Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: November 12, 2026 (Renewal/resubmission/revision) | February 12, 2027 (New applications) | March 12, 2027 (Renewal/resubmission/revision) | May 7, 2027 (Final closing date)
Funding Amounts: Salary and fringe benefits for 3–5 years; support levels depend on the participating NIH institute or center
Summary: Supports newly independent scientists with protected research time while leading an independent clinical trial, feasibility study, or ancillary clinical trial.
Key Information: Candidates must commit at least 75% effort and meet U.S. citizenship, national, or permanent-residency requirements by award.
Description
The NIH Independent Scientist Award (K02) provides salary support and protected time for newly independent scientists who need intensive research focus to advance their careers and expand their contributions to their field. Each award must be tailored to the candidate’s research and career-development needs, with institutional support for the required time, resources, and research environment.
This opportunity requires the candidate to lead an independent clinical trial, clinical trial feasibility study, or separate ancillary clinical trial. Research must align with a participating institute’s mission: the National Institute on Aging, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute on Drug Abuse, or National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Applicants seeking clinical trial experience under another investigator, or not proposing an independent trial, must use the companion opportunity, PA-24-179.
