NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 23 286

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 286

The NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) designed to help promising postdoctoral researchers move quickly from mentored training into independent faculty careers. The central goal is to strengthen the pipeline of NCI-supported investigators by giving early-stage postdocs a clear, structured bridge: first, a mentored phase that helps finalize training and build momentum, and then an independent phase that supports the launch of a tenure-track (or equivalent) research program. It is aimed at postdoctoral fellows who already have strong preparation through a research and/or clinical doctoral degree and who do not need a long additional training period to become competitive as independent investigators.

This opportunity uses the K99/R00 "Pathway to Independence" mechanism, which is explicitly built around a transition. In practice, applicants propose a plan that starts in a mentored postdoctoral environment (the K99 phase) with focused career development and research activities, and then transitions to an independent position (the R00 phase) where the award provides research support to help establish an autonomous lab or research program. The intent is to reduce the gap between postdoctoral training and independence by offering continuity of support across that career inflection point, which can otherwise be a major hurdle for early investigators.

The scientific scope is broadly aligned with NCI priorities, and the announcement highlights particular interest in candidates working in cancer control, cancer prevention, and cancer data sciences. While these areas are singled out as especially encouraged, the broader framing is about building a strong cohort of new independent cancer researchers supported by NCI. Applicants are expected to work closely with their institutions to assemble a training and transition plan that credibly positions them for an independent faculty appointment and an early independent research trajectory.

A key restriction in this specific Notice of Funding Opportunity is that it is for projects where the candidate will not lead an independent clinical trial. This includes not leading a clinical trial, not leading a clinical trial feasibility study, and not leading an ancillary clinical trial. However, the NOFO does allow candidates to gain clinical trial experience in a mentored context, meaning they can participate in a clinical trial that is led by a mentor or co-mentor as part of their research and training plan. If a candidate plans to serve as the lead investigator for a clinical trial or an ancillary clinical trial, they are directed to apply instead to the companion opportunities (PAR-23-287 or PAR-23-288), which are structured for that kind of clinical trial leadership.

Eligibility for applicant organizations is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based entities commonly eligible for NIH grants. Examples listed include public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, tribal organizations, independent school districts, special district governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The NOFO also explicitly calls out 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), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, there are important limitations related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. That said, foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, meaning certain types of international collaboration or performance sites may be permissible within NIH policy, even though the primary applicant organization must be eligible and domestic.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant program under NIH, categorized under Education and Health funding activity, with CFDA number 93.398. The funding opportunity number is PAR-23-286, and the original closing date listed is 2026-10-14. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a structured career-launch award for advanced postdoctoral researchers in cancer-related fields who are ready to move toward independence and want support that carries them through the critical transition to a faculty role, provided their proposed work does not place them in the role of leading an independent clinical trial.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (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): 93.398.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-14. (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 23 286

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