NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Outstanding Early Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Required) | RFA CA 22 036

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 22 036

The NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Outstanding Early Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Required), Funding Opportunity Number RFA-CA-22-036, is an NIH/National Cancer Institute grant mechanism meant to move exceptionally promising postdoctoral researchers into independent faculty careers as efficiently as possible. It targets postdoctoral fellows who already have strong research or clinical doctoral training and, importantly, do not need a long additional period of mentored development beyond what they have already completed. The central goal is to keep the pipeline of NCI-supported investigators strong by helping early-stage scientists bridge the difficult gap between being a postdoc and becoming a tenure-track (or equivalent) independent researcher.

Structurally, this is a two-phase career development and research support award. The K99 phase supports the final period of mentored postdoctoral work, where the awardee completes focused training and produces key results that position them to compete for a faculty job and independent funding. The R00 phase then provides support after the applicant successfully transitions into an independent, tenure-track (or equivalent) position, allowing them to launch their own research program with dedicated NCI backing. The design is meant to reduce the common funding and momentum drop that can happen during the move from a mentor-led environment to running an independent lab or research program.

A defining feature of this specific FOA is the clinical trial leadership requirement. Applicants are expected to propose and lead an independent clinical trial as part of their research and career development plan. This can include serving as the lead investigator for an independent clinical trial, conducting a clinical trial feasibility study, or leading a separate ancillary clinical trial. In other words, the proposed work is not just clinical-trial related; it is built around the applicant taking primary responsibility for an independent trial effort. Applicants who are not planning to lead their own independent clinical trial, or who instead intend to gain experience by working on a clinical trial led by another investigator, are directed to apply to the companion FOA (RFA-CA-22-035) rather than this one.

From a scientific emphasis standpoint, the NCI highlights particular interest in applicants working in data science and cancer control science, signaling that proposals in these areas are especially encouraged. While the announcement supports cancer-relevant research broadly, this encouragement suggests NCI is actively seeking to grow the next generation of independent investigators in areas like analytics, computational approaches, population-level interventions, implementation, prevention, survivorship, healthcare delivery, and other cancer control domains where rigorous trial leadership and evaluation can be central.

Eligibility is broad at the organization level, spanning many types of U.S.-based institutions and organizations that can host the mentored and independent phases. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special district), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) as well as certain tribal organizations (other than federally recognized governments). The FOA also explicitly mentions additional eligible 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, U.S. territories or possessions, and eligible federal agencies.

At the same time, there are clear restrictions related to non-U.S. entities. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, which generally means certain project elements may be carried out abroad under NIH rules even though the applicant organization itself must be domestic.

In terms of administrative details, this is a discretionary grant under the NIH, in the Education and Health activity category, with CFDA number 93.398. The opportunity was created on 2022-09-15 and listed an original closing date of 2023-02-28. The provided source data does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the fields shown, so applicants typically need to consult the full FOA text and NIH budget and policy guidance to understand allowable costs, effort expectations, and any institute-specific funding parameters.

Overall, this FOA is best understood as a high-impact transition award for standout postdocs who are ready to move quickly into independence and who are prepared to take on the responsibilities of leading an independent clinical trial as a key part of their early faculty trajectory. It pairs mentored development with a clear, supported launch into an independent position, with NCI using this mechanism to retain and accelerate talented cancer researchers, including those working in data science and cancer control.

• 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 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.398.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-09-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-02-28. (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.

Apply for RFA CA 22 036

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