NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PA-20-188)

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Scientific Program Contact:
Michael Schmidt, Ph.D
(Applicant last name beginning with A-F)
Email: [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Scientific Program Contact:
Extramural programs:
Li-Shin Huang, Ph.D.
Phone: (301) 435-0535
Email: [email protected]

Karin F. Lidman, Ph.D.
Phone: (301) 435-0535
Email: [email protected]

Intramural programs:
Kristen Z. Morgan, Ph.D.
Phone: 301-827-5163
Email: [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:
Shaheed Ziyout
Phone: 301-827-8152
Email: [email protected]

NHLBI Specific Information:

Please refer to Research Training and Career Development - Postdoctoral for specific information on NHLBI programs and career development policies.

NHLBI encourages career development award applications that propose mentored training in data science disciplines, including but not limited to Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Healthcare Data Analytics, Public Health Data Analytics, Imaging Analytics, Predictive Analytics, and Bioinformatics, for the creation, management, analysis, and integration of complex, large data sets in support of data-driven discovery in heart, lung, blood, and sleep health and disease. Proposals must meet all other requirements specified in the parent announcement.

Salary Support: Up to $100,000 plus fringe benefits per year.
Research Support: Up to $25,000 per year.

Eligibility: If an individual has a faculty appointment and is eligible to apply for an independent research funding as the PD/PI of an NIH research grant, he/she is no longer eligible for the K99/R00 mechanism. Additionally, individuals holding certain Career Development Awards that require a faculty appointment (such as the American Heart Association CDA) are not eligible to apply for the K99/R00 mechanism. K99 awardees cannot hold a faculty appointment. If a K99 awardee is allowed to apply to an independent NIH research grant (or equivalent) funding during the K99 phase, they will be considered independent and will need to relinquish the K99 award and will not be eligible for transition to the R00 phase. To maintain R00 eligibility, awardees in the K99 mentored phase should discuss any potential changes to their academic appointment with an NHLBI Scientific Program Contact. Physician scientists with a clinical faculty appointment, distinct from their research/academic appointment, may still be eligible and should approach an NHLBI Scientific Program Contact for guidance.

Temporary 1-cycle extension of eligibility for NHLBI applicants to the NIH K99/R00 award due to the COVID-19 pandemic

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Scientific Program Contact:
NIA Training Office
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Email: [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Scientific Program Contact:

Jyothi Arikkath, PhD
Telephone: 301-594-5945
[email protected]

Grants Management Contact:
Sam Ashe
Phone:301-435-4799
Email: [email protected]

NIDCD Specific Information:

NIDCD uses the K99/R00 program to support outstanding senior postdoctoral investigators in NIDCD research areas that are ready to complete their transition to become an independent investigator.

• Application must demonstrate its contribution to NIDCD and its fit to NIDCD's Mission,Research Priorities, and Strategic Plan.
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide clear evidence that adequate resources are available at the institution for the successful completion of the proposed research project.
• Applications should include explicit statements from the institution and the mentor(s) addressing the following:
  • Detailed information about who will provide the necessary resources;
  • Funding source and amount of additional funding (as needed);
  • Support staff available and committed to the project;
  • Availability of biostatistical support for the duration of the study - including the planning period; and
  • A contingency plan (for the institution and mentor) for completion of the study in the event the awardee leaves the institution earlier than the end date of the award.

Salary Support: Up to $75,000 plus fringe benefits per year.
Research Support: Up to $25,000 per year.

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

Scientific Program Contact:

Anissa J. Brown, PhD
Research Training and Career Development Branch
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Telephone: (301) 594-4805
Email: [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:
Dede Rutberg, MBA
Phone: (301) 594-4798
Email: [email protected]

NIDDK Specific Information:

NIDDK will accept K99/R00 applications from well-qualified postdoctoral fellows and physician scientists working in the areas of research supported by NIDDK: diabetes, endocrinology, metabolic diseases, obesity, nutrition, digestive and liver diseases, kidney and urological disorders, and hematologic diseases. Information on the NIDDK K99/R00 program can be found at K99/R00. Applicants are encouraged to contact the appropriate program official identified here prior to submission and may want to consider applying for alternative career development awards, depending on individual needs. These include the NIDDK K01 award and the K08 and K23 awards:

• NIDDK K01: K01
• NIDDK K08: K08
• NIDDK K23: K23

The NIDDK provides further information on all K-award programs on our training and career development website: K-Awards

K99/R00 Budget information:

• NIDDK will provide support up to $90,000 total costs for the K99 phase and up to $249,000 total costs for the R00 phase.

Urologic surgeons may request a minimum of 50% effort for the K99 phase.

NIEHS Specific Information:

NIEHS supports research to discover how the environment affects people in order to promote healthier lives, and invites applications from qualified postdoctoral fellows who plan to pursue an independent research career in the environmental health sciences. The Institute funds a substantial portfolio of research conducted by investigators in many disciplines that span the range from basic mechanistic research to clinical and epidemiologic studies using human subjects. More information can be found on the NIEHS web site at: Supported Research

NIEHS assigns K99/R00 applications to Program Officers across the division based on the scientific focus of the application. Prospective applicants are also encouraged to contact the Program Officer within their scientific area before submitting the application to determine the relevance of their proposed topic area to NIEHS at: NIEHS Grants Contacts

Salary Support: Up to $75,000 plus fringe benefits per year (Practicing physicians may request up to $90,000 per year plus fringe benefits
Research Support: Up to $20,000 per year

NCCIH Specific Information:

NCCIH uses the K99/R00 program to support outstanding postdoctoral investigators who are seeking to establish an independent career and have the potential to become a future leader in an area of research supported by the Center.

• Before the application receipt date, investigators are strongly encouraged to discuss their proposed research interest with an NCCIH Program Officer in the specific scientific area and/or intervention that is closely-related to the proposed project to confirm its relevance to NCCIH's mission and research priorities. A list of NCCIH program officials can be found at NCCIH Contacts.
• The K99/R00 is appropriate for applicants who are prepared for an accelerated career path, who will be ready to compete for R01 and R01-like grant funding in the next three years. Individuals interested in a longer time frame of mentored research support should consider the K01, K08, or K23.
• Applicants interested in natural products research are encouraged to review NCCIH's Natural Product Integrity Policy.
• Applications should include explicit statements from the institution and the mentor(s) addressing the following:
  • Detailed information about who will provide the necessary resources;
  • Funding source and amount of additional funding (as needed);
  • Support staff available and committed to the project;
  • Availability of biostatistical support for the duration of the study - including the planning period; and
  • A contingency plan (for the institution and mentor) for completion of the study in the event the awardee leaves the institution earlier than the end date of the award.

Salary Support: Commensurate with the applicant institution's salary structure for persons of equivalent qualifications, experience, and rank.
Research Support: Up to $20,000 per year in the K99 phase.