NEI New Innovator Award (DP2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Eye Institute, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health, has announced a forecasted funding opportunity titled the NEI New Innovator Award (DP2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). This opportunity is published under funding opportunity number PAR-26-087 and is expected to open for applications on December 1, 2025, with an application due date of May 25, 2026. The award is designed to support highly creative postdoctoral researchers in non-independent positions as well as newly independent early stage investigators who are pursuing research that aligns with the mission of the NEI. The overarching goal is to encourage projects with the potential to make major impacts in vision research, challenge existing scientific paradigms, or introduce new concepts and methodologies within the biomedical research priorities of NEI. The program seeks applications that emphasize originality and innovation. Applicants are encouraged to propose studies that represent unexpected convergences of scientific disciplines, novel scientific directions, or the use of pioneering methodologies that could shift the field. The focus is on supporting researchers who are in the early stages of their independent careers, particularly those positioned to take bold steps in vision-related biomedical research. While this opportunity welcomes a wide range of project proposals, clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this mechanism. Funding under this program will take the form of grant awards. The National Institutes of Health anticipates issuing approximately four awards under this opportunity. However, the announcement does not specify the ceiling, floor, or total amount of funding available for distribution, which will require future verification when the full notice is posted. The Assistance Listing associated with this program is 93.867, which covers vision research activities. No cost sharing or matching requirement is expected of applicants. Projects funded under this mechanism are anticipated to begin on or after August 2, 2026, which aligns with the projected award date. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad, extending beyond higher education institutions. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education may apply. Other eligible entities include Indian and Native American tribal governments other than those that are federally recognized, agencies of the federal government, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, faith-based or community-based organizations, and foreign institutions. This breadth of eligibility is intended to foster diverse applications and encourage participation from multiple types of organizations working in vision science and biomedical research. The application process is forecasted but not yet open. Based on the information provided, applications will open in December 2025 and close on May 25, 2026. No pre-application requirements such as letters of intent, concept papers, or other gating mechanisms are indicated at this time. Applicants should prepare to submit complete proposals by the stated due date, as incomplete or late applications will not be accepted once the opportunity closes. The timeline indicates that the program is recurring, with deadlines and program openings expected on an annual basis. Evaluation of applications will be based on their alignment with NEI priorities, the novelty of the scientific approach, and the potential for significant impact in vision research. As the full details of evaluation criteria are not included in this forecast, applicants should expect further clarification in the official Notice of Funding Opportunity to be posted closer to the estimated open date. For questions, the designated program officer is Dr. Ed Clayton, NEI Research Training Program Officer, who may be reached by phone at 240-987-8255. No email contact information is provided in the forecast. Overall, the NEI New Innovator Award (DP2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) represents an important opportunity for early career investigators to advance transformative vision research. With its emphasis on originality, bold new directions, and convergence across disciplines, this program seeks to position investigators to make substantial contributions to the field while supporting their transition to research independence.