NIAID Physician-Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00 Clinical Trial Required) | PAR 20 209

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 209

The NIAID Physician-Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00 Clinical Trial Required), Funding Opportunity Number PAR-20-209, is an NIH discretionary grant in the health area (CFDA 93.855) aimed at strengthening the U.S. physician-scientist pipeline. Its central goal is to grow and sustain a strong cohort of talented, clinically trained researchers by helping them move more quickly and successfully from postdoctoral, mentored research roles into independent, tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty positions. NIAID positions this program as part of a broader effort to address the national shortage of physician-scientists by giving early-career clinicians a structured and well-supported runway to launch independent biomedical research careers.

This opportunity uses the NIH K99/R00 “Pathway to Independence” structure. In practice, that means it supports a two-phase career transition: a mentored phase (K99) while the candidate is still in a postdoctoral or equivalent supervised research position, followed by an independent phase (R00) once the awardee secures an independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty appointment. The intent is not simply to fund a research project, but to fund the person and their progression toward independence, with NIAID support bridging a pivotal career gap when many physician-scientists are at risk of leaving research due to clinical demands and limited protected time.

A key feature of this specific announcement is that it is “Clinical Trial Required,” meaning the proposed research is expected to include a clinical trial component consistent with NIH definitions and requirements for clinical trials. Applicants should understand that this designation carries additional expectations for how the study is designed, managed, monitored, and reported, since NIH places specific oversight and documentation requirements on funded clinical trials. In other words, the program is explicitly geared toward physician-scientists who are prepared to lead patient-oriented or clinically impactful interventional research as part of their pathway to independence.

Eligibility in this notice is broad at the institutional level. The listed eligible applicants include a wide range of U.S.-based organizations and governmental units, such as state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education when applying under those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other types of entities. The announcement also highlights several categories of “other eligible applicants,” emphasizing inclusion of institutions that serve historically underrepresented communities, such as 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), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the opportunity places clear limits on foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic (non-U.S.) 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 the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. That distinction matters because it means a U.S. applicant organization may still be able to include certain kinds of foreign collaborations or activities if they meet NIH’s definition and are properly justified, even though a foreign institution cannot serve as the applicant organization.

Administrative details provided in the source information include the sponsoring agency (National Institutes of Health), the grant instrument type (Grant), the activity category (Health), and the original closing date listed as 2023-01-07. The notice does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the supplied text. Overall, the program is best understood as a targeted NIAID investment in clinician-researchers at a critical career stage, pairing mentored development with a defined transition to independence, and emphasizing the ability to conduct clinical trial research as part of building a sustainable, competitive physician-scientist career.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIAID Physician-Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-05-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-01-07. (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 PAR 20 209

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