NIAID Career Transition Award (K22 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 25 251

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 25 251

The NIAID Career Transition Award (K22, Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a National Institutes of Health grant opportunity designed to help postdoctoral fellows make the jump into independent academic research careers. Its core aim is to support scientists as they transition from mentored postdoctoral training into an assistant professor position (or an equivalent independent role) and begin establishing themselves as independent biomedical researchers. In practical terms, this program is meant to provide a structured runway for early-career investigators to secure a faculty appointment, launch a distinct research direction, and build the foundation needed for longer-term research funding and career stability.

This opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health under Funding Opportunity Number PAR-25-251, and it is categorized as a discretionary grant in the Health funding activity area. The associated CFDA number is 93.855, which corresponds to NIAID-related assistance programs. A key limitation is in the title itself: "Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed." That means applicants should not propose projects where the awardee would be responsible for running an independent clinical trial. While some human-subjects research may be permissible depending on NIH definitions and the specific application details, this announcement makes it clear that the mechanism is not intended to support a K22 project that functions as an independently led clinical trial.

Eligibility is broad across many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts, as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Tribal participation is also supported through federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. The program also allows applications from public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and from nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those particular categories). For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are also listed among eligible applicant types, along with an "Other" category that NIH sometimes uses to capture additional eligible organizational forms consistent with the announcement.

In addition to the standard eligibility categories, the announcement explicitly highlights several institutional types as "other eligible applicants," including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). It also notes that eligible federal government agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions can apply, and it includes Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized ones in this highlighted list as well.

At the same time, there are clear restrictions on non-U.S. participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign organizations, are not eligible to apply. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. In other words, the applicant organization and the work supported under this opportunity are expected to be based within eligible U.S. organizational structures rather than being routed through or primarily carried out by foreign institutional components.

The grant has an award ceiling listed at $150,000, indicating the maximum level of funding allowed under the opportunity as provided in the source data. The opportunity was created on 2024-12-03, and the original closing date is 2028-01-07, giving a long window in which the program announcement remains open for submissions across multiple cycles, subject to NIH receipt dates and any updates to the announcement.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIAID Career Transition Award (K22 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" 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 2024-12-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2028-01-07.
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
• 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 25 251

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