Award Overview

What is the NIH Director's Pioneer Award?

The NIH Director’s Pioneer Award (DP1 mechanism), established in 2004, supports highly innovative researchers at any career stage who propose bold research projects with unusually broad scientific impact. To be considered “pioneering,” the proposed research must reflect ideas that are substantially different from those being pursued in the investigator’s research program or elsewhere. No detailed experimental plan or detailed budget is expected, and the major component of the application is a five-page essay describing the project and its innovation and significance, the investigator’s history of being highly innovative, and why the proposed project is suitable for the award. Three letters of reference must also be provided and discuss the applicant’s scientific innovativeness and creativity.