The NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00) is designed to support postdoctoral researchers in transitioning to independent, tenure-track faculty positions, facilitating their progression from mentored training to independent research careers. The K99/R00 award provides a phased approach, with the initial K99 phase offering up to two years of mentored postdoctoral support followed by the R00 phase, which provides up to three years of independent research funding. The program aims to enable researchers to secure faculty positions and establish competitive, independent research programs with the goal of obtaining future NIH funding.

The K99/R00 award specifically supports basic experimental studies involving humans that fall under NIH's definition of a clinical trial and meet the criteria for basic research. These studies prospectively assign human participants to conditions to evaluate biomedical or behavioral outcomes, aimed at understanding fundamental aspects of phenomena without a direct application toward health interventions. Applicants not engaging in independent clinical trials or specific applied research should refer to related funding opportunities where clinical trials are not required or are not permitted.

Eligibility is restricted to individuals with no more than four years of postdoctoral research experience at the application deadline, and who hold research or clinical doctoral degrees, such as PhD, MD, or equivalent. Candidates must still be in mentored positions without independent faculty appointments at the time of application, as transitioning to an independent research role before receiving the K99 award disqualifies them from both phases. There is no citizenship requirement for K99 applicants, but visa status must allow the candidate to complete the K99 phase and continue in the U.S. for the R00 phase if applicable.

The K99 phase requires the candidate to dedicate at least 75% of their full-time effort to research and career development activities. The transition to the R00 phase is contingent upon securing a tenure-track faculty position. Institutions hosting the R00 phase must provide adequate resources and protected research time comparable to what they would offer other newly appointed faculty members. The total annual budget for the R00 phase may not exceed $249,000, including direct and indirect costs.

Applications undergo a rigorous review process, evaluating the candidate's potential for research independence, the quality of the research plan, and the strength of the career development plan. Reviewers also assess the mentoring arrangements, the resources available at the institution, and the feasibility of the research plan to support a successful transition to an independent research career.

Applicants are encouraged to work closely with their mentors and institutional officials to prepare a comprehensive application and to consult with NIH program staff regarding eligibility and application details. The K99/R00 program offers multiple submission cycles per year, and applications must adhere to the NIH's standard submission deadlines and procedures.