NIH Director’s Transformative Research Awards (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
Funding Agency:
- National Institutes of Health
The NIH Director's Transformative Research Award supports collaborative investigative teams or individual scientists who propose unusually innovative research projects, which, if successful, would have a major impact in a broad area of relevance to the NIH. To be considered transformative, projects must have the potential to create or overturn fundamental scientific paradigms through novel concepts or perspectives, transform the way research is conducted through the development of novel tools or technologies, or lead to major improvements in health through the development of highly innovative diagnostic, therapeutic, or preventive strategies.
Several key features of this FOA are designed to emphasize to applicants and peer reviewers that Transformative Research applications are very different from conventional, investigator-initiated research applications. The Transformative Research application focuses on the importance of the problem, the novelty of the hypothesis and/or the proposed methodology, and the magnitude of the potential impact rather than on preliminary data or experimental details. Reviewers will be instructed to emphasize the significance and innovation of the application in their evaluations. Applicants and reviewers should keep the goal of the Transformative Research Award initiative in mind throughout the process– to solicit and fund unusually innovative and potentially transformative research.
In order to support the most innovative and impactful research, the NIH recognizes the need to foster a diverse research workforce across the nation. Researchers from diverse backgrounds (see NOT-OD-20-031), including individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, individuals from backgrounds, and women are strongly encouraged to work with their institutions to develop applications for this Funding Opportunity Announcement. Since outstanding research is conducted at a broad spectrum of institutions, it benefits the national scientific enterprise to support exceptionally innovative and impactful science that represents this breadth. Therefore, this Funding Opportunity Announcement encourages applications from the full range of eligible institutions, including minority serving institutions. Applications from all domestic geographic locations, and from institutions that are less research intensive are also encouraged. Applications are also welcome in all research areas broadly relevant to the mission of NIH. These areas include, but are not limited to, behavioral, medical, natural, social, applied, and formal sciences. Research may be basic, translational, or clinical. The primary requirements are that the research be highly innovative and have the potential for unusually broad impact.
NIH intends to commit approximately $8 million in FY 2024 and make approximately 7 awards, depending on the size and scope of the most meritorious awards.
September 01, 2023
Patricia Labosky, Ph.D., Office of the Director (OD), Email: PioneerAwards@mail.nih.gov