NIAID New Innovators Awards (DP2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 20 259

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 259

The NIAID New Innovator Awards (DP2, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a discretionary NIH grant opportunity designed to back Early Stage Investigators who show exceptional creativity and who want to pursue bold, high-impact ideas aligned with the mission priorities of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The program is aimed at researchers proposing novel, original, and insightful concepts that could substantially move a field forward, challenge existing scientific assumptions, or open up entirely new ways of thinking about major biomedical problems within NIAID's broad scope (for example, infectious diseases, immunology, allergy, and related areas). The opportunity explicitly encourages proposals that push beyond traditional boundaries, including unexpected convergence of different disciplines, fresh scientific directions, and the development or application of novel methods or approaches.

A defining feature of this opportunity is its focus on innovation and investigator potential rather than incremental advances. Applications are expected to present research ideas that may be higher risk but are positioned to deliver outsized impact if successful. NIAID also emphasizes openness to applicants from diverse backgrounds and welcomes projects on any topic that fits within NIAID's mission, reflecting the program's intent to bring in new voices, perspectives, and unconventional problem-solving strategies.

The funding mechanism is a grant under the NIH DP2 activity code, and it falls under the Health funding activity category (CFDA 93.855). As noted in the title and requirements, clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement, meaning applicants should not propose studies that meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial. This typically steers proposed work toward preclinical research, mechanistic studies, technology development, computational or systems approaches, basic immunology, or other non-clinical-trial human research that stays outside the clinical trial definition.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes many common applicant types such as public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, independent school districts, special district governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and public housing or Indian housing authorities. It also includes nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. In addition, the announcement highlights a range of other eligible applicants, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized.

At the same time, the opportunity draws clear boundaries around foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization. However, foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, which can permit certain project elements or collaborations to occur internationally under an otherwise eligible U.S. applicant organization, subject to NIH policy and justification.

Key administrative details from the source listing include the Funding Opportunity Number PAR-20-259, the sponsoring agency as the National Institutes of Health, and an original closing date of 2022-10-14. The listing also shows an award ceiling of $300,000, though prospective applicants typically need to confirm current budget rules, project period expectations, and any updates by reviewing the full NIH funding announcement and related NIAID guidance.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIAID New Innovators Awards (DP2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-08-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-10-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 20 259

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