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.

PA-24-194: NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

March 31, 2025

This funding opportunity was updated to align with agency priorities. Carefully reread the full funding opportunity and make any needed adjustments to your application prior to submission.

Part 1. Overview Information

Participating Organization(s) National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Components of Participating Organizations

• NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH)
• National Eye Institute (NEI)
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
• National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
• National Institute on Aging (NIA)
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
• National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
• National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
• National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
• National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
• National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
• National Library of Medicine (NLM)
• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

All applications to this funding opportunity announcement should fall within the mission of the Institutes/Centers. The following NIH Offices may co-fund applications assigned to those Institutes/Centers:

• Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)
• Office of Data Science Strategy (ODSS)

Special Note: Not all NIH Institutes and Centers participate in Parent Announcements. Candidates should carefully note which ICs participate in this announcement and view their respective areas of research interest and requirements at the Table of IC-Specific Information, Requirements and Staff Contacts website. ICs that do not participate in this announcement will not consider applications for funding. Consultation with NIH staff before submitting an application is strongly encouraged.

Funding Opportunity Title NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 – Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Activity Code K99/R00 Career Transition Award/Research Transition Award

Announcement Type Reissue of PA-20-188

Related Notices See Notices of Special Interest associated with this funding opportunity

• January 30, 2026 - Notice of Temporary Extension of Eligibility for the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00). See Notice NOT-OD-26-021.
• November 24, 2025 - Notice of Rescheduled NIDCR Pre-Application and Technical Assistance Webinars on Applying for Fellowship (F) Awards and Career Development (K) Awards. See Notice NOT-DE-26-013.
• September 25, 2025 - Notice of NIDCR Pre-Application and Technical Assistance Webinars on Applying for Fellowship (F) Awards and Career Development (K) Awards. See Notice NOT-DE-26-012.
• September 9, 2025 - Notice of Change to Salary Cap for NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See Notice NOT-AR-25-015.
• June 13, 2025 - Temporary Extension of Eligibility for the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00). See Notice NOT-OD-25-121.
• March 31, 2025 - This funding opportunity was updated to align with agency priorities. Carefully reread the full funding opportunity and make any needed adjustments to your application prior to submission.
• January 15, 2025 - Notice of the Discontinuation of NCI's Participation in PA-24-193, PA-24-194 & PA-24-195 NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00). See Notice NOT-CA-25-021.
• April 04, 2024 - Overview of Grant Application and Review Changes for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025. See Notice NOT-OD-24-084
• September 25, 2024 - Notice of a Virtual Question and Answer "Informational Session" with NICHD Staff for the K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award. See Notice NOT-HD-24-037.
• June 4, 2024 - Guidance Regarding Reduction of Effort for NIMHD Individual Mentored K Awards. See Notice NOT-MD-24-017
• May 30, 2024 - Notice to Alert the Public of NIDA's Career Development Award Salary Limits. See Notice NOT-DA-24-032
• May 7, 2024 - Notice of Information: NIAID to Increase K99, K25, and K01 Salary and Research Support and R00 Years of Support. See Notice NOT-AI-24-038
• August 31, 2022 - Implementation Changes for Genomic Data Sharing Plans Included with Applications Due on or after January 25, 2023. See Notice NOT-OD-22-198.
• August 5, 2022 - Implementation Details for the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy. See Notice NOT-OD-22-189.

Funding Opportunity Number (FON) PA-24-194

Companion Funding Opportunity

• PA-24-193, K99/R00 Career Transition Award/Research Transition Award
• PA-24-195, K99/R00 Career Transition Award/Research Transition Award

Number of Applications See Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.

Assistance Listing Number(s) 93.855, 93.213, 93.242, 93.865, 93.846, 93.286, 93.859, 93.866, 93.121, 93.879, 93.172, 93.173, 93.847, 93.867, 93.313, 93.113, 93.279, 93.361, 93.398, 93.307, 93.853, 93.310, 93.837, 93.233, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.273

Funding Opportunity Purpose The purpose of the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) program is 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.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) 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 NOFO 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 NOFO (PA-24-193).

Key Dates

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