Key Dates

Related Announcements

• January 9, 2023 - NIAID Physician-Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) - See NOFO PAR-23-071.

Issued by

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to alert potential applicants of an increase in the mentored phase K99 salary support, an increase in research support, and an increase in the number of years for the R00 award phase in the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), PAR-23-071, “NIAID Physician-Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)”.

Currently Reads:

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

The overall goal of the NIH Research Career Development program is to help ensure that a diverse pool of highly trained scientists is available in appropriate scientific disciplines to address the Nation's biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs. NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) support a variety of mentored and non-mentored career development award programs designed to foster the transition of new investigators to research independence and to support established investigators in achieving specific objectives. Candidates should review the different career development (K) award programs to determine the best program to support their goals. More information about Career programs may be found at the NIH Research Training and Career Development website.

The objective of the NIAID Physician-Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) is to help address the current shortage of physicians who conduct biomedical research by offering this career development opportunity. Physician-Scientists (PS) who see patients and perform medical research are ideally positioned to translate laboratory findings about disease mechanisms into clinical interventions that improve patient outcomes. This program supports outstanding eligible postdoctoral researchers to complete mentored training and transition in a timely manner to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions. The NIAID Physician-Scientist K99/R00 award is intended to foster the development of a creative, independent research program that will be competitive for subsequent independent funding and that will help advance the mission of NIAID. Applicants must have no more than 4 years of postdoctoral research experience at the time of the initial or the subsequent resubmission or revision application. This program is intended for individuals who require at least 12 months and up to 24 months of mentored research training and career development (K99 phase) before transitioning to the R00 award phase of the program for up to 24 months. Consequently, the strongest applicants will require, and will propose, a well-conceived plan for 1 2 years of substantive mentored research training and career development that will prepare them to become competitive candidates for tenure-track faculty positions and to launch robust, independent research programs. An individual who cannot provide a compelling rationale for at least one year of additional mentored research training at the time of award is not a strong candidate for this award.

Individuals must be in mentored, postdoctoral training positions to be eligible to apply to the K99/R00 program. If a candidate achieves independence (any faculty or non-mentored research position) before a K99 award is made, neither the K99, nor the R00 award, will be made. The NIAID PS K99/R00 award will provide up to 4 years of support in two phases. The initial (K99) phase will provide support for up to 2 years of mentored postdoctoral research training and career development. In the second (R00) phase, NIAID will provide up to 2 years of independent research support, which is contingent on satisfactory progress during the K99 phase and an approved, independent, tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty position. The two award phases are intended to be continuous in time. Therefore, although exceptions may be possible in limited circumstances, R00 awards will generally only be made to those K99 PDs/PIs who accept independent, tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty positions by the end of the K99 award period.

For the purposes of this program, physician-scientists include individuals with an MD, DO, DDS/DMD, DVM/VMD, MD/PhD, DNP, or nurses with research doctoral degrees who devote the majority of their time to biomedical research. This K99/R00 is intended for those physician-scientists who already have substantial research training and are dedicated to initiating a strong, research-intensive career as physician-scientists. This program is designed to facilitate a timely transition of outstanding physician-scientists from mentored, research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions, and to provide independent NIAID research support during the transition. Individuals who need a longer period of mentored career development before they are prepared to begin the transition to research independence should consider the K08 or K23 program (see: K Kiosk).

Applications Not Responsive to this FOA

Applications that propose the following will be considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed:

• Applications that do not propose at least one specific aim focused on clinical and/or translational research. For the purpose of this award, translational research is defined as the application of basic research discoveries toward the diagnosis, management, and prevention of human disease. Clinical research is defined as research with human subjects that is: (1) patient-oriented research, (2) epidemiological and behavioral studies, and/or (3) outcomes research and health services research.
• Applications submitted by candidates who have achieved independence (i.e., applicants who have accepted any non-mentored research position) before a K99 award is made.
• Applications that propose new clinical trials; however, work proposed on the mentor's ongoing clinical trial is acceptable.

Note: This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is designed specifically for candidates proposing research that does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial. Under this FOA candidates are permitted to propose a research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor. Those proposing a clinical trial or an ancillary clinical trial as lead investigator, should apply to the companion FOA (PAR-23-070).

NIH defines a clinical trial as "A research study in which one or more human subjects are prospectively assigned to one or more interventions (which may include placebo or other control) to evaluate the effects of those interventions on health-related biomedical or behavioral outcomes." (NOT-OD-15-015).

Section II. Award Information

Funding Instrument

Grant: A support mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity.

Application Types Allowed

New
Resubmission
Revision

 The OER Glossary and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types. Only those application types listed here are allowed for this FOA.

Clinical Trial?

Not Allowed: Only accepting applications that do not propose clinical trials

 Note: Applicants may propose to gain experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor/co-mentor as part of their research career development.

Need help determining whether you are doing a clinical trial?

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards

The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

Award Budget

Award budgets are composed of salary and other program-related expenses, as described below.

Award Project Period

The total project period may not exceed 4 years.

Other Award Budget Information

Salary

Mentored Phase (K99)

NIAID will contribute up to $75,000 plus fringe benefits per year toward the salary of the career award recipient. Further guidance on budgeting for career development salaries is provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Intramural: Mentored candidates in the NIH intramural program will be supported by intramural funds provided by the NIH Institute/Center intramural laboratory in which they are conducting their research. Budget details for the mentored phase will be negotiated with the sponsoring intramural laboratory. Salary will be consistent with that offered scientists in similar, intramural NIH positions.

Extramural: Mentored candidates at an extramural sponsoring institution/organization will be supported by NIAID extramural funds. The requested salary must be consistent both with the established salary structure at the institution and with salaries actually provided by the institution from its own funds to other staff members with equivalent qualifications, rank, and responsibilities in the department concerned. Further guidance on budgeting for career development salaries is provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

The total salary, however, may not exceed the legislatively mandated salary cap. See: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/salcap_summary.htm.

Independent Phase (R00)

The total cost for the independent phase (R00) may not exceed $249,000 per year. This amount includes salary, fringe benefits, research costs, and applicable indirect costs. Indirect costs will be reimbursed at the extramural sponsoring institution's indirect cost rate. Indirect costs requested by consortium participants are included in the total cost limitation.

In addition, the candidate may derive additional compensation for effort associated with other Federal sources or awards provided the total salary derived from all Federal sources does not exceed the maximum legislated salary rate (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/salcap_summary.htm) and the total percent effort does not exceed 100%. See also NOT-OD-17-094.

Other Program-Related Expenses

NIAID will contribute $25,000 per year toward the research development costs of the award recipient, which must be justified and consistent with the stage of development of the candidate and the proportion of time to be spent in research or career development activities. These funds may be used for the following expenses: (a) tuition and fees related to career development; (b) research-related expenses, such as supplies, equipment and technical personnel; (c) travel to research meetings or training; and (d) statistical services including personnel and computer time.

Salary for mentors, secretarial and administrative assistants, etc. is not allowed.

Indirect Costs

For the extramural K99 phase, Indirect Costs (also known as Facilities & Administrative [F&A] Costs) are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs. For the R00 phase, indirect costs will be reimbursed at the extramural sponsoring institution’s indirect cost rate.

Modified to Read (changes shown in bold italics):

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

The overall goal of the NIH Research Career Development program is to help ensure that a diverse pool of highly trained scientists is available in appropriate scientific disciplines to address the Nation's biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs. NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) support a variety of mentored and non-mentored career development award programs designed to foster the transition of new investigators to research independence and to support established investigators in achieving specific objectives. Candidates should review the different career development (K) award programs to determine the best program to support their goals. More information about Career programs may be found at the NIH Research Training and Career Development website.

The objective of the NIAID Physician-Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) is to help address the current shortage of physicians who conduct biomedical research by offering this career development opportunity. Physician-Scientists (PS) who see patients and perform medical research are ideally positioned to translate laboratory findings about disease mechanisms into clinical interventions that improve patient outcomes. This program supports outstanding eligible postdoctoral researchers to complete mentored training and transition in a timely manner to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions. The NIAID Physician-Scientist K99/R00 award is intended to foster the development of a creative, independent research program that will be competitive for subsequent independent funding and that will help advance the mission of NIAID. Applicants must have no more than 4 years of postdoctoral research experience at the time of the initial or the subsequent resubmission or revision application. This program is intended for individuals who require at least 12 months and up to 24 months of mentored research training and career development (K99 phase) before transitioning to the R00 award phase of the program for up to 36 months. Consequently, the strongest applicants will require, and will propose, a well-conceived plan for 1 to 2 years of substantive mentored research training and career development that will prepare them to become competitive candidates for tenure-track faculty positions and to launch robust, independent research programs. An individual who cannot provide a compelling rationale for at least one year of additional mentored research training at the time of award is not a strong candidate for this award.

Individuals must be in mentored, postdoctoral training positions to be eligible to apply to the K99/R00 program. If a candidate achieves independence (any faculty or non-mentored research position) before a K99 award is made, neither the K99, nor the R00 award, will be made. The NIAID PS K99/R00 award will provide up to 5 years of support in two phases. The initial (K99) phase will provide support for up to 2 years of mentored postdoctoral research training and career development. In the second (R00) phase, NIAID will provide up to 3 years of independent research support, which is contingent on satisfactory progress during the K99 phase and an approved, independent, tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty position. The two award phases are intended to be continuous in time. Therefore, although exceptions may be possible in limited circumstances, R00 awards will generally only be made to those K99 PDs/PIs who accept independent, tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty positions by the end of the K99 award period.

For the purposes of this program, physician-scientists include individuals with an MD, DO, DDS/DMD, DVM/VMD, MD/PhD, DNP, or nurses with research doctoral degrees who devote the majority of their time to biomedical research. This K99/R00 is intended for those physician-scientists who already have substantial research training and are dedicated to initiating a strong, research-intensive career as physician-scientists. This program is designed to facilitate a timely transition of outstanding physician-scientists from mentored, research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions, and to provide independent NIAID research support during the transition. Individuals who need a longer period of mentored career development before they are prepared to begin the transition to research independence should consider the K08 or K23 program (see: K Kiosk).

Applications Not Responsive to this FOA

Applications that propose the following will be considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed:

• Applications that do not propose at least one specific aim focused on clinical and/or translational research. For the purpose of this award, translational research is defined as the application of basic research discoveries toward the diagnosis, management, and prevention of human disease. Clinical research is defined as research with human subjects that is: (1) patient-oriented research, (2) epidemiological and behavioral studies, and/or (3) outcomes research and health services research.
• Applications submitted by candidates who have achieved independence (i.e., applicants who have accepted any non-mentored research position) before a K99 award is made.
• Applications that propose new clinical trials; however, work proposed on the mentor's ongoing clinical trial is acceptable.

Note: This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is designed specifically for candidates proposing research that does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial. Under this FOA candidates are permitted to propose a research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor. Those proposing a clinical trial or an ancillary clinical trial as lead investigator, should apply to the companion FOA (PAR-23-070).

NIH defines a clinical trial as "A research study in which one or more human subjects are prospectively assigned to one or more interventions (which may include placebo or other control) to evaluate the effects of those interventions on health-related biomedical or behavioral outcomes." (NOT-OD-15-015).

Section II. Award Information

Funding Instrument

Grant: A support mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity.

Application Types Allowed

New
Resubmission
Revision

 The OER Glossary and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types. Only those application types listed here are allowed for this FOA.

Clinical Trial?

Not Allowed: Only accepting applications that do not propose clinical trials

 Note: Applicants may propose to gain experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor/co-mentor as part of their research career development.

Need help determining whether you are doing a clinical trial?

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards

The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

Award Budget

Award budgets are composed of salary and other program-related expenses, as described below.

Award Project Period

The total project period may not exceed 5 years.

Other Award Budget Information

Salary

Mentored Phase (K99)

NIAID will contribute up to $100,000 plus fringe benefits per year toward the salary of the career award recipient. Further guidance on budgeting for career development salaries is provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Intramural: Mentored candidates in the NIH intramural program will be supported by intramural funds provided by the NIH Institute/Center intramural laboratory in which they are conducting their research. Budget details for the mentored phase will be negotiated with the sponsoring intramural laboratory. Salary will be consistent with that offered scientists in similar, intramural NIH positions.

Extramural: Mentored candidates at an extramural sponsoring institution/organization will be supported by NIAID extramural funds. The requested salary must be consistent both with the established salary structure at the institution and with salaries actually provided by the institution from its own funds to other staff members with equivalent qualifications, rank, and responsibilities in the department concerned. Further guidance on budgeting for career development salaries is provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

The total salary, however, may not exceed the legislatively mandated salary cap. See: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/salcap_summary.htm.

Independent Phase (R00)

The total cost for the independent phase (R00) may not exceed $249,000 per year. This amount includes salary, fringe benefits, research costs, and applicable indirect costs. Indirect costs will be reimbursed at the extramural sponsoring institution's indirect cost rate. Indirect costs requested by consortium participants are included in the total cost limitation.

In addition, the candidate may derive additional compensation for effort associated with other Federal sources or awards provided the total salary derived from all Federal sources does not exceed the maximum legislated salary rate (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/salcap_summary.htm) and the total percent effort does not exceed 100%. See also NOT-OD-17-094.

Other Program-Related Expenses

NIAID will contribute $50,000 per year toward the research development costs of the award recipient, which must be justified and consistent with the stage of development of the candidate and the proportion of time to be spent in research or career development activities. These funds may be used for the following expenses: (a) tuition and fees related to career development; (b) research-related expenses, such as supplies, equipment and technical personnel; (c) travel to research meetings or training; and (d) statistical services including personnel and computer time.

Salary for mentors, secretarial and administrative assistants, etc. is not allowed.

Indirect Costs

For the extramural K99 phase, Indirect Costs (also known as Facilities & Administrative [F&A] Costs) are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs. For the R00 phase, indirect costs will be reimbursed at the extramural sponsoring institution’s indirect cost rate.

All other aspects of the NOFO remain unchanged.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Jyothi Arikkath, PhD
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Telephone: 301-594-5945
Email: [email protected]