NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PA 18 398

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 398

The NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00), Funding Opportunity Number PA-18-398, is a discretionary NIH grant designed to help exceptional postdoctoral researchers move efficiently from mentored postdoctoral training into independent, tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty positions. Its central goal is to build and sustain a strong pipeline of new, NIH-supported independent investigators by providing structured support across a key career transition point when many promising researchers are at risk of losing momentum or leaving the research track. The program targets individuals who already hold a research doctorate and/or clinical doctorate and who are positioned to become independent investigators but still benefit from a defined period of mentored development before launching a fully independent research program.

The award is structured around two linked phases that mirror a typical academic transition. The K99 phase supports a mentored postdoctoral period where the candidate refines their scientific direction, strengthens technical and conceptual skills, and demonstrates the productivity and readiness needed for independence. The R00 phase then provides independent NIH research support after the awardee secures an independent, tenure-track (or equivalent) position, helping them establish their laboratory or research team, generate publishable findings, and develop competitive preliminary data for future independent NIH funding. In practical terms, the mechanism is meant to reduce the gap between training and independence by combining career development expectations with research funding continuity.

A defining feature of this specific FOA is its clinical trial limitation. PA-18-398 is intended for applications where the proposed research does not include the applicant leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary study to a clinical trial as the lead investigator. However, it still allows candidates to gain clinical trial experience if the clinical trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor, which can be important for candidates whose long-term research plans intersect with clinical research but who are not yet at the stage of directing their own trial. Applicants who do intend to lead a clinical trial or lead an ancillary study to an ongoing clinical trial are directed instead to the companion FOA, PA-18-397, which is tailored to those trial-leading activities.

Eligibility for applicant organizations is broad and reflects NIH-wide participation across many sectors. Eligible applicants include a wide range of U.S.-based governmental entities (such as state, county, and city governments; special district governments; and federally recognized tribal governments), as well as public and private institutions of higher education. The opportunity is also open to nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and certain for-profit entities (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses. In addition, NIH explicitly highlights categories of other eligible applicants that include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. While the FOA references non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, it draws a clear boundary: non-U.S. institutions are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. At the same time, NIH allows foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning certain parts of the proposed work may be conducted abroad under NIH rules when scientifically justified, even though the main applicant organization must be eligible and domestic.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health and categorized under the broad funding activity areas of education and health (among other listed categories). The FOA is associated with multiple CFDA numbers spanning many NIH institutes and centers, reflecting the mechanism’s cross-cutting relevance to biomedical, behavioral, clinical (non-trial-leading), and related health research domains. The source data lists an original closing date of January 7, 2019, and a creation date of November 29, 2017, which situates this particular announcement in a specific application cycle timeframe, even though the K99/R00 mechanism itself is a well-established NIH pathway intended to continuously cultivate the next generation of independent researchers.

Overall, PA-18-398 is best understood as a career-launching bridge: it supports highly promising postdocs as they complete mentored training, then provides a runway of independent funding when they obtain a faculty-equivalent role, with the key restriction that the applicant cannot propose to lead an independent clinical trial under this specific announcement.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.307, 93.351, 93.361, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.847, 93.855, 93.859, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867, 93.879.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-01-07. (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.

Apply for PA 18 398

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