NCI Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-04-29. Official notice and agency instructions control.
If you're a postdoc with a research or clinical doctorate ready to land a faculty job and launch an independent cancer research lab, this award funds your transition and your first three years of independent work.
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What this is
The K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award is a two-phase grant designed exclusively for postdoctoral researchers ready to transition to faculty positions. The K99 phase (up to 2 years) provides mentored support while the awardee secures a faculty position; the R00 phase (up to 3 years) supports independent research after transition. This is not for graduate students, established faculty, or clinical trials. It's highly competitive and targets researchers with strong publication records and clear plans to establish independent labs.
Who can apply
Applicants must hold a research doctorate (PhD, MD, DO, DDS, DVM, or equivalent) and be in or transitioning from a postdoctoral position. Eligible organizations include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, and state/local governments. Federally recognized applicants from all U.S. states and territories can apply. Clinical trial-based research is explicitly not allowed.
Eligible applicant types
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
- State governments
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Private institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Independent school districts
- Special district governments
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Small businesses
- City or township governments
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- County governments
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Full description — from the agency
The purpose of the NCI Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) program is to facilitate a timely transition of talented postdoctoral researchers with a research and/or clinical doctorate degree from mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions. The program will provide independent NCI research support during this transition in order to help awardees to launch competitive, independent research careers.
Topics: postdoctoral researcher · cancer research · faculty transition · independent research · k99 r00 award · career development
Public-source funding discovery only. This summary is generated from public agency data and may be incomplete or stale. NonDilute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Official notices and agency instructions control. NonDilute does not determine eligibility, provide grant-writing advice, or guarantee funding.