NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Outstanding Early Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Required) | RFA CA 21 061

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 21 061

The NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Outstanding Early Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Required) is an NIH/National Cancer Institute grant program meant to help highly promising postdoctoral researchers move quickly from mentored training into independent, faculty-level research careers. It targets postdoctoral fellows who already have strong research preparation through a research doctorate and/or clinical doctorate and who are ready to become independent investigators without needing a long additional mentored period. The overall goal is to build and sustain a strong pipeline of new NCI-supported scientists by providing structured support during the critical career transition from postdoc to a tenure-track (or equivalent) independent position.

The award is structured specifically to facilitate that transition by pairing a mentored phase with a subsequent independent phase, providing continuity of NCI support while the candidate finishes key training and then launches an independent program. In practical terms, it is intended to help recipients secure an independent faculty appointment and establish a competitive research trajectory, including building momentum toward future independent research grants. NCI also signals particular interest in applicants working in data science and cancer control science, meaning candidates in those areas are especially encouraged to apply.

A defining feature of this specific funding announcement is its clinical trial requirement. It is designed for candidates who will serve as the lead investigator on an independent clinical trial, an independent clinical trial feasibility study, or a separate ancillary clinical trial as part of their research and career development plan. In other words, the applicant is expected to be driving the clinical trial effort as the primary investigator rather than simply participating on a trial led by someone else. Applicants who are not planning to lead an independent clinical trial, or who mainly want clinical trial experience under another investigator’s leadership, are directed to apply instead to the companion funding opportunity (RFA-CA-21-NNN), which is aligned to non-independent-trial scenarios.

Eligibility for applicant organizations is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based entities that can host the award, such as public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, certain tribal organizations, independent school districts, special district governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) categories), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, as well as “other” eligible organizations as defined by NIH policy. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicant categories, 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 government agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the FOA places clear limits on foreign participation at the applicant organization level. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed when they meet the NIH definition in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning portions of the project may involve foreign work or collaborations under the permitted “foreign component” framework, even though the main applicant organization must be domestic.

Administratively, this opportunity is an NIH discretionary grant in the health and education activity area (CFDA 93.398) run by the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute. The funding opportunity number is RFA-CA-21-061, with an original closing date of February 28, 2022, and a creation date of November 5, 2021. The public summary does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided text, but the central intent is clear: to provide a targeted bridge from postdoctoral mentorship to independent cancer research leadership for early stage researchers who are ready to lead an independent clinical trial as part of establishing their own research program.

• 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 2021-11-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-02-28. (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 21 061

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