Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 287
The NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Required) is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) career development and research award that helps outstanding postdoctoral researchers move quickly from mentored postdoctoral training into independent, tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty positions. The overall goal is to strengthen and sustain the next generation of NCI-supported independent investigators by providing structured support during the high-risk transition period between postdoctoral work and launching an independent research program.
This K99/R00 mechanism is aimed at postdoctoral fellows who already have strong research preparation through a research and/or clinical doctoral degree and who are not expected to need a long additional period of mentored training. In practice, it is meant for early-stage postdocs who are ready to sharpen a focused scientific and career development plan under mentorship (the K99 phase) and then rapidly step into an independent faculty role where they can lead their own research (the R00 phase). The award is designed to provide continuity of support across that transition so investigators can build momentum, generate independent findings, and compete effectively for future research funding as independent principal investigators.
A defining feature of this specific funding opportunity is that it is for applicants who will be the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial as part of their research and career development plan. That includes leading an independent clinical trial, conducting a clinical trial feasibility study, or leading a distinct ancillary clinical trial. In other words, the applicant is expected to take primary responsibility for planning and executing the clinical trial-related work within the project scope, rather than simply gaining experience on a clinical trial run by another investigator. If a candidate is not proposing to lead an independent clinical trial, or if the candidate plans to participate in a clinical trial led by someone else for training purposes, they are directed to apply instead to the companion announcement that does not allow independent clinical trials (PAR-23-286).
From a scientific emphasis standpoint, NCI highlights cancer control, cancer prevention, and cancer data sciences as particularly encouraged areas. This signals an interest in proposals that can improve cancer-related outcomes through prevention strategies, population and behavioral interventions, healthcare delivery and implementation approaches, survivorship and quality-of-life research, and modern data-intensive methods such as biostatistics, informatics, machine learning, real-world data, and related analytic frameworks applied to cancer questions. Applicants in these areas are encouraged to coordinate with their institutions when planning submissions, especially because the award is tied to the transition to a faculty position and requires institutional alignment.
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with NCI as the participating institute, and the opportunity is offered as a discretionary grant under Funding Opportunity Number PAR-23-287 (CFDA/Assistance Listing 93.398). The original closing date listed for this opportunity is 2026-10-14. An explicit award ceiling is not provided in the supplied listing, and the number of expected awards is not specified in the excerpt, so applicants typically need to consult the full NOFO text for budget structure, allowable costs, and any institute-specific funding expectations.
Eligibility is broad at the institutional level and includes many common U.S. applicant organization types such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and various government entities (state, county, city/township, special district), as well as certain housing authorities and tribal governments/organizations. The announcement also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and AANAPISI institutions, along with faith-based or community-based organizations and certain regional organizations. At the same time, it states that 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. However, foreign components, as defined by NIH policy, are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant organization may include certain clearly justified international components within the project under NIH rules, even though the applicant organization itself must be U.S.-based.
In practical terms, this opportunity is best understood as a structured launchpad: it supports a promising postdoc who is ready to lead an independent clinical trial-related project, build a track record of leadership and productivity, and then convert that momentum into a stable independent faculty appointment with continued NCI support. The program is explicitly designed to help talented early investigators clear the biggest career bottleneck in academic biomedical research: securing the first independent position while also establishing a fundable, clinically meaningful cancer research agenda.Apply for PAR 23 287
- 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 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 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.
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FAQs: NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Required) (PAR-23-287)
What is the PAR-23-287 K99/R00 award?
PAR-23-287 is the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00) that is specifically designated as "Independent Clinical Trial Required." It is a career development and research award intended to help outstanding postdoctoral researchers transition quickly from mentored postdoctoral training into independent, tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty positions.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The goal is to strengthen and sustain the next generation of NCI-supported independent investigators by providing structured support during the high-risk transition period between postdoctoral research and launching an independent research program.
How does the K99/R00 structure support a career transition?
The award is designed to provide continuity of support across two phases: a mentored K99 phase (to sharpen a focused scientific and career development plan under mentorship) followed by an independent R00 phase (to support the investigator after they move into an independent faculty role and lead their own research program).
Who is this K99/R00 mechanism intended for?
It is aimed at postdoctoral fellows who already have strong research preparation through a research and/or clinical doctoral degree and are not expected to need a long additional period of mentored training. In practice, it is meant for early-stage postdocs who are ready to rapidly move into independence.
What makes this specific K99/R00 opportunity different from other K99/R00 announcements?
A defining feature is that the applicant is expected to be the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial as part of the research and career development plan. This includes leading an independent clinical trial, conducting a clinical trial feasibility study, or leading a distinct ancillary clinical trial.
What does "Independent Clinical Trial Required" mean for the applicant's role?
It means the applicant is expected to take primary responsibility for planning and executing the clinical trial-related work within the project scope, rather than simply participating in a clinical trial led by another investigator for training purposes.
Can I apply if I am only participating in someone else's clinical trial for training?
No. If the candidate is not proposing to lead an independent clinical trial, or is only participating in a clinical trial led by someone else for training purposes, the candidate is directed to apply to the companion announcement that does not allow independent clinical trials (PAR-23-286).
What types of clinical trial activities can satisfy the "independent clinical trial" expectation?
The announcement indicates that qualifying activities include leading an independent clinical trial, conducting a clinical trial feasibility study, or leading a distinct ancillary clinical trial, as long as the applicant is the lead investigator for that clinical trial-related work.
What scientific areas are especially encouraged by NCI under this opportunity?
NCI highlights cancer control, cancer prevention, and cancer data sciences as particularly encouraged areas.
What kinds of topics fall under cancer control, prevention, and data sciences in this description?
The description points to areas such as prevention strategies, population and behavioral interventions, healthcare delivery and implementation approaches, survivorship and quality-of-life research, and data-intensive methods such as biostatistics, informatics, machine learning, real-world data, and related analytic frameworks applied to cancer questions.
Why does the opportunity emphasize coordination with the applicant's institution?
Applicants in the highlighted areas are encouraged to coordinate with their institutions when planning submissions because the award is tied to the transition to a faculty position and requires institutional alignment.
Which agency and institute sponsor this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the participating institute is the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (NOFO identifier) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-23-287.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number provided is 93.398.
What type of grant is this described as?
It is offered as a discretionary grant.
What is the listed closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed in the provided information is 2026-10-14.
Is there an award ceiling (maximum award amount) stated in the provided listing?
No. An explicit award ceiling is not provided in the supplied excerpt.
Is the number of expected awards provided?
No. The number of expected awards is not specified in the supplied excerpt.
Where should applicants look for budget structure and allowable costs?
Because the excerpt does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards, applicants typically need to consult the full NOFO text for details on budget structure, allowable costs, and any institute-specific funding expectations.
What types of U.S. organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad at the institutional level and includes public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and various government entities such as state, county, city/township, and special district governments. Certain housing authorities and tribal governments/organizations are also included.
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The announcement explicitly calls out eligible applicant categories including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and AANAPISI institutions, along with faith-based or community-based organizations and certain regional organizations.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations allowed to apply as the applicant institution?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply.
Can a U.S. organization apply if part of the project will occur at a non-U.S. component of that organization?
No. The information states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
Are any international elements allowed at all under NIH rules?
Yes. The excerpt states that foreign components, as defined by NIH policy, are allowed. This means a U.S. applicant organization may include certain clearly justified international components within the project under NIH rules, even though the applicant organization itself must be U.S.-based.
What career stage is this opportunity designed to support?
It is designed for early-stage postdoctoral researchers and is positioned as a structured launchpad to help a promising postdoc become an independent investigator with a stable independent faculty appointment and continued NCI support.
What is the broader career problem this award is designed to address?
The program is explicitly designed to help talented early investigators clear a major career bottleneck in academic biomedical research: securing the first independent position while also establishing a fundable, clinically meaningful cancer research agenda.
What if I want a K99/R00 but my plan does not involve leading an independent clinical trial?
The provided information directs candidates who are not proposing to lead an independent clinical trial (or who plan only to participate in another investigator's trial for training) to apply instead to the companion announcement that does not allow independent clinical trials: PAR-23-286.
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