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Background and Overview
Why has the NIH Director established the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award?
The NIH Director’s Pioneer Award is one of three programs to foster high-risk
research1 recommended by the High Risk
Research Roadmap Working Group. This working group is one of nine groups
commissioned by the NIH Director to chart a “roadmap” for medical research in
the 21st century (http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/overview.asp).
The NIH Director highlighted the need to facilitate high-risk research given
the perception, if not the reality, that the NIH peer review system is
excessively conservative and discourages many investigators from submitting
innovative applications to the NIH. This untoward consequence threatens to
deplete the NIH portfolio of the long-term investments critical to the
organization’s future success.
To address this issue, the Working Group proposed that NIH implement a separate
and completely different program targeted specifically to identify, encourage,
and support the people and projects that will produce tomorrow’s conceptual and
technological breakthroughs within three specific programs. Two are project
based: the Exceptional Projects Program (to support individual projects with
exceptional promise) and the Grand Challenges Program (to support broad, new
program areas that are of interest to multiple ICs because of their scope,
complexity and cost.) One is people based: The NIH Director’s Pioneer Award
Program (to support individuals with exceptional promise)2.
What distinguishes the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award from other NIH programs?
The NIH Director’s Pioneer Award Program is different in several ways. First, it
is designed to support people with unique ideas, rather than projects. The
award will provide up to $500,000 direct costs per year for 5 years to a select
few exceptionally creative investigators, to pursue innovative, unexplored
avenues of research that may carry a relatively high potential for failure, but
also possess a greater potential to produce tomorrow’s conceptual and
technological breakthroughs. The only constraint on the research to be done
with this award is that it must be relevant to the NIH mission (http://www.nih.gov/about/almanac/).
Second, candidates must be nominated and invited to apply. Self-nominations are
welcome. Third, the application form is highly abbreviated and turnaround is
accelerated. Fourth, the procedure for assessing applicants (described below)
will be distinct from the traditional NIH peer review, “study section” process
and will be based on review of the individual’s potential to make seminal
contributions toward solving an important biomedical3
research problem.
How will the program be administered?
The NIH Director’s Pioneer Award Program is a separate and completely different
program that will provide opportunities in addition to those afforded within
the Institutes and Centers. The Program Director will be a senior individual
with scientific breadth and vision who will report directly to the Director of
NIH4.
What is the application and selection process?
Candidates for this award must be invited to apply. The selection process will
involve 2 phases, described briefly here and in detail below. In Phase 1,
nominations for the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award will be solicited from
sponsors and nominees themselves. The Director of the Program will work with
NIH staff to identify eligible candidates and with individuals drawn from a
multidisciplinary cadre of researchers who are highly regarded in their fields
and encouraging of high-risk/high-impact research to identify the most
competitive nominees. These candidates will be invited to apply and proceed to
Phase 2. In Phase 2, the list of applicants will be narrowed to a short list of
20. A highly distinguished panel will assess these candidates based on personal
interviews and presentations. The Advisory Committee to the Director will
provide additional input regarding these assessments before the Program
Director and the NIH Director make final selections.
How many awards will be made in 2004? Will additional awards be made in
subsequent years?
The NIH Director expects to make 5 to 10 awards in FY 2004 depending on quality
of applications and availability of funds. Additional awards will be made in
each of Fiscal Years 2005–2008. Because of the experimental nature of the
program, systematic evaluation will be a critical element of what is intended
to be a demonstration project; and making new awards after FY 2008 is dependent
on evaluation of the program.
Are these awards renewable?
No. These awards are intended to jump-start or redirect an individual’s research
program. Awardees are expected to seek future support though traditional
routes.
Eligibility
From which disciplines does NIH wish to draw nominees for the NIH Director’s
Pioneer Award?
The NIH encourages the nomination of biomedical, behavioral, social, physical,
chemical, and computer scientists; engineers; and mathematicians who provide
evidence of interest in exploring topics of relevance to the mission of the
NIH.
Are recipients expected to devote full-time effort?
No, but it is expected that this award would constitute the majority of a
nominee’s intellectual pursuits.
Are individuals at all stages of their careers eligible? Will this award favor
established scientists?
Individuals at all stages of their careers are eligible. Nominations from
individuals at early stages of their career who demonstrate independence of
their ideas from their mentors are especially encouraged. Senior investigators
are also eligible. However, the work related to this award must constitute the
majority of the nominee’s intellectual pursuits and must make a significant
contribution beyond work that is already supported.
Are foreign scientists eligible?
No. Nominees must either be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or permanent
residents of the United States. However, U.S. citizens or permanent residents
of the United States who are employed in foreign institutions are eligible.
Are individuals employed by government agencies, non-academic and/or for-profit
organizations eligible?
Individuals from all organizations that can otherwise apply to the NIH for
funding and are willing to abide by the terms and conditions that NIH requires
are eligible for this award.
Are individuals who have other support eligible? If so, may the awardee remain as
principal investigator on his/her grant(s)?
Perhaps. Such individuals are eligible for this award and may continue as
principal investigator on other grants if they devote a major effort to this
work and receipt of this award would make a significant contribution beyond
work that is already supported.
Phase 1 Selection Process: Nomination and
Selection of Applicants
(March 1 – Mid May 2004)
Who may nominate candidates for the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award? How many
nominations may an individual receive?
Anyone, including the individuals themselves, may submit nominations. However,
the nominee must consent to the nomination.
How and when may nominations be submitted? Will late nominations be accepted in
extenuating circumstances?
All nominations must be submitted electronically to
http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/highrisk/initiatives/pioneer. The website
will be open to receive nominations March 1 through midnight April 1, 2004
Eastern Standard Time. To maintain equity, no late nominations will be
accepted.
Q. If I’m nominating someone, what must I provide?
You must submit a nomination letter not to exceed two pages. The letter is to
explain why the nominee should be considered exceptional and therefore highly
likely to pursue original avenues of inquiry directed at very challenging
biomedical problems. Although creativity comes in many forms, aspects common to
innovative people include an interest in, and the ability to integrate, diverse
sources of information, an inclination to challenge paradigms and take
intellectual risks, resilience in the face of failure, an ability to attract
the right collaborators, and the diligence and concentration necessary to plan
and execute effective strategies for accomplishing goals. The letter should
also provide evidence of the nominee’s interest in the types of biomedical
problems that are particularly overdue for fresh approaches. Upon receipt of
the nomination letter the nominee will be notified electronically and requested
to provide a two-page curriculum vita / resume. It is the responsibility
of the nominator to submit the nomination letter in time for the nominee to be
notified and provide his/her curriculum vita / resume prior to the April
1 deadline.
If I’m nominating myself, what must I provide?
You must submit a nomination letter (see above) and curriculum vita /
resume, each of which should not exceed two pages.
May I nominate multiple individuals?
Yes.
Will more than one nomination per individual be used in the evaluation process?
No. It is quite likely that more than one person may wish to nominate an
individual. However, only one nomination package per individual will be used in
the evaluation process. Since an individual must consent to his/her nomination,
the nominee could direct several entities to join forces and submit the
nomination. In the case where multiple nominations are submitted, the NIH will
accept the self-nomination, if available; otherwise the first nomination
received.
How will nominees and their sponsors be assured that the nomination package has
been received and is complete?
Both nominees and sponsors will receive electronic confirmation that the
complete package has been received.
What criteria will be used to assess nominees?
The assessors will be looking for convincing evidence of exceptional creativity,
and interest in tackling particularly important problems relevant to the
mission of the NIH. In addition, the assessors will be looking for evidence of
the nominee’s willingness to initiate new areas or approaches to research, take
scientific risks, scientific vision, and intellectual energy.
How will invited applicants be identified?
NIH staff will first screen each nomination package to identify those nominees
deemed eligible. Ineligibles will be sent a letter advising them of the
disposition of their nomination. Nomination letters and curricula vitae/resumes
of the competitive nominees will then be assessed by individuals drawn from a
multidisciplinary cadre of researchers who are highly regarded in their fields
and encouraging of high-risk/high-impact research. The consultants will be
charged with identifying the most highly competitive individuals to be invited
to apply for the Award. In mid May 2004, the Director of the NIH Director’s
Pioneer Award Program will notify the remaining nominees and sponsors regarding
the outcome of the Phase I Selection Process; and those who are selected to
apply will be given instructions about preparing for the Phase 2 Selection
Process.
Can the decision of the panel of assessors be appealed?
No. There is no appeal process.
Phase 2 Selection Process: Application and
Selection of Awardees
(Mid June – Mid September 2004)
If I am invited to apply, what information must I provide?
You must provide:
-
A 3-5-page essay describing an important problem in biomedical research and how
you can make seminal contributions toward solving the problem within the next
five years. No detailed scientific plan should be provided, since the research
plan is expected to evolve during the tenure of the grant;
-
A copy of your most significant publication or achievement; and
-
For three individuals to submit letters of recommendation on your behalf. These
may or may not be nominators and must be submitted electronically by the
references themselves. So that we can enable the references to submit their
letters electronically, you must also provide the contact information for these
individuals.
How and according to what schedule will awardees be selected?
Applications are to be submitted to
http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/highrisk/initiatives/pioneer in mid June
2004. A highly distinguished panel will hear presentations by applicants and
interview them in the Washington DC area in August to September. NIH will pay
travel expenses. The Advisory Committee to the Director will provide additional
input regarding these assessments before he and the Program Director make final
selections.
When will candidates learn of the outcome of the Phase 2 Selection Process?
The NIH Director will convey the outcome to each nominee in mid – late
September.
Can failed applicants be nominated in subsequent years?
Yes.
Award
How will this award be managed by NIH?
The award will be administered through the NIH Director’s office.
What post award requirements must I fulfill?
Although there are no stipulations on the research agenda, you will be required
to submit a 2-5-annual page report of your activities during the year and to
participate in an annual symposium in Bethesda, MD. In addition, to help the
NIH evaluate this program, you will be contacted periodically for at least five
years and asked to report on your latest research efforts.
1 While the terms high-risk
and innovative sometimes have the same intended meaning and at others times are
distinct, for simplicity, in this and the accompanying documents, we are using
them interchangeably.
2 Not all Roadmap
initiatives are being implemented in FY 2004. The Exceptional Projects Program
and the Grand Challenges Program await consideration for funding in subsequent
years along with yet unfounded initiatives proposed by other working groups.
3 While the term biomedical
is used throughout this document it should be broadly interpreted to include
scientific investigations of biomedical, behavioral, social, physical, chemical
and computer scientists; engineers; and mathematicians.
4 In the first year of the
program, the Co-Chairs of the High Risk Research Roadmap Working Group have
agreed to lead the Program. Dr. Ellie Ehrenfeld (former Director, Center for
Scientific Review) will serve as Director and Dr. Stephen Straus (Director,
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) will serve as
co-Director.
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