NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 - Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) (PA-24-195)

Scope Note

Table of IC-Specific Information, Requirements and Staff Contacts

NIH Institute or Center Contacts Institute/Center Specific Information

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

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

Sonia B. Jakowlew, Ph.D.
(Applicant last name beginning with N-R)
Email: [email protected]

Corinne Boulanger-Espeut, Ph.D.
(Applicant last name beginning with S-Z)
Email: [email protected]


Grants Management Contact:

Amy Bartosch
Email: [email protected]

NCI Specific Information:

NCI accepts K99/R00 applications in all areas of cancer research.


Additional NCI-specific information/requirements can be found at: K99.

NCI does not allow carry-over of unspent funds from the K99 phase into the R00 phase.

Salary Support: Up to $100,000 plus fringe benefits per year.
Research Support: Up to $30,000 per year.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Scientific Program Contact:
Lanay Mudd, PhD
Phone: (301) 594-9346
Email: [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:
Shelley Carow
Phone: 301-594-3788
Email: [email protected]










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.

  • The K99 phase may ONLY include observational, basic or mechanistic research projects in areas of NCCIH’s interest and priorities. A mechanistic study is defined as one designed to understand the mechanism of action of an intervention, a biological process, or the pathophysiology of a disease. NCCIH will accept applications that propose a study in the K99 phase with human participants when the primary outcome/endpoint is explicitly mechanistic, rather than a clinical outcome, even if the mechanistic study meets the NIH definition of a clinical trial.
  • NCCIH will not fund applications proposing a clinical trial to test efficacy or effectiveness through this mechanism. Applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposed scope of work with an NCCIH program officer, and to review resources available at NCCIH’s Clinical Research Toolbox.
  • 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 https://nccih.nih.gov/grants/contact#area.
  • 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.
  • Applications proposing the use of natural products or devices in an interventional research project should explicitly describe the status of the Investigational New Drug (IND) or Investigational Device Exemption (IDE).
  • 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.

National Eye Institute (NEI)

Scientific Program Contact:

Ed Clayton, Ph.D.
Email: [email protected]

Neeraj Agarwal, Ph.D.
Email: [email protected]

Peer Review Contact:
Brian Hoshaw, Ph.D.
Email: [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:
Karen Robinson Smith
Email: [email protected]

NEI Specific Information:

NEI will accept applications for funding that are responsive to programmatic priority areas for research within vision and ophthalmology as detailed in the NEI Strategic Plan: Vision for the Future (PDF 22.5 MB).

The K99/R00 award is intended for individuals who require at least 12 months of mentored career development (K99 phase) before transitioning to the R00 award phase of the program. Consequently, the strongest applicants will require and propose a well-conceived plan for 1-2 years of substantive mentored career development that will help them become competitive candidates for tenure-track faculty positions and prepare them to launch robust, independent research programs. An individual who cannot provide a compelling rationale for at least one year of additional mentored career development at the time of award is not a strong candidate for this award.

NEI will only accept Minimal Risk Clinical Trials” under this FOA. "Minimal risk" means that the probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research are not greater than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or during the performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests.

Salary Support: NEI will provide salary support commensurate with the applicant institution's salary structure for persons of equivalent qualifications, experience, and rank.

Research Support: Up to $25,000 per year.

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Scientific Program Contact:
Jamie Lahvic, Ph.D.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Email: [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:

Ms. Jessi Perez, NIA
Phone: 301.402.7739
Email: [email protected]

NIA Specific Information:

For more information, see the NIA K99/R00 webpage.

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

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Scientific Program Contact:
NIAAA Staff Contact


Grants Management Contact:
Judy Fox
Phone: (301) 443-4704
Email: [email protected]

Lauren Early
Phone: (301) 443-2434
Email: [email protected]

NIAAA Specific Information:

NIAAA supports post-doctoral/non-faculty level career development award (K99/R00) to ensure the development of highly qualified investigators in alcohol-related research. Applicants are encouraged to refer to the NIAAA Strategic Plan for NIAAA research priorities. Applicants are to comply with the NIH and NIAAA Data Management and Sharing policies, NOT-OD-21-013 and NOT-AA-23-001. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the appropriate NIAAA staff contact prior to preparing an application.

Salary Support: Up to $90,000 plus fringe benefits per year, commensurate with the applicant institution’s salary structure for persons of equivalent qualifications, experience, and rank. Institutional Base Salary will be verified for the K99 Phase at the time of award.
Research Support: Up to $50,000 per year.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Scientific Program Contact:
Dennis A. Twombly, Ph.D.
Phone: 301-451-3371
Email: [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:
Ryan Talesnik
Phone: (301) 435-6976
Email: [email protected]

NICHD Specific Information:

NICHD offers fellowships, training grants, and career development awards in areas relevant NICHD’s mission, including normal and abnormal human development; male and female fertility and infertility; developing and evaluating contraceptive methods; pregnancy and childbirth; prenatal and postnatal development; childhood development and behavior through adolescence; improving the safety and efficacy of pharmaceuticals for use in pregnant women, infants, and children; HIV infection and transmission, AIDS, and associated infections; pediatric growth and endocrine research; developmental biology and typical and atypical development; intellectual and developmental disabilities; reproductive biology and medicine; gynecologic health conditions, including pelvic floor disorders; childhood injury and critical illness; population dynamics; and medical rehabilitation. More detailed information and Program Staff contacts may be found at: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/about/org/der/branches, and for the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research at: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/about/org/ncmrr/Pages/overview.aspx.

NICHD has a 6-year limit of cumulative support on institutional K awards (e.g., K12, KL2) and individual mentored K awards (e.g., K01, K08, K23, K25).

The K99/R00 program is designed for postdoctoral fellows (PhDs, MDs, or other) whose formal research training is nearly complete, and who expect to find a tenure-track or equivalent faculty position within 2 years of receiving the award. Those whose career development would benefit from further research training should also consider the mentored Career Development Awards offered by NICHD (e.g., K01, K08, K23, K25).

Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to email or call the NICHD Scientific/Research Contact to help choose among these career development award mechanisms, to determine K99/R00 eligibility, and to assess relevance of the proposed project to the NICHD mission.

Awardees must spend at least one year on the K99 phase of the award.

Salary Support: For the K99 phase of the award, NICHD provides salary of up to $75,000 plus fringe benefits per year.
Research Support: Up to $25,000 per year.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Scientific Program Contact:
Alberto L. Rivera-Rentas, Ph.D.
Research Training Officer
Division of Scientific Programs
Phone: (301) 451-3245
Email: [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:
Samantha Tempchin
Telephone: 301-435-1404
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:

Email: [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:
Gabriel Hidalgo, M.B.A.
Phone: (301)-827-4630

Email: [email protected]

NIDCR Specific Information:

NIDCR welcomes applications from postdoctoral scientists seeking to establish an independent research career in research areas relevant to the NIDCR Strategic Plan.

For the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed), please refer to NIDCR Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Applications of Data Science in Translational Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research NOT-DE-23-002 calling for a variety of data science-oriented projects focused on developing and using data and data science resources, methods, and tools for dental, oral, and craniofacial (DOC) research.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the scientific program to discuss eligibility requirements and the relevance of the proposed research to NIDCR’s research priorities.


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

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Scientific Program Contact:
Lindsey Friend, Ph.D.
Phone: (301) 402-1428
Email: [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:
Ericka Wells
Phone: (301) 827-6705
Email: [email protected]

NIDA Specific Information:

Applicants are encouraged to visit the following Web site to learn more about NIDA research training-related opportunities and resources: https://nida.nih.gov/research/research-training-career-development/training-career-development-fellowships-grants.

Salary Support: Up to $100,000 plus fringe benefits per year.
Research Support: Up to $50,000 per year.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

Scientific Program Contact:

Carol Shreffler, Ph.D.
Phone: (984) 287-3322
Email: [email protected]

Grants Management Contact

Lisa A. Edwards
Phone: (984) 287-3258 Email: [email protected]

NIEHS Specific Information:

The Career Development and Research Plan must be consistent with the research interests of NIEHS. 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. For further information on the research interests of the Institute, please see: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/.

Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the program official identified in the contact table before preparing an application to discuss eligibility requirements and the relevance of the proposed research to the Institute’s research priorities.

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. Please see: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/funding/grants/contacts/index.cfm.

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

Research Support: Up to $20,000 per year.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Scientific Program Contact:
NIMH Training Contacts

Grants Management Contact:
Terri Jarosik
Phone: (301) 443-3858
Email: [email protected]







NIMH Specific Information:

The NIMH supports a broad spectrum of basic and translational research, including basic neuroscience, human genetics, adult and developmental translational research, services and intervention research, and AIDS-related research (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/organization/nimh-extramural-research-programs.shtml).

Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Institute career development staff (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/funding/training/contacts-for-research-training-and-career-development-programs.shtml) before preparing an application to discuss the relevance of the proposed research to the

Institute’s current research priorities and for guidance on the proposed research and career development plans. Applicants should consult the NIMH training website for NIMH specific information and instructions: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/funding/training/nih-pathway-to-independence-award-k99-r00

Salary Support: Up to $75,000 plus fringe benefits per year. Practicing physician-scientists may be eligible for up to $100,000 salary plus fringe benefits per year.
Research Support: Up to $20,000 per year.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Scientific Program Contact:
Stephen Korn, Ph.D.
Phone: (301) 496-4188
Email: [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:
Tijuanna E. DeCoster, MPA, Ph.D.
Phone: 301-496-9231
Email: [email protected]

NINDS Specific Information:

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Dr. Korn with any questions about eligibility or other questions about the K99/R00 program. Applicants should consult the NINDS training website for NINDS specific information and instructions: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Funding/Training-Career-Development/Award/K99R00-NIH-Pathway-Independence-Award

Note: NINDS does not allow carry-over of K99 funds into the R00 period. When the postdoctoral position ends, the K99 terminates. The R00 can begin as early as the start date of the awardee's job, contingent on NINDS receiving the R00 application with sufficient advance notice.

Salary Support: Normally, salary up to $75,000 plus fringe benefits for each K99 year. Practicing clinician-scientists may be eligible for up to $125,000 salary.
Research Support: Up to $20,000 per year.

National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

Scientific Program Contact:
Mary Elizabeth (Libbey) Bowen, PhD
Phone: 301-841-5345
Email: [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:

Ron Wertz
Phone: 301-594-2807
Email: [email protected]





NINR Specific Information:

NINR uses the K99/R00, NIH Pathway to Independence Award Program, to provide support for individuals who have a Bachelor's degree or higher in nursing to pursue career development research training that extends their potential for research. The Institute is committed to training new investigators, with attention to the areas of greatest need and to strategies for encouraging young investigators and members of groups underrepresented in science.

Applications must have a clear focus in science areas related to the NINR mission, which is to lead nursing research to solve pressing health challenges and inform practice and policy – optimizing health and advancing health equity into the future. Applicants should also consider NINR prioritizes research framed through five lenses detailed in the NINR Strategic Plan.

Those interested in applying for this opportunity are strongly encouraged to contact the NINR Scientific Program Contact noted in this announcement. The applicant may contact the NINR Program Director by emailing a copy of their draft NIH Biosketch along with any questions and a draft synopsis of interests and research/training aims.

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

NIH Office of Data Science Strategy (ODSS)

ODSS program contact:
Bryan Kim Ph.D.
Email: [email protected]

Office of Data Science Strategy Specific Information:

The NIH Office of Data Science Strategy (ODSS) is committed to growing a strong and diverse data science community and ensuring that data science advances in biomedical and health research can benefit all populations. ODSS is interested in supporting Career Development Award projects in data science areas including but not limited to: artificial intelligence, clinical informatics, cloud computing, statistics, computational science, software design and programming, bioinformatics, visualization, machine learning, predictive analytics, supercomputing, modeling and simulation, digital health, data sharing and access, data management, data security and data privacy in human subject’s research, and research ethics and integrity. Applications are strongly encouraged from individuals from diverse backgrounds, including from groups that are underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral and social sciences, in alignment with the Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity (NOT-OD-20-031).

Office of Research on Women’s Health

Scientific Program Contact:

Carolyn Bondar, Ph.D.
Phone: (301) 824-7194
Email: [email protected]

ORWH Specific Information:

ORWH focuses on advancing research that is relevant to the health of women and supporting women in biomedical careers. Applicants should ensure their proposed work intersects with the goals, objectives, and guiding principles of the trans-NIH Strategic Plan for Women’s Health Research (https://orwh.od.nih.gov/about/trans-nih-strategic-plan-womens-health-research). ORWH does not award grants but co-funds applications and research projects that have received an award from one of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers listed in the announcement. Visit the ORWH website (https://orwh.od.nih.gov/) or contact the appropriate ORWH staff to learn more.


This page last updated on: August 28, 2024
For technical issues E-mail OER Webmaster