Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 21 062
The NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Outstanding Early Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00) is a National Cancer Institute grant program meant to help highly promising postdoctoral scientists move quickly from mentored training into independent faculty careers. Its central goal is to build and sustain a strong pipeline of new, NCI-supported investigators by providing structured support during the period when a postdoc is finishing advanced training and preparing to launch an independent research program. The award targets postdoctoral researchers who already have a research doctorate and/or clinical doctoral degree and who are viewed as ready to transition without needing a long additional mentored career development period beyond what they have already completed.
The K99/R00 mechanism is designed around a clear transition point. In the first phase (the K99 mentored phase), the award supports the candidate while they remain in a postdoctoral setting, sharpening a research niche, building independence, and completing key work that positions them for the faculty job market. The second phase (the R00 independent phase) provides NCI research support after the awardee secures a tenure-track or equivalent independent faculty position. The intent is to reduce the typical funding gap that can make the move to independence difficult, giving awardees resources to establish a lab or independent research direction and to compete successfully for major independent grants.
A defining feature of this specific funding opportunity announcement is that it is intended for independent basic experimental studies involving humans. In NIH terms, the studies covered here meet the definition of a clinical trial because they prospectively assign human participants to one or more conditions, but they also meet the definition of basic research because the primary purpose is to understand fundamental biological or behavioral phenomena rather than to test a specific clinical application, product, or intervention aimed at immediate practical use. In plain language, applicants should be proposing basic science experiments that manipulate an independent variable in people and measure biomedical or behavioral outcomes in order to learn how something works at a fundamental level. This FOA aligns with NIH guidance describing "prospective basic science studies involving human participants."
This requirement also implies an important application routing rule. If an applicant is not planning to lead an independent clinical trial or basic experimental study with humans, or if the applicant mainly wants to gain experience by working on a human study led by another investigator rather than leading their own, then this is not the correct FOA. Those applicants are directed to apply under the companion announcement labeled "Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed" (referenced in the text as RFA-CA-21-NNN). The distinction matters because NIH uses different review and oversight expectations depending on whether the applicant is proposing to independently direct a human-participant experimental study.
The opportunity explicitly encourages applications from researchers working in data science and cancer control science, signaling NCI interest in building independent investigators in areas such as advanced analytics, computational methods, population-level and behavioral factors, and interventions or strategies that influence cancer outcomes and prevention. While the announcement emphasizes these fields, the broader frame remains the development of outstanding early-stage postdoctoral researchers whose work aligns with NCI priorities and who are positioned to become competitive independent cancer researchers.
In terms of organizational eligibility, the program is broadly open across many U.S.-based institution types, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses, with small businesses also listed as eligible), and multiple levels of government entities (state, county, city/township, special district governments), as well as independent school districts and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. It also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. Foreign institutions themselves are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible; however, "foreign components" may be allowed under NIH policy definitions, meaning certain specific, justified activities performed outside the U.S. can be included when permitted by NIH grants policy.
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), through NCI, and the opportunity is a discretionary grant. The listing is associated with CFDA 93.398. The source information provided notes an original closing date of February 28, 2022, and a creation date of November 3, 2021. No award ceiling or expected number of awards is specified in the provided excerpt, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full FOA and NIH policy documents for budget structure, project period limits, and the anticipated scale of the competition.
Overall, this FOA is best understood as a transition-to-independence award for exceptional postdoctoral researchers who are ready to lead their own basic experimental research involving human participants, and who want NCI support that bridges the move from postdoc training into an independent, tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty position while establishing a competitive cancer-focused research program.Apply for RFA CA 21 062
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Outstanding Early Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00 - Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.398.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2021-11-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-02-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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FAQs: NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Outstanding Early Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00)
What is the NCI K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award?
The NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Outstanding Early Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00) is a National Cancer Institute grant program designed to help highly promising postdoctoral researchers transition from mentored postdoctoral training into independent faculty careers. The aim is to strengthen and sustain a pipeline of new NCI-supported investigators by supporting the critical period between advanced postdoctoral training and launching an independent research program.
What is the main goal of this award?
The central goal is to help outstanding postdoctoral scientists move more quickly into independent, tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty positions by providing structured support across the transition. The program is intended to reduce the funding gap that can make it difficult to establish an independent lab and research direction.
Who is the award intended for?
This award targets postdoctoral researchers who already have a research doctorate and/or a clinical doctoral degree and who are viewed as ready to transition to independence without needing a long additional mentored career development period beyond what they have already completed.
How is the K99/R00 award structured?
The mechanism has two phases built around a clear transition point: (1) a K99 mentored phase while the candidate remains in a postdoctoral setting, and (2) an R00 independent phase after the awardee secures a tenure-track or equivalent independent faculty position.
What happens during the K99 (mentored) phase?
During the K99 phase, the award supports the candidate in a postdoctoral environment while they sharpen a research niche, build independence, and complete work that positions them competitively for the faculty job market.
What happens during the R00 (independent) phase?
The R00 phase provides NCI research support after the awardee obtains a tenure-track or equivalent independent faculty position. The intent is to provide resources to establish an independent research direction and improve competitiveness for major independent research grants.
What type of research does this specific funding opportunity focus on?
This specific funding opportunity announcement is intended for independent basic experimental studies involving humans. These studies meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial (because human participants are prospectively assigned to one or more conditions) while also meeting the definition of basic research (because the primary purpose is to understand fundamental biological or behavioral phenomena rather than to test an immediate clinical application).
What does "basic experimental studies involving humans" mean in plain language?
It means proposing basic science experiments in people where an independent variable is manipulated and biomedical or behavioral outcomes are measured to understand how something works at a fundamental level. The focus is on fundamental mechanisms or phenomena, not on testing a specific product or intervention for immediate practical clinical use.
How does NIH classify these studies, and why does that matter?
NIH classifies these as "prospective basic science studies involving human participants." This matters because NIH applies different review and oversight expectations depending on whether the applicant is proposing to independently lead a human-participant experimental study.
Is this the right FOA if I am not planning to lead an independent human-participant experimental study?
No. If you are not planning to lead an independent clinical trial or basic experimental study with humans, this is not the correct FOA based on the provided description.
Is this the right FOA if I only want to gain experience on a human study led by someone else?
No. If your primary goal is to work on a human-participant study led by another investigator rather than leading your own independent human-participant experimental study, the provided text indicates this is not the correct FOA.
What is the companion FOA mentioned, and when should someone use it?
The text references a companion announcement labeled "Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed" (noted as RFA-CA-21-NNN). Applicants who are not proposing to lead an independent human-participant experimental study, or who are not planning to direct such a study themselves, are directed to that companion FOA.
Are data science and cancer control science encouraged under this opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly encourages applications from researchers working in data science and cancer control science, reflecting NCI interest in building independent investigators in areas such as advanced analytics, computational methods, and population-level or behavioral factors that influence cancer outcomes and prevention.
Does the FOA limit the opportunity only to data science or cancer control?
No. While those fields are emphasized and encouraged, the broader purpose remains supporting outstanding early-stage postdoctoral researchers whose work aligns with NCI priorities and who are positioned to become competitive independent cancer researchers.
Which federal agency sponsors this grant program?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
What type of funding is this?
It is described as a discretionary grant program.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The listing is associated with CFDA 93.398.
What kinds of U.S.-based organizations are eligible to apply?
The description indicates broad eligibility across many U.S.-based organizations, including public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses, with small businesses also listed as eligible); and government entities at multiple levels (state, county, city/township, and special district governments). It also lists independent school districts and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations included in the eligible applicant categories?
Yes. The provided text highlights eligibility for categories such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and AANAPISIs. It also includes faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Are foreign institutions eligible to apply?
No. The text states that foreign institutions are not eligible to apply.
Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. The provided text states that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Can a project include any work outside the United States?
The text notes that while foreign institutions and non-U.S. components are not eligible to apply, "foreign components" may be allowed under NIH policy definitions. This implies that certain justified activities performed outside the U.S. can be included when permitted under NIH grants policy.
Does the provided information include an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The excerpt explicitly notes that no award ceiling or expected number of awards is specified in the provided information, suggesting that applicants would need to consult the full FOA and NIH policy documents for budget structure, project period limits, and anticipated competition scale.
What dates are included in the provided listing information?
The source information provided notes an original closing date of February 28, 2022, and a creation date of November 3, 2021.
What career outcome is the award designed to support?
The award is designed to support the transition into a tenure-track or equivalent independent faculty position, with resources to establish an independent research program and compete successfully for major independent grants.
What is the overall "best fit" profile for this FOA based on the description?
Based on the provided text, the best fit is an exceptional postdoctoral researcher who is ready to lead an independent basic experimental research study involving human participants, and who wants NCI support that bridges the move from postdoctoral training into an independent faculty role while building a competitive cancer-focused research program.
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| NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Outstanding Early Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA CA 21 061 Funding Number: RFA CA 21 061 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Outstanding Early Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 21 060 Funding Number: RFA CA 21 060 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Advanced Development and Validation of Emerging Molecular and Cellular Analysis Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 22 002 Funding Number: RFA CA 22 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Drug Discovery For Nervous System Disorders (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 22 031 Funding Number: PAR 22 031 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| HEAL Initiative: Data and Methods to Address Urgent Needs to Stem the Opioid Epidemic (R01- Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 22 044 Funding Number: RFA DA 22 044 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative: Exploratory Data and Methods to Address Urgent Needs to Stem the Opioid Epidemic (R21- Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 22 045 Funding Number: RFA DA 22 045 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| HEAL Initiative: Harm Reduction Policies, Practices, and Modes of Delivery for Persons with Substance Use Disorders (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA DA 22 046 Funding Number: RFA DA 22 046 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: Harm Reduction Policies, Practices, and Modes of Delivery for Persons with Substance Use Disorders: Coordination Center (R24 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA DA 22 042 Funding Number: RFA DA 22 042 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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