Independent Scientist Award (Parent K02 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PA 24 179

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 24 179

The NIH Independent Scientist Award (K02) is a career development grant meant to help newly independent researchers strengthen and expand their research programs at a key transition point in their careers. Its central goal is to foster the growth of outstanding scientists by giving them a sustained period of support to deepen their expertise, increase productivity, and position themselves to make major contributions in their research area. Rather than functioning like a traditional project grant that primarily funds a set of experiments, the K02 is designed to invest in the investigator by creating a stable window of time and resources for intensive research focus.

A defining feature of this opportunity is the provision of three to five years of salary support tied to protected time for research. In practical terms, this mechanism is intended to reduce competing demands (often heavy teaching, administrative, or clinical loads) so the awardee can concentrate on building a stronger, more influential research trajectory. Because applicants come from different disciplines and career situations, NIH emphasizes that each K02 career award plan should be tailored to the individual candidate, reflecting their specific development needs and the steps required to advance their independence and impact.

This particular parent Funding Opportunity Announcement (PA-24-179) is specifically for applicants whose proposed research does not involve leading an independent clinical trial. It also excludes leading a clinical trial feasibility study or leading a separate ancillary clinical trial. The distinction matters: applicants can still gain experience related to clinical trials, but only in a non-leading role. For example, it is allowable to propose participating in a clinical trial that is led by another investigator as part of the applicant's research and career development experience. If the applicant intends to serve as the lead investigator of a clinical trial or an ancillary clinical trial, NIH directs them to apply under the companion FOA that permits independent clinical trials, rather than this one.

Eligibility is broad and spans many types of U.S.-based organizations, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple levels of government entities (state, county, city/township, special districts), as well as independent school districts and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. The announcement also highlights categories of institutions and organizations often emphasized in federal research programs, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with eligible federal agencies and faith-based or community-based organizations. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included among eligible applicants as well.

The FOA includes important limits related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant organization may be able to incorporate certain foreign elements into the research when appropriately justified and consistent with NIH policy, even though the applicant organization itself must be domestic.

Administratively, this is an NIH discretionary grant opportunity in the education and health activity categories, listed under multiple CFDA numbers (93.121, 93.273, 93.279, 93.310, 93.313, 93.853, 93.866), reflecting that different NIH Institutes and Centers may use the parent K02 mechanism across a range of scientific areas. The opportunity number is PA-24-179, it was created on 2024-04-24, and the listed original closing date is 2027-05-07. The posted summary does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, which is common for NIH parent announcements where budgets and award counts can vary by institute, fiscal year, and program priorities.

Overall, this K02 parent announcement is best understood as a structured way for a newly independent scientist to secure multi-year salary support and protected research time, with a personalized career development strategy, while staying within a research scope that does not place the applicant in the role of leading an independent clinical trial.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Independent Scientist Award (Parent K02 - 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): 93.121, 93.273, 93.279, 93.310, 93.313, 93.853, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-24.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-05-07.
• 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 PA 24 179

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