New Innovator Award (DP2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 20, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for early-career researchers pursuing innovative vision and eye research. Applicants must have a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, DDS, DVM, or equivalent) and hold an independent research position. The grant supports researchers at the early stages of their independent careers, typically within 5-10 years of their first independent position. Proposed research must be innovative and address fundamental or translational vision science questions. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this award mechanism.
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Key dates
- Sep 23, 2025 Applications open
- May 25, 2026 Application deadline
- Aug 2, 2026 Award announced
- Aug 2, 2026 Project start
Program description
The NEI New Innovator Award supports postdoctoral and other candidates in non-independent equivalent positions or newly independent Early Stage Investigators of exceptional creativity who propose novel, original and insightful research studies within the mission of NEI. Applications responding to this NOFO should have the potential to produce a major impact in vision research, test scientific paradigms, or advance key concepts on broad, important problems in biomedical research of priority to NEI. Applications proposing unexpected convergence of disciplines, new scientific directions, or the use of novel methodologies are encouraged.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Form
- Project Narrative (Research Strategy)
- Biographical Sketch
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Preliminary Data/Figures
- References Cited
- Current and Pending Support
- Facilities and Resources
- Letters of Support (optional but recommended)
Program contact
- 👤 Ed Clayton, Ph.D.
- 📧 Ed.clayton@nih.gov
- 📞 240-987-8255
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.867 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$80,395,801
-
$61,555,044
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$51,825,661
-
$42,710,471
-
$30,675,396
-
$22,003,615
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$20,447,461
-
$19,986,536
-
$18,098,351
-
$18,094,361
Top States by Funding
- MA 13 awards $179.3M
- FL 4 awards $160.1M
- MD 9 awards $142.8M
- CA 13 awards $142.7M
- PA 9 awards $126.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.867). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $696,472,579 | |
| 2025 | $702,696,370 | |
| 2026 est. | $863,753 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for the NEI DP2 award?
Early-career researchers with a doctoral degree holding an independent position. You typically must be within 5-10 years of establishing independence.
Can I propose a clinical trial?
No. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed for this award mechanism.
What types of research are supported?
Innovative fundamental or translational vision and eye research. Projects addressing novel scientific questions in ophthalmology and vision science are prioritized.
How competitive is this award?
Very competitive. Success rates for NIH DP2 awards typically range from 3-7%. Strong preliminary data and innovative approaches are essential.
What is the typical funding level?
DP2 awards typically provide $250,000-$300,000 per year in total costs for up to 5 years of support.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize innovation. Reviewers specifically seek novel approaches and high-impact science, not incremental advances.
- Build a strong preliminary data section. NIH reviewers expect solid evidence your approach will work.
- Articulate the significance. Clearly explain why your research question matters for vision science and eye health.
- Highlight your independence. Demonstrate you've established yourself as an independent researcher with your own vision.
- Tailor your aims. Keep your project focused and achievable within the funding level and 5-year timeline.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Not demonstrating sufficient research independence or relying too heavily on a mentor's research program. Proposing a clinical trial or overly applied research without fundamental innovation. Submitting weak preliminary data or unclear significance statements that don't justify the project's high-impact potential.
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- OPEN NEI Clinical Research Study Planning Grant Program (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN NEI Research Grant for Vision-Related Secondary Data Analysis (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
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- CLOSED NEI Collaborative Clinical Vision Research (UG1 – Clinical Trial Optional) — National Institutes of Health