NIAID Physician-Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00 Clinical Trial Required) | PAR 18 679

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 679

The NIAID Physician-Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00 Clinical Trial Required) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant program run by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) aimed at strengthening the pipeline of independent physician-scientists. Its central goal is to help outstanding postdoctoral researchers who hold a clinical doctorate move more quickly and smoothly from a mentored postdoctoral research setting into an independent, tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty position. By backing that transition with dedicated research support, NIAID is trying to address a long-standing national shortage in the physician-scientist workforce and ensure more clinicians can build sustainable, competitive research careers in biomedical fields, particularly those aligned with NIAID's mission areas.

The structure of the award is the classic NIH "Pathway to Independence" model with two linked phases. The first phase (K99) supports the applicant while they are still in a mentored postdoctoral position, allowing them to deepen their research expertise, produce key publications, and complete targeted career development activities that prepare them for independence. The second phase (R00) is the independent phase that begins after the awardee secures an independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty appointment. At that point, the funding shifts to support the awardee in launching and establishing their own research program, helping them generate the data, credibility, and momentum typically needed to compete successfully for major independent NIH grants later on. As the title indicates, this specific funding opportunity requires that the proposed research involve a clinical trial, meaning the project is expected to include prospective human research designed to evaluate the effects of an intervention or related clinical outcomes in a structured way, consistent with NIH's definition of a clinical trial.

Eligibility for applying spans a wide range of organization types that commonly participate in NIH funding, reflecting the broad ecosystem in which biomedical research happens. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city or township, special districts), as well as independent school districts and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Tribal entities are also included, such as federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories that NIH often emphasizes for inclusivity and reach, including 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.

At the same time, the opportunity draws clear boundaries around foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply either. However, "foreign components" are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. In practical terms, that usually means a U.S.-based applicant organization can include certain well-justified elements of the work that take place outside the U.S., as long as they are structured and documented as a foreign component under NIH rules and are scientifically necessary for the project.

From the administrative details provided, the opportunity is a discretionary NIH grant in the health funding activity category, associated with CFDA number 93.855, and is identified by funding opportunity number PAR 18 679. The record shows an original closing date of 2020-05-07 and a creation date of 2018-02-23. No award ceiling or expected number of awards is specified in the supplied text, which is not unusual in NIH listings where budgets and award counts may depend on annual appropriations, program priorities, and the number of meritorious applications in a given cycle. Overall, the program is designed to identify high-potential clinician-researchers early, support them through a critical career transition point, and position them to become stable, independent investigators conducting clinically relevant research, including clinical trials, within NIAID-relevant biomedical areas.

• 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 Clinical Trial Required)" 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 2018-02-23.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-05-07. (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 18 679

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