Description

This funding opportunity provides support for early stage investigators (ESIs) seeking to pursue innovative, basic experimental studies involving humans that represent a clear change in research direction, without the inclusion of preliminary data. The program is designed to encourage ESIs to take intellectual risks and explore new scientific approaches or paradigms, distinct from their prior research or training. The proposed research must align with the mission of at least one participating NIH Institute or Center and must meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial as well as basic research.

Key features:

• No preliminary data allowed in the application.
• Requires a separate, one-page “New Research Direction” attachment explaining how the proposed work is a departure from previous research.
• Only ESIs (as defined by NIH) are eligible to apply as PD/PI.
• The opportunity is intended for basic science experimental studies with humans, specifically prospective studies that assign human participants to conditions to understand fundamental aspects of phenomena, without a specific application toward products or processes.