The Director’s Challenge Innovation Award Program

The NIH Director’s Challenge Innovation Award is a program designed to identify and fund projects that foster trans-NIH collaborations across the NIH Intramural Research Program (IRP). The award provides seed money from the NIH Office of Intramural Research (OIR) for innovative and high-impact research that shows significant benefit to a variety of research, infrastructure, and/or scientific endeavors throughout the IRP.

Applications are evaluated by a review panel of intramural investigators, with final decisions made by the Deputy Director for Intramural Research (DDIR). Projects are funded based on the project’s significance, innovation, and investigator expertise.

For additional information regarding the award, please contact Dr. Charles Dearolf or view the prior year’s awards listed below.

• 2024 NIH Director’s Challenge Innovation Awards
• 2022 NIH Director’s Challenge Innovation Awards
• 2020 NIH Director’s Challenge Innovation Awards