Call for Nominations: 2026 NIH Office of Disease Prevention Early-Stage Investigator Lecture
The Office of Disease Prevention (ODP) at the National Institutes of Health is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Early Stage Investigator Lecture. The award is given annually to early career scientists who have made significant prevention research contributions but who have not yet successfully competed for an R01 or R01-equivalent NIH research grant.
The award recognizes early career prevention scientists who have not successfully competed for a substantial NIH-supported research project, but who have already made outstanding research contributions to their respective fields and are poised to become future leaders in prevention research.Nominees should have innovative research accomplishments in applied prevention research in humans, with evidence of highly collaborative projects. Priority will be given to nominees conducting applied preventive intervention research to address common risk and protective factors for illness, injury, and the leading causes of death.
Eligibility Criteria
At the time of the nomination due date, the candidate must meet NIH’s definition of an early stage investigator (ESI). This means the candidate:
- Completed a terminal research degree within the last 10 years
- Has not yet been awarded an R01 or R01-equivalent NIH research grant.
See a list of NIH grants that an investigator can hold and still be considered an ESI.
Federal government employees, including fellows and contractors, are not eligible.
Nominees should have:
- Innovative and significant research accomplishments in applied prevention research in humans, in areas that are relevant to ODP’s mission
- Evidence of highly collaborative research projects, especially those that bridge disciplines to offer new approaches and ways of thinking in prevention research
Deadline for Submissions: October 24, 2025 at 11:59 pmET
Awardee(s) Notified: January 2026
Lecture Presentation: Spring/Summer/Fall 2026
ODP will host an online lecture featuring the award winner(s) in 2026. The awardee(s) will also have the opportunity to meet and network virtually with NIH program directors and scientists who are engaged with prevention research. Learn more about the past awardees and watch their lectures on the ODP website.
Submit nominations by October 24, 2025 here: prevention.nih.gov/news-events/early-stage-investigator-lecture/odp-early-stage-investigator-lecture-nomination-and-selection-process. Email prevention@mail.nih.gov with any questions.
