September 15, 2026 | 422 Words | 2-3 Minutes
What if you have a research idea that could fundamentally change how we understand a problem, but you do not yet have years of preliminary data to support it?
That is the type of research the National Institute of Health (NIH) High-Risk, High-Reward (HRHR) Research Program is designed to support.
On September 2, SBSI welcomed Dr. Becky Miller, Program Officer in the NIH Office of the Director, to discuss the HRHR program and its funding opportunities. As part of the NIH Common Fund, the HRHR program supports exceptionally creative scientists at all career stages who are pursuing innovative approaches to important, “big picture” questions.
A Different Approach to Funding Innovation
One of the distinguishing features of HRHR awards is their emphasis on innovation and potential impact rather than extensive preliminary data. The program is intended for researchers proposing ideas that are particularly creative, unconventional, or potentially transformative.
Dr. Miller highlighted four core HRHR initiatives:
Pioneer Award
Supports scientists at any career stage with a track record of creativity who are proposing highly innovative research.
New Innovator Award
Supports early-career investigators who have not yet received a major NIH grant and are pursuing unusually innovative research.
Transformative Research Award
Supports individuals or teams proposing research that has the potential to create or challenge existing scientific paradigms.
Early Independence Award
Supports exceptional junior scientists who are ready to establish an independent research program without following the traditional postdoctoral pathway.
Could HRHR Be a Fit for Your Research?
For social and behavioral scientists, HRHR opportunities may be particularly interesting for projects that take a bold approach to a significant problem, introduce a fundamentally new way of thinking about a research question, or bring together methods, theories, or perspectives in an unconventional way.
The program is not simply looking for projects that are “high risk” for the sake of being risky. Rather, applicants should be able to articulate why taking a novel approach could lead to a meaningful scientific payoff.
Researchers interested in exploring whether an HRHR opportunity may be a fit for their work can review the individual award mechanisms and consider how their proposed research aligns with the program’s goals and review criteria.
Presentation slides from Dr. Miller’s session are available for viewing in Box for a limited time.
Considering an HRHR Proposal?
SBSI can help you explore funding opportunities and strengthen your proposal. Our team provides research development support throughout the proposal process, from identifying opportunities and developing project ideas to reviewing and refining your application.
Request Proposal Development Support