Notice Number: NOT-OD-20-011

Key Dates
Release Date: October 30, 2019

PA-19-129
PA-19-130
PA-19-090
PAR-19-141
PAR-19-144
PAR-18-432
PAR-18-679
PAR-17-329
RFA-OD-18-007
RFA-OD-18-008
PAR-19-343
NOT-OD-18-235

Issued by
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Purpose

The purpose of this notice is to update the NIH extension policy on the eligibility window within which PIs may apply for a K99-R00 Pathway to Independence Award.

Background

NIH remains strongly committed to enhancing biomedical research workforce diversity. Hallmark programs for early career investigators are the NIH Pathway to Independence Awards (K99/R00) whose focus is to help outstanding postdoctoral researchers complete mentored training and transition in a timely manner to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions.

Applicants for the K99 awards listed in this NOT must have no more than 4 years of postdoctoral research experience at the time of the initial (new) or subsequent resubmission application. NIH considers requests for extension of the K99 eligibility window for various reasons, including medical concerns, disability, family care, extended periods of clinical training, natural disasters, and active duty military service. Each of these requests is reviewed on a case by case basis.

Consistent with the NIH Extension Policy for Early Stage Investigator Status (ESI), effective immediately, NIH will approve an extension of one year for childbirth within the 4 year K99 eligibility window. Applicants who will be PD/PIs on a K99 application must provide the child’s date of birth in the extension request justification submitted to IC program officials and/or scientific/research contacts listed in the FOA at least 12 weeks before submitting an application.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Division of Biomedical Research Workforce
Office of Extramural Research
Website: https://researchtraining.nih.gov
Email: NIHTrain@mail.nih.gov