Trailblazer Award for New and Early Stage Investigators (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

The Trailblazer Award is an opportunity for NIH-defined New and Early Stage Investigators to pursue research programs that integrate engineering and the physical sciences with the life and/or biomedical sciences. This award supports exploratory, developmental, proof of concept, or high risk-high impact research projects. Applicants must propose research approaches for which there are minimal or no preliminary data. The award is open to various types of organizations, including institutions of higher education, non-profits, and small businesses. Key aspects of this opportunity include: • Integration of engineering and physical sciences with life and/or biomedical sciences • Support for exploratory, developmental, proof of concept, or high risk-high impact research projects • No preliminary data required, expected, or encouraged • Open to various types of organizations, including institutions of higher education, non-profits, and small businesses • Application due date: May 7, 2026