NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (DP5 Clinical Trial Optional)

NIH Director’s Early Independence Award Portal

All applications for this internal competition must be submitted via InfoReady. You can sign in using your Net-ID and your @stonybrook.edu email address. Please allow sufficient time to familiarize yourself with the portal prior to submitting your pre-application. Pre-application requirements are listed in the announcement below.

The Office for Research and Innovation invites applications for the NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (DP5 Clinical Trial Optional) program, which helps talented new researchers begin their own independent research program soon after finishing their doctoral degree or clinical training, without first doing postdoctoral training. Stony Brook University can submit TWO applications to this program. 

Please see below for details. If you are interested in applying, you must submit a pre-application via the NIH Director’s Early Independence Award Portal in InfoReady by Monday, July 27, 2026 at 9:00 am. Pre-applications for internal review and selection must be uploaded to the portal as a single PDF document.

KEYWORDS: Early Career

WHAT DOES IT FUND: This award is intended for early-stage investigators who have a record of scientific innovation and research productivity and have demonstrated unusual scientific vision and maturity. The award accepts applications on any topic fitting the NIH mission. It is part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research program.

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS: 

• The PD/PI must complete their terminal doctoral degree or post-graduate clinical training between May 1, 2025, and September 30, 2027.
• The PD/PI must not have more than 12 months of postdoctoral training after an earlier, non-terminal doctoral degree. This applies only to individuals with multiple doctoral degrees.
• Effort required:
  • Years 1-2: At least 9.6 person-months per year (80% effort) on the award project.
  • Years 3-5:  At least 9.6 person-months per year (80% effort) on independent research overall, including the award project and any other independent research led by the PD/PI.
• At the time of application, the PD/PI must still be non-independent.
• The PD/PI must have a guaranteed, pending independent research position and be able to begin independent research by the project start date.
• The PD/PI may apply for both a K award and DP5 simultaneously, but the projects must not overlap scientifically. A PD/PI cannot hold both simultaneously; if awarded the DP5, the K award must be relinquished.

AWARD: Up to $350,000 per year in direct costs, plus any allowed indirect costs. The project can last up to five years.

COST SHARE: Not required

SPONSOR DEADLINE: September 10, 2026

A complete pre-application should comprise of the following:

• Letter of nomination from the PI's SBU Chair, which confirms that the PI has a pending independent research position at SBU and will be able to begin independent research by the project start date, explains how and why the institution chose the PD/PI, describes the resources and support the institution will provide, and how the institution will help the PD/PI build a successful independent career.
• Specific Aims (no more than 1 page) that includes:
  • Research Objectives: Describe your research topic and approach. Explain why it matters. State your main hypothesis, if applicable. Describe the impact if successful. Highlight the project's innovation.
  • Institutional Support: Explain how your institution's support, including support for your independence, will help you meet your research goals.
  • Early Independence Rationale: Explain how your scientific background, research achievements, leadership or mentoring qualities, and scientific vision will help you carry out the project successfully.
• Budget and budget justification (no more than 1 page)
• PI's CV/Biosketch