NIH K99/R00 — Pathway to Independence
Two-phase award taking a postdoc from mentored research (K99, 1 to 2 years) to an independent faculty post (R00, up to 3 years). NIH replaces it with the KT1/R00 Career Transition to Research Independence Award from October 2027.
Scheme details
- Funding range
- K99: salary and research support set by each Institute (NIGMS: up to $125,000 a year in total costs) for 1 to 2 years; R00: up to $249,000 a year in total costs, including indirect costs, for up to 3 years
- Career stage
- Early career
- Scheme type
- Individual
- Eligibility
- Postdocs in mentored positions with no more than 4 years of postdoctoral research experience at the due date. Any citizenship, if the visa covers each phase; the K99 host must be a US institution. Not open to anyone who has held a faculty post or led an NIH research grant or K award.
- Format & limits
- Specific Aims: 1 page; Candidate Information and Goals for Career Development plus Research Strategy: 12 pages combined; mentor statements: 6 pages; RCR plan, institutional environment and institutional commitment: 1 page each; 3 to 5 reference letters
- Deadline
- Open now PA-24-194: 12 October 2026 and 12 February 2027 (new); 12 November 2026 and 12 March 2027 (resubmission) · expires 8 May 2027 · KT1/R00 replaces it from 12 October 2027
View official scheme page
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-24-194.html
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Last updated: 2026-09-24
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