Trailblazer Award for New and Early Stage Investigators (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
Opportunity for new and early stage investigators to pursue high-risk research at the intersection of engineering, physical, life, and biomedical sciences with no required preliminary data.
Funder: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Due Dates: June 16, 2025 | October 16, 2025 | February 16, 2026 | May 7, 2026
Funding Amounts: Up to $400,000 direct costs over 3 years; no more than $200,000 direct costs in any single year.
Summary: Supports New and Early Stage Investigators pursuing high-impact, exploratory research at the interface of engineering/physical sciences and biomedical sciences, with minimal or no preliminary data required.
Key Information: Applications with more than one-half page of preliminary data or more than one figure will not be reviewed.
Description
This opportunity supports NIH-defined New and Early Stage Investigators in launching innovative research programs that integrate engineering and the physical sciences with the life or biomedical sciences. The award is designed to catalyze high-risk, high-reward projects—exploratory, developmental, proof-of-concept, or technology-design focused—where minimal or no preliminary data are available. Projects should aim to open new areas of biomedical investigation or transform current approaches. Applications are encouraged from investigators bringing new perspectives and methods from quantitative sciences, engineering, or physical sciences.
Distinctively, this program does not require, expect, or encourage preliminary data; if provided, such data must be minimal, clearly marked, and strictly limited to one-half page (including one figure). Applications exceeding this limit will be considered noncompliant and will not proceed to review.
Participating NIH institutes include the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), National Eye Institute (NEI), and National Institute on Aging (NIA), each with specific mission priorities. Early-stage clinical trials (Phase I or feasibility) are allowed if aligned with the participating institute's policies.
