Applicants must meet the definition of an Early Stage Investigator (ESI) at the time of application. An ESI is a new investigator (defined as a PD/PI who has not competed successfully for a significant NIH independent research award) who is within 10 years of completing his/her terminal research degree or end of post-graduate clinical training. See the Office of Extramural Research for a complete list of NIH grants that do not disqualify a PD/PI as a new investigator and for frequently asked questions about the NIH Early Stage Investigator (ESI) Policy.
 
An extension to the 10-year period may be granted under special circumstances (e.g., family care responsibilities, extended periods of clinical training, disability or illness, etc.). To request an extension, an applicant MUST complete the “Form for Requesting an Extension in the Early Stage Investigator (ESI) Period.” It may take several weeks for the review process for the request, so applicants should plan accordingly. Note: If an applicant is not identified as an ESI in the eRA Commons, it may result in the application not being reviewed. Applicants are responsible for reviewing and/or updating their degree information in their eRA Commons account in a timely fashion.
 
Applicants must hold an independent research position at a domestic (U.S.) institution by September 1, 2019. For this FOA, an “independent research position” is a position that automatically confers eligibility to the investigator (based on institutional policy) to apply for R01 grants with appropriate institutional commitment of facilities for the conduct of the proposed research. Investigators still in training or mentored status (postdoctoral fellows) are not eligible to apply unless they have a written commitment from the institution stating they will be in an independent faculty position by September 1, 2019. The commitment is certified by the institution's submission of the application.
 
Applicants may submit or have an NIH R01 or other equivalent grant application pending concurrently with their NIH Director’s New Innovator Award application if it does not overlap substantially with their New Innovator Award application. However, if that pending grant becomes active prior to the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, the applicant is no longer eligible to receive the New Innovator Award.
 
Awardees are required to commit at least three person-months (25%) of their research effort each year to activities supported by the New Innovator Award.
 
For more details regarding eligibility requirements, see FAQs on the New Innovator website.

Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct. Only one application per PD/PI is permitted in response to this FOA.