1. Why has the NIH Director established the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award?
   The NIH Director's New Innovator Award addresses two important goals: stimulating highly innovative research and supporting promising new investigators. Many new investigators have exceptionally innovative research ideas, but not the preliminary data required to fare well in the traditional NIH peer review system. As part of NIH's commitment to increasing opportunities for new scientists, it has created the NIH Director's New Innovator Award to support exceptionally creative new investigators who propose highly innovative projects that have the potential for unusually high impact. This award complements ongoing efforts by NIH and its institutes and centers to fund new investigators through R01 grants and other mechanisms.
   

2. What distinguishes the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award from R01 grants and other traditional NIH grant programs?
   The NIH Director's New Innovator Award program is different from traditional NIH grants in several ways. It is designed specifically to support unusually creative new investigators with highly innovative research ideas at an early stage of their career when they may lack the preliminary data required for an R01 grant. The emphasis is on innovation and creativity; preliminary data are not required, but may be included.  No detailed, annual budget is requested in the application. The procedure for evaluating applicants' qualifications (see Section C below) is distinct from the traditional NIH peer review “study section” process and will be based on review of the individual's creativity, the innovativeness of the research approaches, and the potential of the project, if successful, to have a significant impact on an important biomedical or behavioral research problem.
   

3. Is the New Innovator Award replacing the Pioneer Award?  
   No. These are distinct programs, as described below.
   
   
4. What distinguishes the new NIH Director’s New Innovator Award from the existing NIH Director’s Pioneer Award?
   Both NIH Director's Awards focus on creativity and innovation. The New Innovator Award is specifically targeted to new investigators who have not yet received an R01 or equivalent type of NIH grant and who have had a relatively short time since receipt of the doctoral degree. The Pioneer Award program is open to all investigators regardless of career stage. There are other differences in eligibility requirements. Although both programs require only a brief application, details of the application formats are different.
   

5. How many awards will be made in 2007?
   The NIH Director expects to make at least 14 awards in FY 2007, depending on the quality of the applications and the availability of funds.
   
   
6. How many applications does NIH expect to receive?
   Since this is the first competition for this new program, we cannot anticipate the number of applications that will be submitted.
   
   
7. What is the definition of “new investigator”? (Updated: 3/15/07)
   For the purpose of this RFA, a “new investigator” is defined as an applicant who has never been the principal investigator (PI) on an R01 or equivalent grant (e.g., R23, R29, R37, or U01) or the leader of a P01 or center grant peer-reviewed project. Individuals who have led time-limited pilot projects in center grants are eligible to apply. In addition, applicants must have received their most recent doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., or equivalent) or completed their medical internship/residency in 1997 or later.
   
   
8. May two or more new investigators apply as a team for the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award?
   No. Since the NIH Director's New Innovator Award considers the creativity and potential for innovation of the PI as a very significant part of the review of the application, only one PI is allowed on a New Innovator Award. The PI may collaborate with others, but only one person may be the PI. 
   
   
9. What scientific areas are eligible under the New Innovator Award?
   The proposed research may be in any scientific area relevant to the mission of NIH (biological, behavioral, clinical, social, physical, chemical, computational, engineering, and mathematical sciences), but need not be in a conventional biomedical or behavioral discipline.
   
   
10. Will technology development be allowed, or just hypothesis-driven research?
    Applications proposing hypothesis-driven research and those proposing the development of new tools and technologies are both encouraged.  The focus is on creativity and innovation; preliminary data are not required, but may be included. 
    
    
11. Are women and members of underrepresented groups encouraged to apply?
    Yes. We strongly encourage women and members of groups that are underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research to apply.
    
    
12. What is the budget that I may request?
    You may request up to $1.5 million in direct costs for the five-year budget/project period. (See Q: C.4 for how to determine your budget request.)
    
    
13. Do New Innovator Awards include indirect costs?
    Yes. In addition to the direct costs, applicable facilities and administrative costs will be allowed and will be determined at the time of award.
    
    
14. Why is the budget request for this grant mechanism different from other NIH grants?
    Most other NIH grants require you to request an annual budget, either modular or detailed. For the New Innovator Award application, you are asked to request only the total five-year budget. We do not require, and will not accept, budgetary details (See Q: C.4 for how to determine budget request.)
    
    
15. Why are the budget period and project period for this grant mechanism the same?
    For most NIH grants, funds are made available to the institution on a yearly basis. For the New Innovator Award, NIH will commit all five years of funding for each grant from this fiscal year's budget (i.e., multiyear funding). This is an unusual feature for NIH grants, but it will have no effect on your ability to conduct your research.
    
    
16. How much time/effort are recipients expected to devote?
    Awardees are expected to commit at least 30 percent of their research time/effort to the project supported by the New Innovator Award. Investigators should not apply if they are unable to commit this amount of effort to the project.
    
    
17. If 50 percent of my time is devoted to clinical and/or teaching duties and 50 percent to research, how much time/effort would I be expected to devote to New Innovator Award activities?
    If you spend 50 percent of your time doing research, you would be required to devote the least 30 percent of your research time, or 15 percent of your total time, to New Innovator Award activities.
    
    
18. I am working with a collaborator in another country. Would I be able to continue to spend some time conducting research there? (New: 3/23/2007)
    The PI of a New Innovator Award must be employed by a U.S. institution and the research must be conducted at that institution. However, there may be circumstances, such as studies involving a foreign population or a collaborative research project, in which the PI of a New Innovator Award must conduct part of the research outside the United States . This research is allowable. However, the length of any single foreign research stay should not exceed the time allowable under NIH Grants Policy for a PI to be away from his/her laboratory without appointing a temporary PI (i.e., three months). Due to the special nature of the New Innovator Award, appointment of a temporary PI is not allowable.
    
    
19. I am conducting epidemiologic research in another country. Would I be able to continue this research under a New Innovator Award? (New: 3/23/2007)
    The PI of a New Innovator Award must be employed by a U.S. institution and the research must be conducted at that institution. However, there may be circumstances, such as epidemiologic studies in other countries, in which the PI of a New Innovator Award must conduct part of the research outside the United States . This research is allowable. However, t he length of any single foreign research stay should not exceed the time allowable under NIH Grants Policy for a PI to be away from his/her laboratory without appointing a temporary PI (i.e., threemonths). Due to the special nature of the New Innovator Award, appointment of a temporary PI is not allowable.
    
    
20. What post-award requirements must I fulfill?
    Awardees will be required to submit a scientific progress report on June 1 of each year describing the progress made under this grant and to submit a final progress report, Final Invention Statement, and Financial Status Report at the end of the budget/project period. In addition, to help NIH evaluate this program, awardees may be contacted periodically for at least five years and asked to report on their latest research efforts.
    
    
21. If I receive a New Innovator Award, will I still be considered a “new investigator” when I apply for my first R01 grant?
    No.
    
    
22. Are New Innovator Awards renewable?
    No. Competing renewal applications for a New Innovator Award will not be allowed. At the end of the five-year New Innovator Award project period, awardees are expected to seek support to continue their research though traditional routes, such as submission of an R01 grant application.
    
    
23. Once awarded, is this award transferable if I change institutions next year?
    This award may be transferred to another eligible institution according to the same policies and procedures as for traditional research grants. Please note, however, that awards may not be transferred to foreign institutions.
    
    
24. Will the New Innovator Award program be offered in 2008?
    NIH hopes to announce the New Innovator Award program again next year, but we won't know if funds are available until we receive our Fiscal Year 2008 appropriation from Congress. 
    
    
25. If I am not successful and the program is reannounced, may I reapply next year?
    Yes.
    
    
26. How will the program be administered?
    The NIH Director's New Innovator Award Program will be administered separately from all other research grant programs. Staff of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences will administer the program on behalf of the NIH Office of the Director.

B. Eligibility

1. I finished my Ph.D. in November 1996 but didn't graduate until the spring of 1997. Am I eligible to apply? (New: 3/23/2007)
   The formal date of receipt of your Ph.D. is the date the degree was conferred, as indicated on your diploma and/or transcript. That date determines your eligibility to apply for a New Innovator Award. If your Ph.D. was conferred in 1997 or later, and you meet all of the other eligibility criteria, you are eligible to apply.
   
   
2. I received my Ph.D. in 1995, but I have had a hiatus during my research career to take care of family members. Can I get an exception to the time from degree requirement? (Updated: 3/30/2007)
   Any request for an exception to the eligibility requirement of time from last doctoral degree or internship/residency must be based upon additional clinical training or unusual circumstances, and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. A hiatus in research due to time off for care of family members is an acceptable justification for an exception to the time requirement for eligibility. However, the overall length of the hiatus should be commensurate with the deviation from the date required for this eligibility criterion.  The format for this request is described in the full request for applications (RFA). (See RFA Section IV.2, Biographical Sketch.)
   
   
3. I received my Ph.D. in 1996, but I had a delay in my research due to a flood in our animal facility that resulted in the loss of my valuable mutant mouse colony. May I request an exemption from the time requirement due to the time lost in my research career during the replacement of my experimental mouse colony? (New: 3/15/07)
   Applicants must have received their most recent doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., or equivalent) or completed their medical internship/residency in 1997 or later. A request for an exception to the eligibility requirement of time from last doctoral degree or internship/residency must be based upon additional clinical training or unusual circumstances and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The format for this request is described in the full RFA. (See RFA Section IV.2, Biographical Sketch.) In the case where an unusual external circumstance has caused a serious setback in your research, you must indicate how much research time was actually lost. You may want to mention this in your essay also.
   
   
4. I received my Ph.D. in 1994 but spent four years in industry before taking my first academic position. Am I eligible to apply?
   No. There is no distinction between time spent in industry and time spent in academia. If your Ph.D. was awarded earlier than 1997, unless you had a hiatus in your research due to unusual circumstances, you are not eligible to apply.
   
   
5. My Ph.D. degree was in 1995, but I had two years of postdoctoral training before beginning my independent research career. Am I eligible?
   If your Ph.D. was awarded earlier than 1997, unless you had a hiatus in your research due to unusual circumstances, you are not eligible to apply.
   
   
6. I received my M.D. in 1994 and spent several years in clinical training before commencing my research. Am I eligible to apply? (Updated: 3/15/07)
   Applicants must have received their most recent doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., or equivalent) or completed their medical internship/residency in 1997 or later. Any request for an exception to the eligibility requirement of time from last doctoral degree or internship/residency must be based upon additional clinical training or unusual circumstances and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For requests based on clinical fellowship training, only the time spent in clinical training, not in research training, will be considered. The format for this request is described in the full RFA. (See RFA Section IV.2, Biographical Sketch.)
   
   
7. I received my M.D. in 1994 and my M.P.H. in 2000. Am I eligible?
   Applicants must have received their most recent doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M, or equivalent) or completed their medical internship and residency in 1997 or later. The M.P.H. is not a doctoral degree and does not extend the time limit for eligibility. However, if you completed a medical internship/residency in 1997 or later, you are eligible to apply.
   
   
8. What is meant by “independent research position”?
   For the purpose of this award, “independent research position” means a position that is held by an investigator who is permitted by his/her institutional policy to apply for R01 grants, with an appropriate commitment of institutional facilities to be used for the conduct of the proposed research.
   
   
9. Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to apply?
   No. There are no citizenship or residency requirements.
   
   
10. May I apply from a foreign institution?
    No. You may apply only if you are at an institution in the United States or its territories. For the types of eligible domestic institutions, please see the RFA. (See RFA Section III.1.A, Eligible Institutions)
    
    
11. Are investigators at small businesses eligible to apply?
    Yes, if the small business is a U.S. company and the research is conducted within the United States or its territories.
    
    
12. Are foreign scientists eligible?
    Yes, but only if they are conducting their research and hold an independent position at a U.S. institution that is eligible to apply. There are no citizenship or residency requirements.
    
    
13. Are individuals employed by government agencies, non-academic, and/or for-profit organizations eligible?
    Individuals from all U.S. 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 if they meet the other eligibility requirements
    
    
14. Are scientists in the NIH intramural program eligible?
    No. Because intramural scientists may not receive extramural NIH grants, they may not apply for the NIH Director's New Innovator Award.
    
    
15. I am currently a postdoctoral fellow. Am I eligible to apply for an NIH Director's New Innovator Award?
    To be eligible to apply, you must have an independent research position (defined above, Q: B.8), by September 20, 2007. Since applications are submitted by an institution on behalf of the principal investigator, the application must be submitted by the institution where you will conduct the research. This can be done in advance of your actual appointment date if the receipt deadline is before that date. You should consult the sponsored research office at your new institution about this.If you have not been appointed to an independent research position by September 20, 2007, you will not be eligible to receive a New Innovator Award.
    
    
16. I’ve had a K award. Am I still eligible? (Updated: 3/15/07)
    Yes. Having a K award or any other grant not listed above (see Q: A.7) does not disqualify you from eligibility to apply.  However, New Innovator Award recipients are expected to commit at least 30 percent of their research time/effort to the project supported by the award. If your K award does not allow this time commitment to another NIH research grant, you should not apply for a New Innovator Award. You should discuss your individual situation with the NIH institute or center that is funding your K award to determine your eligibility to apply for a New Innovator Award.  
    
    Also, you must hold an independent research position (defined above, Q: B.8) by September 20, 2007, to be eligible to receive a New Innovator Award. (See Q: B.15 for more detail.)
    
    
17. I had an R01 several years ago but have no R01 now. Am I eligible to apply?
    No. If you were ever the PI of an R01 grant, you are not eligible to apply.
    
    
18. I am the PI on an R21 (or R33) grant. This provides a significant amount of support for my research. Am I eligible to apply? (New: 3/15/07)
    An investigator who is the PI on an R21, R33 or other significant but allowable research grant is eligible to apply if he/she meets all of the other eligibility criteria. However, other peer-reviewed grants that support work closely related to this project will be taken into consideration in review and funding decisions.
    
    
19. I applied for a Pioneer Award in January. May I also apply for a New Innovator Award if I qualify as a new investigator?
    Yes. You may apply for a New Innovator Award if you plan to submit or have other grant applications pending. However, the New Innovator Award will not be awarded if you have already accepted any grant that would make you ineligible.
    
    
20. I applied for an R01 grant in January. I have never had an R01 grant before. May I also apply to the New Innovator Award program if I qualify as a new investigator?
    Yes. You may submit an application for a New Innovator Award if you have other grant applications pending. However, you will not be selected for a New Innovator Award if you have accepted any grants that would make you ineligible at the time of award in September 2007.
    
    
21. I have never had an R01 grant, and I plan to submit an application for an R01 grant in June. Will this jeopardize my eligibility for a New Innovator Award?
    You may submit an R01 or other grant application after you have submitted an application for a New Innovator Award. You may accept an R01 or other grant subsequent to a New Innovator Award only if it supports a different research project. You may not have two grants to support the same research.
    
    
22. Are individuals who have other outside sources of support eligible?
    For the purpose of this RFA, “new investigators” are defined as those applicants who have never been the PI on an R01 or equivalent grant (e.g., R23, R29, R37, or U01) or the leader of a P01 or center grant peer-reviewed project. You are eligible to apply for a New Innovator Award if you have grant support from other sources. However, other peer-reviewed grants, especially if they support work closely related to this project, will be taken into consideration in review and funding decisions.
    
    
23. If I have a grant from an outside agency, will I be able to remain as the principal investigator on this grant?
    Other grant support may be continued if the grant is for an unrelated research project and if you are able to commit the required 30 percent of research effort to the New Innovator Award.
    
    

C. Application Process  

1. I will not be at my new institution in my first independent position until September 2007. Should I apply from my current institution or my new institution?  
   To be eligible to receive a New Innovator Award, you must have an independent research position at an eligible institution by September 20, 2007. Since applications are submitted by an institution on behalf of the principal investigator, the application must be submitted by the institution where you will conduct the research. This may be done in advance of your actual appointment date if the receipt deadline is before that date. You should consult the sponsored research office at your new institution about this.

2. Do I need or may I submit letters of reference?
   No. Letters of reference are not required and will not be accepted.

3. Can someone at NIH review my idea and let me know if it is a good fit for the New Innovator program?
   The peer review process will evaluate the merit of your application. NIH staff cannot provide comments on specific ideas or plans for individual research grant applications.
   
   
4. How do I determine the size of my budget request? (updated: 4/27/07)
   Funds may be requested for personnel, supplies, equipment, subcontracts, and other allowable costs. You should estimate the direct costs for each year and sum them to derive the five-year total. Note that the direct and indirect costs for any subcontract must be included within the direct cost cap ($1.5 million over five years) for the budget from your institution. Only the five-year total should be requested, and it must not add up to more than $1.5 million.  Budget detail is not required and should not be submitted.
   
   
5. May I request fewer than five years? My proposed project can be completed in less time. (updated: 4/27/07)
   Yes. You may request a project period of fewer than five years if your proposed project can be completed in less time. You should provide an explanation for the requested project period within the ten-page essay. The maximum allowable budget request is reduced proportionately from the maximum allowed for a five-year project period.
   
   
6. May my collaborator be funded on my New Innovator Award? (Updated: 4/27/07)
   Yes. Collaborators and consultants may be funded on a New Innovator Award, either directly or by a subcontract. Collaborators need not meet the definition of "new investigator." If you want to discuss the role of collaborators, consultants and/or your access to resources, you may do so in the essay. The application does not have a place to list key personnel other than the PI. There is also no place for letters of collaboration or other biographical sketches, and these will not be accepted.
    
   
7. Do I need or may I submit letters of collaboration? (New: 3/23/2007)
   No. Letters of collaboration are not required and will not be accepted. If you want to discuss the role of collaborators, you may do so in the essay.
   
   
8. Must the indirect costs related to subcontracts be included in the overall direct cost limit for the New Innovator Award? (New 4/27/07)
   For the New Innovator Award, the direct and indirect costs for any subcontracts must be included within the direct cost cap ($1.5 million over five years) for the budget from your institution.  
   
   
9. The definition of “independent research position” requires an appropriate commitment of institutional facilities. What information do I need to provide to demonstrate this institutional commitment? (New: 3/23/2007)
   Applicants must include, in the list of current and pending research support, a brief statement of the facilities to be used for the conduct of the research. By submitting this application on your behalf, your institution is committing these facilities for the conduct of the research.  
   
   
10. What are the dates for submission of applications?  
    The Grants.gov application may be submitted beginning April 25, 2007, and must be successfully received by Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. local time of the applicant institution/organization on May 22, 2007. Application materials will not be accepted after that time, and applications that are not complete will not be reviewed.
    
    
11. What must be done before I submit an application to Grants.gov? 
    Important: You should immediately check with your sponsored research office to determine whether your institution is registered with Grants.gov. Please note that the registration process could take up to two weeks. The institution's Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) is responsible for completing the registration process.
    If your institution is not already registered, it must first register with the Central Contractor Registry (the Credential Provider) at http://www.ccr.gov/ and then with Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted.Both the institution and the applicant must also complete a one-time registration in the NIH eRA Commons (https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/)in order to submit applications to NIH. Institutional officials are responsible for registering investigators in the eRA Commons. You should work with your AOR (also known as the Signing Official in the eRA Commons) to determine your own institution's process for registration.
    
    
12. Where can I find help registering for Grants.gov?  
    For help with the Grants.gov registration process, contact Grants.gov customer support at 1-800-518-4726 (toll free), Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), or at support@grants.gov.
    
    
13. Where can I find help in submitting my application to Grants.gov?  
    For help with the technical aspects of submitting an application to Grants.gov, check the resources available on the Grants.gov Web site first (http://grants.gov).If you need assistance, contact Grants.gov customer support at 1-800-518-4726 (toll free), Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), or at support@grants.gov.
    
    
14. Where can I find help in registering for the eRA Commons?  
    Step-by-step directions for registering with eRa Commons are available at http://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/registration/registrationInstructions.jsp.
    
    
15. For questions regarding the Commons registration process, contact the NIH eRA Commons help desk at 301-402-7469, 1-866-504-9552 (toll free), or 301-451-5939 (TTY), Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).
    
    
16. Whom do I contact if I have questions about programmatic aspects of the New Innovator Awards?  
    For questions of a programmatic nature, contact Dr. Judith Greenberg at newinnovator@nih.gov or 301-594-4469. E-mail inquiries are preferred.
    
    
17. Is there a limit to the number of applications that can be submitted by an institution?  
    There is no limit to the number of applications that an institution can submit. However, an investigator may submit only one application.
    

D. Grant Application Format and Content

1. What format should I use for the documents submitted with my application to Grants.gov (abstract, essay, biographical sketch, current research support)?
   All documents must be in PDF format. Other formatting requirements are in the Application Guide (MS Word - 2.87 MB) or (PDF - 2.82 MB), Section 2.6, Format Specifications for Text (PDF) Attachments. The abstract must be no more than 300 words (no more than one page).

   For the biographical sketch, use the format shown in the Application Guide (MS Word - 2.87 MB) or (PDF - 2.82 MB) Part III, omitting Section C, Research Support.  The biographical sketch must not exceed two pages.

   For the list of current and pending support, use the format shown In the Application Guide (MS Word - 2.87 MB) or (PDF - 2.82 MB), Part III.

   Applicants with documents that exceed page limits will be considered non-responsive and will not be evaluated.

2. How should I structure the 10-page essay? Should I include specific aims? (New: 3/30/2007)
   There is no organizational structure specified for the 10-page essay. It should address the project description, innovativeness, and investigator qualifications, as described in the RFA. You should include the information you think necessary to address the goals of the New Innovator Award and the review criteria as specified in the RFA. As indicated in the RFA, the description of the scientific project in the essay should be written with a level of detail appropriate for reviewers who are broadly knowledgeable but not who may not be directly involved in the proposed area of research. You may organize your essay in whatever manner you think best allows for presentation of your information. 

3. Does the 10-page essay replace the traditional “Research Plan” (with “Specific Aims”) or is it to be submitted in addition to that section? (New: 3/30/2007)
   The 10-page essay replaces the traditional 25-page “Research Plan” section required for most other NIH grant applications. The requirements for a New Innovator Award application are very different from those for most other NIH grants. Read carefully the application instructions and review criteria in the RFA.
   

4. In my essay, may I include citations to key publications? If so, what is the appropriate format?
   Yes, you may include citations in the essay, as long as they fit within the ten-page limit. The citations may be in any format.
   
   
5. In my essay, may I include figures and illustrations?
   Yes, you may include figures and illustrations in the essay, as long as they fit within the ten-page limit.
   
   
6. The application package that I downloaded from Grants.Gov does not include budget pages. Are detailed, annual budgets required? Where do I indicate indirect costs?
   Detailed, annual budgets are not required and will not be accepted. Indirect (facilities and administrative) costs will be determined at the time the award is made.
   
   
7. Where do I submit the various required sections of the application?
   

   •  Abstract – upload on Item 6, Research & Related Other Project Information Component form.

   •  Essay – upload on Item 7, Research & Related Other Project Information Component Form.

   •  Biographical sketch – upload on Senior/Key Person Profile Component where indicated.

   •  List of current and pending support – upload on Senior/Key Person Profile Component where indicated.
   

8. Where do I designate the Area of Science for my application?
   The Area of Science is designated by entering a two-digit code from the list below in two places: 1) at the top of the Abstract page, and 2) in front of the title of your project in the “Descriptive Title of Applicant's Project” field (line 11) on the SF 424 (R&R) Cover Page Component. Read carefully the detailed instructions for this field in the RFA.

   The specific Areas of Science are:

   • 01 Behavioral and Social Science
   • 02 Clinical and Translational Research
   • 03 Instrumentation and Engineering
   • 04 Molecular Biology
   • 05 Cellular Biology
   • 06 Chemical Biology
   • 07 Pathogenesis
   • 08 Epidemiology
   • 09 Physiology and Integrative Systems
   • 10 Quantitative and Computational Biology
     
     
9. I cannot determine the best fit for my Area of Science. What should I do? What is the Area of Science coding used for? (Updated: 4/19/2007)
   The Area of Science coding is used to assist in the assignment of applications to the most appropriate group of peer reviewers.  NIH staff cannot advise you on the specific selection of an Area of Science for your project. We understand that for interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research projects, more than one Area of Science might be appropriate. To select the most appropriate code for your application, you should consider whether reviewers with expertise in one or another Area of Science would be most likely to appreciate the significance of the project, the innovativeness of its approaches, and its potential impact.

   The Areas of Science listed are very broad and frequently overlapping.  The reviewers for the New Innovator Award applications have been chosen for their breadth of knowledge and expertise, and will be able to review a broad range of applications. The description of the scientific project in the essay should be written with a level of detail appropriate for reviewers who are broadly knowledgeable but not who may not be directly involved in the proposed area of research.

10. May I designate more than one Area of Science?
    No. Only one area may be designated. This is to assist in assigning applications to evaluators for review.
    
    
11. Where should the effort commitment statement (statement confirming that if chosen to receive an award, the applicant will commit a minimum of 30 percent of his/her research efforts to New Innovator Award activities) be placed?
    The statement should be placed in the list of current and pending support.
    
    
12. Where should a request for an exception to the time limitation post receipt of my doctoral degree (or internship/residency) be placed?
    The request and justification should be placed in the biographical sketch.
    
    
13. May I include additional information in an appendix? I need additional space for my list of references, etc. (New: 4/19/2007)
    All information submitted for the review of your application must be included in the allowed sections of the application, within the specified limits of space. Appendices will not be accepted. There is no place for appendix material in the application format.
    
    
14. I have obtained important new preliminary data that will strengthen the application I have already submitted. May I submit these data now? (4/19/2007)
    We cannot accept any additional information after an application has been submitted. Only the information contained in the original application will be reviewed.
    

E. Evaluation and Selection of Awardees

1. How will awardees be selected? 
   Applications will be reviewed first by NIH staff for eligibility and then by a multidisciplinary group of outside experts. Applications identified as the most outstanding by the peer reviewers will be forwarded to the Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD), NIH, which will conduct the second level of review. The Director, NIH, will make the final selection of awardees based on the evaluations by the outside experts, the recommendations of the ACD, and programmatic considerations.
   

2. What criteria will be used to assess applications?
   The reviewers are looking for convincing evidence that the applicant is an exceptionally creative new investigator who is proposing a highly innovative approach with the potential to produce results that will have an unusually high impact on a significant problem in biomedical or behavioral research. They will also assess the appropriateness of this application for the New Innovator Award process rather than the standard peer review process. For more detail, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-07-009.html.
   
   
3. Will my application be reviewed by a special group of reviewers? Will they be experts in my field? (New: 3/23/2007)
   Applications will be reviewed first by NIH staff for eligibility and then by a specially constituted, multidisciplinary group of outside experts who are broadly knowledgeable but may not be directly involved in your proposed area of research. Applications identified as the most outstanding by the peer reviewers will be forwarded to the Advisory Committee to the Director, NIH, which will conduct the second level of review.
   
   
4. When will the outside expert peer reviewer roster be posted on the New Innovator web site? (Updated: 3/23/2007)
   The roster will be posted in July 2007, shortly before the start of the review.
   
   
5. When will the 2007 awardees be announced?
   The 2007 awardees will be notified in September 2007.
   
   
6. Can the results of the review be appealed?
   No. There is no appeal process.
   
   
7. Will I receive a summary statement or other comments?
   Successful and unsuccessful applicants will receive brief review comments. Since the applications will be reviewed differently from other grant mechanisms, priority scores and percentiles will not be assigned and, therefore, will not be available.
   
   
8. I have obtained important new preliminary data that will strengthen the application I have already submitted. May I submit these data now?
   We cannot accept any additional information after an application has been submitted. Only the information contained in the original application will be reviewed.