NIH Shifts Funding Strategy to Prioritize "High-Risk, High-Reward" Research

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced a major overhaul of its research funding mechanism, increasing the budget allocation for "high-risk, high-reward" projects—such as cancer vaccines and neurodegenerative disease therapies—from 12% to 20%. Under the new policy, scientists may submit unconventional research proposals without preliminary data, with the review process now emphasizing innovation and potential impact over traditional metrics.

NIH Director Monica Bertagnolli underscored the rationale behind the shift, stating, "Breakthroughs often emerge from unconventional thinking." However, some researchers have raised concerns that reduced scrutiny could lead to resource misallocation. To address these challenges, the NIH plans to establish an "Office of Transformative Research" to oversee project implementation. The first round of funded projects under this new framework is expected to be announced in 2026.