‘Transformative R01′ for exceptionally innovative, high-risk, original, and unconventional research

Deadline: January 22, 2010

Does your research defy the popularly held beliefs in your field? Are you on the verge of a groundbreaking discovery that could change the course, direction, or transform research in your area? If so, you might be a good candidate for the NIH Transformative R01. This grant opportunity, funded by the Common Fund (all NIH institutes), is part of the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research and is designed to help investigators or teams of investigators conduct research on projects typically not funded by the NIH.

Research in basic, clinical, translational and behavioral studies are all eligible, but projects must propose transformative approaches to major contemporary challenges in biomedical or behavioral science. To be considered ‘transformative,’ projects must have the potential to create or overturn fundamental scientific paradigms through the use of new and novel approaches or to lead to major improvements in health through the development of highly innovative therapies, diagnostic tools, or preventive strategies. Successful projects will be expected to have a major impact in a broad area of biomedical or behavioral research. Consistent with this highly transformative focus, proposals supported under this program will reflect ideas substantially different from mainstream concepts being pursued in the investigators’ laboratory or elsewhere.

There are no strict restrictions on the amount you can request (the NIH has $25M in total funds to award) and because each project is expected to be significantly different from one to another, there are no set project period limits.  However, this is a nonrenewable opportunity.

Although this grant deadline is due before January 25, 2010 when all the new NIH application guidelines take effect, this opportunity has its own special set of application guidelines.  The Research Plan section includes an 8-page Research Methods and Design component, in addition to the abstract, literature cited, and biosketches, not included in the 8-page limit. (See Section IV, number 6. of the announcement)

How is this award any different than the NIH Director’s Pioneer and New Innovator Programs? This program’s emphasis is on creative ideas – projects that have the potential to transform a field of science and to provide adequate support for the work- rather than creative individuals who have proven themselves to be innovative researchers. This is therefore good news for junior investigators who haven’t had the opportunity to establish a long track record.