Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: June 12, 2025 (New) | July 12, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | September 7, 2025 (AIDS) | October 12, 2025 (New) | November 12, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | January 7, 2026 (AIDS) | February 12, 2026 (New) | March 12, 2026 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | May 7, 2026 (AIDS) | Additional standard NIH due dates through May 7, 2027
Funding Amounts: 3–5 years of salary support and program-related expenses; award budgets are based on salary and justified costs, not to exceed 5 years.
Summary: Supports newly independent scientists with protected time and salary to conduct basic experimental studies involving humans, enhancing their research careers.
Key Information: Applicants must propose independent basic experimental studies with humans that meet NIH's clinical trial and basic research definitions; prior consultation with NIH IC staff is strongly encouraged.
Description
This opportunity provides support for newly independent scientists to advance their research careers through the NIH Independent Scientist Award (K02). The award is specifically for basic experimental studies involving humans—prospective studies that assign human participants to conditions and assess biomedical or behavioral outcomes to understand fundamental phenomena, without a specific application toward products or processes.
The K02 award offers three to five years of salary support and protected research time, allowing recipients to focus intensively on research and career development. Each award is tailored to the candidate's needs and must align with the scientific missions of one or more participating NIH Institutes or Centers (ICs).
Applicants must propose independent clinical trials that also meet the definition of basic research. Those not planning an independent clinical trial or proposing to gain experience in a trial led by another investigator should apply to the companion "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" opportunity.
Due Dates
- New Applications: June 12, 2025 | October 12, 2025 | February 12, 2026 | June 12, 2026 | October 12, 2026 | February 12, 2027 | June 12, 2027
- Renewal/Resubmission/Revision: July 12, 2025 | November 12, 2025 | March 12, 2026 | July 12, 2026 | November 12, 2026 | March 12, 2027 | July 12, 2027
- AIDS-related Applications: September 7, 2025 | January 7, 2026 | May 7, 2026 | September 7, 2026 | January 7, 2027 | May 7, 2027
All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization. The final closing date is May 7, 2027.
Funding Amount
- Award Duration: 3–5 years
- Budget: Composed of salary and program-related expenses (e.g., research supplies, travel, tuition for career development, technical personnel)
- Salary Support: Provided as per NIH IC-specific policies (see IC-specific information)
- Indirect Costs: 8% of modified total direct costs
- Project Period: Maximum of 5 years
Eligibility
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Eligible Organizations:
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status)
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses)
- State, county, city, township, and special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal governments and organizations
- Faith-based and community-based organizations
- Regional organizations
- U.S. territories and possessions
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Ineligible: Non-U.S. entities and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations (foreign components as defined by NIH are allowed).
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Eligible Individuals:
- Must hold a research or clinical doctoral degree
- Must be newly independent with peer-reviewed, independent research support at the time of award
- Must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or permanent resident by the time of award
- Must commit at least 75% full-time professional effort (9 person-months) to research and career development activities
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Note: Multiple PDs/PIs are not allowed. Applicants should consult the IC-specific requirements to ensure eligibility.
Application Process
- Submission: Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov, NIH ASSIST, or institutional system-to-system solutions.
- Required Registrations: SAM, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, and ORCID (for PD/PI)
- Application Guide: Follow the NIH Career Development (K) Application Guide and any program-specific instructions in the funding announcement.
- Components: Candidate background, career goals, research plan, institutional commitment, and data management/sharing plan.
- Review: Applications are peer-reviewed for scientific merit, candidate qualifications, research plan quality, and institutional environment.
Additional Information
- Scope: Only applications proposing independent basic experimental studies with humans (meeting both NIH clinical trial and basic research definitions) are accepted.
- Protected Time: Awardees must devote at least 75% effort to research and career development.
- Renewals: One-time renewal for an additional 3–5 years may be possible, subject to IC policies and continued independent research support.
- Consultation: Strongly encouraged to consult with NIH IC staff before applying to ensure alignment with IC priorities and requirements.
- Companion Opportunities: For studies not meeting the clinical trial requirement, see the "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" companion FOA.
External Links
Contact Information