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HCN Grants Est. 2026
No. PA-24-193 · National Institutes of Health
Open

NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Required)

Dealbreakers No cost share required Audit: not stated
Not reimbursement-only
“Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards” — From the announcement

At a glance

This program supports postdoctoral researchers who are completing mentored training and moving to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions, and it is designed for applicants proposing an independent clinical trial, feasibility study, or ancillary clinical trial. Eligible applicants include many U.S. organizations such as universities, nonprofits, governments, small businesses, and federal labs, but foreign organizations and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. The award can provide up to 5 years of support in two phases: up to 2 years for the K99 phase and up to 3 years for the R00 phase, with the independent R00 phase capped at $249,000 per year total cost. Cost sharing is not required. The NOFO does not allow foreign subawards or subcontracts, and the K99 candidate must have no more than 4 years of postdoctoral research experience and must be in a mentored postdoctoral position.

AI-generated summary — verify against the announcement

What it funds

  • Education
  • Environment
  • Food and Nutrition
  • Health
  • Income Security and Social Services
  • Research & Discovery
  • Training, Fellowship & Career Development
  • Researchers & Scholars
  • Biomedical & Disease Research
Official description from grants.gov

The purpose of the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) program is to increase and maintain a strong cohort of new and talented, NIH-supported, independent investigators. This program is designed to facilitate a timely transition of outstanding 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 NIH 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