This page provides information on the NIH Next Generation Researchers Initiative policies that support early-stage investigators (ESIs).
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Policy Summary
ESI Infographics | ||
Early Stage Investigator | A Program Director / Principal Investigator (PD/PI) who has completed their terminal research degree or end of post-graduate clinical training, whichever date is later, within the past 10 years and who has not previously competed successfully as PD/PI for a substantial NIH independent research award. See our list of NIH grants that a PD/PI can hold and still be considered an ESI. | R01-equivalent ESI applications with meritorious scores will be prioritized for funding. |
New Investigator | An investigator who has not previously competed successfully for substantial, independent funding from NIH. |
NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) fund New Investigators according to the ICs' programmatic and strategic interests. |
Guide Notices
- NOT-OD-19-125: Notice of System Change and Procedure for Requesting an Extension to Early Stage Investigator (ESI) Status
- NOT-OD-19-072: Updates to NIH Policy on ESI Application Status
- NOT-OD-17-101: Policy Supporting the Next Generation Researchers Initiative
- NOT-OD-18-214: Update on NIH's Next Generation Researchers Initiative (NGRI) Policy on Early Established Investigators (EEIs)
Background
Fostering the creative discoveries and innovative research that will protect and improve health requires NIH to take steps to promote the growth, stability, and diversity of the biomedical research workforce. NIH and its stakeholder community have been concerned about the long-term growth and stability of the biomedical research enterprise for many years. Read our page on the NIH Next Generation Researchers Initiative for additional background.
Determination of Investigator Status
- All Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD/PIs) must have an eRA Commons account at the time of application.
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Prior to application submission, PD/PIs are encouraged to verify and/or enter the date of their terminal research degree or the end date of their post-graduate clinical training in their eRA Commons Profile to ensure the correct identification.
- NIH systems will automatically calculate the status of each investigator and display it within their eRA Commons personal profile
- The ESI status of the PD/PIs on any R01 or R01 equivalent application will be flagged at time of submission
- Investigators should make sure their status is correctly marked in their profile. If your status is incorrect, please contact the NIH eRA Service Desk.
Extension of ESI Status
- Some researchers may have lapses in their research or research training, or have experienced periods of less than full-time effort. NIH will consider requests to extend the ESI status period for reasons that can include: medical concerns, disability, family care responsibilities, natural disasters, and active duty military service, determined on a case by case basis at the sole discretion of NIH.
- Principal investigators can submit a request for an ESI extension via an ESI Extension Request link found in the Education section of the PI's Personal Profile in eRA Commons. For step-by-step instructions, see the ESI Extension Request online help and the ESI Status Extension Request video tutorial
- Note: The previous form for requesting an ESI extension was retired on Aug. 22. 2019
Special Programs
NIH has several special award programs for new investigators, including:- NIH Director’s New Innovator Award (DP2)
- NIH Director’s Early Independence award (DP5)
History of Related NIH Policies
NIH interest in the training and subsequent research support for establishing independent research careers is deep and longstanding. Read the detailed history of related NIH policies.
Related Data
- At the end of each fiscal year the number and proportion of awards going to first-time investigators are reported in the NIH Data Book.
- Age Distributions - Number of AAMC Medical School Faculty Compared to the Total Number of NIH RPG Principal Investigators in All Settings - 1980-2015 (Powerpoint - 2.8 MB)
- Age Distributions - Percentage of AAMC Medical School Faculty Compared to the Percentage of NIH RPG Principal Investigators at Different Ages in All Settings - 1980-2015 (Powerpoint - 5 MB)
- Age Distribution of All Full-time Medical School Faculty AAMC 1980-2015 (Excel - 38 KB)
- Age of RPG Awardees 1980 to 2015 from SARB File 191-16 (Excel - 23 KB)
- Education and Employment of Biological and Medical Scientists 2015 – Data from FASEB
- Average Age and Degree of NIH R01-Equivalent First-Time Awardees 1980 – 2016 (Excel 36 KB)