NIAID Physician-Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 23 071

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 071

The NIAID Physician-Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00; PAR-23-071) is an NIH grant program meant to help clinically trained postdoctoral researchers move more quickly and successfully from a mentored postdoctoral role into an independent, tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty position. Its central goal is to grow and sustain the pipeline of physician-scientists by giving promising clinicians protected support during the vulnerable transition period when they are building an independent lab and competing for longer-term research funding. The program is positioned as part of NIAID's broader effort to strengthen the biomedical research workforce and directly addresses the widely recognized shortage of physician-scientists in the United States.

This is a two-phase "pathway to independence" award. The K99 phase supports a mentored postdoctoral period where the candidate continues research training and builds a strong record of productivity under supervision, while deliberately preparing for independence. The R00 phase provides independent research support after the awardee secures an independent faculty position, helping them launch their own research program with momentum. The overall structure is designed to reduce the gap between postdoctoral work and a stable independent appointment by offering continuity of funding as the investigator changes roles and, often, institutions.

A defining feature of this particular FOA is its clinical trial restriction. It is intended for applicants whose proposed research does not include serving as the lead investigator on an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial. In other words, the candidate cannot propose to "run" their own clinical trial under this announcement. However, the FOA does allow the applicant to gain experience in a clinical trial setting if the trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor, which can be important for physician-scientists who need clinical research exposure but are not yet at the stage of directing a trial themselves. Applicants who do plan to lead a clinical trial (or an ancillary clinical trial) are directed to apply to a companion FOA that is specifically structured for that scenario.

The opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), within NIAID, and is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health funding activity area (CFDA 93.855). The original closing date listed for this opportunity is January 7, 2026. The provided source information does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, which often means applicants need to consult the full FOA text and NIH policy documents for budgeting limits, allowable costs, and institute-specific guidance.

Eligibility to apply is broad on the organizational side, spanning many types of U.S.-based entities. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments (including counties, cities, townships, special districts, and independent school districts), federally recognized Native American tribal governments, certain tribal organizations that are not federally recognized, public housing/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, as well as other categories NIH recognizes as eligible. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible institution types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and eligible federal agencies, along with U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, there are important restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization. Foreign components, as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, which generally means a U.S. applicant organization may include certain well-justified international elements in the research plan if they meet NIH requirements and are properly documented.

Taken together, this FOA is best understood as a targeted career development-to-independence bridge for physician-scientists: it funds the final stretch of mentored postdoctoral development and then provides early independent support once a faculty role is secured, while specifically excluding projects where the candidate would be the lead for an independent clinical trial.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIAID Physician-Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (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): 93.855.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-01-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-01-07. (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 PAR 23 071

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