The NIAID Physician-Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00 Clinical Trial Required) is a funding opportunity provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This award is part of the NIH’s efforts to support and sustain a strong cohort of independent physician-scientists engaged in biomedical research. The program is specifically designed to aid postdoctoral researchers with a clinical doctorate degree in transitioning from mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track, or equivalent faculty positions. It also provides independent NIAID research funding during this critical transition period to support competitive research careers in the biomedical sciences and address the national shortage of physician-scientists.

This opportunity is intended exclusively for candidates who plan to serve as lead investigators on an independent clinical trial, a feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial as part of their research and career development. Candidates who do not plan to lead an independent clinical trial but instead wish to gain research experience within a clinical trial led by another investigator should apply to the companion funding opportunity (PAR-23-071). The total project period for the award is a maximum of four years, divided into two phases: the K99 mentored phase, which lasts up to two years, and the R00 independent phase, which extends up to two years. The award provides salary support and research development funding for both phases, ensuring a smooth transition to independent research.

The NIAID Physician-Scientist K99/R00 award is open to postdoctoral researchers in the United States with a clinical doctorate degree, including MD, DO, DDS/DMD, DVM/VMD, MD/PhD, DNP, or research doctorate nurses who dedicate most of their time to biomedical research. Applicants must have no more than four years of postdoctoral research experience at the time of initial or resubmission application. Candidates must also provide a compelling rationale for a minimum of one year of additional mentored research training. Individuals who have achieved independence (e.g., those in tenure-track faculty positions or those holding independent research grants exceeding $100,000 per year) are not eligible for this award.

Funding for the K99 mentored phase includes up to $75,000 per year for salary, plus fringe benefits, and an additional $25,000 per year for research-related expenses. During the R00 independent phase, the total cost of the award is capped at $249,000 per year, which includes salary, fringe benefits, research costs, and applicable indirect costs. Indirect costs for the K99 phase are reimbursed at 8%, while indirect costs for the R00 phase align with the extramural institution’s standard rate. The number of awards granted each year is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of high-quality applications.

Applications for this funding opportunity must follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. Applicants must submit their proposals via the NIH ASSIST system, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system (S2S) solution. Standard application due dates apply, with the first non-AIDS application due date being February 12, 2023, and the first AIDS-related application due date being May 7, 2023. Applications are encouraged to be submitted early to allow time for corrections if necessary. The expiration date for this funding opportunity is January 8, 2026.

For inquiries regarding scientific or research-related questions, applicants may contact Dr. Jyothi Arikkath at AITrainingHelpDesk@niaid.nih.gov or by phone at 301-594-5945. Peer review inquiries can be directed to Dr. James T. Snyder at james.snyder@nih.gov or 240-669-5060. Financial and grants management inquiries should be addressed to Kalaya M. Goffigan at kalaya.goffigan@nih.gov or 301-761-7159.