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HCN Grants Est. 2026
No. PAR-25-135 · National Institutes of Health
Open

NCI Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Dealbreakers No cost share required Audit: not stated
Not reimbursement-only
“For the extramural K99 phase, Indirect Costs (also known as Facilities & Administrative [F&A] Costs) are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs.” — From the announcement

At a glance

This program supports postdoctoral researchers in cancer-related fields as they finish mentored training and move into independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty jobs. Applicants must be in mentored postdoctoral positions, have no more than 6 years of postdoctoral research experience, and the project must be highly relevant to the National Cancer Institute’s mission. The award has two phases: up to 2 years of mentored K99 support and up to 3 years of R00 independent support, for a total project period of up to 5 years. For the extramural K99 phase, NCI will pay up to $100,000 per year for salary and up to $30,000 per year for research development costs; the R00 phase may not exceed $249,000 per year total cost. No cost sharing is required, clinical trials are not allowed, and foreign organizations and non-domestic U.S. components are not eligible to apply.

AI-generated summary — verify against the announcement

What it funds

  • Education
  • Health
  • Research & Discovery
  • Training, Fellowship & Career Development
  • Researchers & Scholars
  • Biomedical & Disease Research
Official description from grants.gov

The purpose of the NCI Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) program is to facilitate a timely transition of talented postdoctoral researchers with a research and/or clinical doctorate degree from mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions. The program will provide independent NCI research support during this transition in order to help awardees to launch competitive, independent research careers.

Who can apply

  • City or township governments
  • County governments
  • For-profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Independent school districts
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized)
  • Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
  • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
  • Others
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
  • Small businesses
  • Special district governments
  • State governments
Geographic restriction None found in the announcement — likely nationwide