NIH Director's Transformative Research Awards (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
This award funds bold, innovative biomedical research projects with the potential for major scientific or clinical breakthroughs, without requiring preliminary data.
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: September 3, 2026 (Estimated, Forecasted)
Funding Amounts: Estimated total program funding: $8,000,000; ~7 awards expected
Summary: Supports bold, groundbreaking, and exceptionally innovative biomedical research with potential for transformative impact; open to a broad range of applicants.
Key Information: No preliminary data required; clinical trials are optional; forecasted opportunity—dates and details may change.
Description
The NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award is designed to support individual scientists or groups proposing exceptionally innovative, original, and/or unconventional projects in the biomedical sciences. The program seeks ideas with the potential to create new scientific paradigms, establish entirely new or improved clinical approaches, or develop transformative technologies. There are no requirements for preliminary data. Projects must demonstrate compelling potential for major impact in areas relevant to NIH’s mission. This award is part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) Program.
