.7M
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$32.8M2023
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$27.5M1997
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$22M2016
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$19.6M2011
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$12.6M2016
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$9.3M2021
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$8.5M2022
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$8M2025
University of MemphisMemphis, Shelby County$7.7M2020
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$7.4M2002

Source: USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.

Tennessee groups that got this money through a state agency or another organization

This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. 10 pass-through grants on file. Largest shown:

Tennessee pass-through grant winners
Past winnerWhereThroughAmountFiscal year
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyYale Univ$3.4M2023
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyVanderbilt University Medical Center$2.6M2025
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyUniversity of Wisconsin System$2.2M2023
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyVanderbilt University Medical Center$2M2024
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox CountyUniversity of Washington$945K2023
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyUniversity of Wisconsin System$620K2023
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyVanderbilt University Medical Center$582K2026
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyOregon Health & Science University$492K2024
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, LLCMemphis, Shelby CountyBaylor College of Medicine$491K2026
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyVanderbilt University Medical Center$421K2024

Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).

About the federal program

Trans-NIH Research Support, also called “NIH-wide Research Support”
Program number 93.310 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health · Project grant, training

How applications are judged

Funding decisions are based on scientific merit (42 CFR 52h) and program relevance. Scientific merit review encompasses: the peer review criteria detailed in the specific funding announcement, as well as the significance, approach, and innovation of the proposed research; the competency of the principal investigator; the adequacy of the resources and environment; the proposed budget and requested period of support; and, where applicable, the adequacy of the measures for protecting against adverse effects upon humans, animals, or the environment.

Match

None required (federal program listing).

This program on SAM.gov

Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What's wrong?

Source: Federal grants from Grants.gov · the official federal record. Last checked by GrantMe Oct 7, 2026.

Reference numbers: official notice number RFA-RM-28-002 · program number 93.310