High-Risk, High-Reward Program Offers Unique Opportunities for Innovative Research

June 7, 2022

Emmeline Edwards, Ph.D.

If you have an idea for an innovative but risky research project within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) mission, I urge you to consider applying for one of the funding opportunities offered by the NIH High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) program. This NIH Common Fund program is designed to support compelling research proposals that have transformative potential but might not fare well in the traditional peer review process.

As a longtime member of the NIH-wide working group that oversees the HRHR program, I can tell you that it provides exceptional opportunities for creative investigators who want to pursue trailblazing outside-the-box ideas. Unlike some other funding opportunity announcements (FOAs), the HRHR FOAs do not require preliminary data. The focus is on the innovation and potential impact of the idea. Projects can address any topic within the NIH scientific mission, and unconventional proposals are welcome.