The intent of the NFRP New Investigator Award is to support the continued development of promising independent investigators and/or the transition of established investigators from other research fields into a career in the field of NF research. Prior experience in NF research is not required. However, Principal Investigators (PIs) with a limited background in NF research are strongly encouraged to have a collaborator who is experienced in the NF field. Research projects may focus on any phase of research, excluding clinical trials. Applications must include preliminary and/or published data that is relevant to NF and the proposed research project. Preclinical Research: All projects should adhere to a core set of standards for rigorous study design and reporting to maximize the reproducibility and translational potential of preclinical research. The standards are described in Landis, S.C., et al. A call for transparent reporting to optimize the predictive value of preclinical research, Nature 2012, 490:187-191 (www.nature.com/nature/journal/v490/n7419/full/nature11556.html). While these standards are written for preclinical studies, the basic principles of randomization, blinding, sample-size estimation, and data handling derive from well-established best practices in research and should be applied. For projects involving animal studies, applicants should consult the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments) guidelines to ensure relevant aspects of rigorous animal research are adequately planned for and, ultimately, reported. The ARRIVE guidelines can be found at http://www.nc3rs.org.uk/page.asp?id=1357.