K99/R00 - The Pathway to Independence Award

• There is no citizenship requirement for K99 applicants. An applicant may be a citizen or a non-citizen national of the United States, have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., possess a currently valid Permanent Resident Card USCIS Form I-551, or other legal verification of such status), or be a non-U.S. citizen.
• For applications submitted on behalf of non-U.S. citizens with temporary U.S. visas, visa status during each phase of the K99/R00 Award must allow the PD/PI to conduct the proposed research at the applicant institution.
• For the K99 phase of the award, the applicant institution is responsible for determining and documenting, in the K99 application, that the candidate’s visa will allow him or her to remain in the U.S. long enough to complete the K99 phase of the award.
• For the R00 phase of the award, the U.S institution at which the R00 phase of the award will be conducted is responsible for determining and documenting, in the R00 application, that the PD/PI’s visa will allow the PD/PI to remain in the U.S. for the duration of the R00 Award.

Postdoctoral and Clinical Fellows

• Applicants must have no more than 4 years of postdoctoral research experience (i.e., employment in a research position since completing the requirements for the doctorate) at the time of the initial or the subsequent resubmission or revision application.
• If an applicant achieves independence (i.e., any faculty or non-mentored research position) before a K99 Award is made, neither the K99 Award, nor the R00 Award, will be issued.

• K99 phase: 1-2 years
• R00 phase: 1-3 years
• Up to 5 years of total support

• The R00 Institution must provide protected time (9 calendar months or 75% effort) for the duration of the R00 Award.
• The R00 Institution may not require the use of R00 funds to offset a typical start-up package (salary and other).
• The R00 Institution must provide assurance that the PI's appointment is not contingent on the transfer of the R00 Award to the institution.

The independent phase institution should submit an application on behalf of the candidate for the R00 Award using the PHS 398 Application no later than 2 months prior to the proposed activation date of the R00 Award.

The R00 application must include:

• A new face page signed by the R00 phase institutional representative
• A new project description page (the project summary or abstract should be updated to reflect current plans for the R00 phase)
• Detailed budget pages for a non-modular budget
• Biographical sketches (PI, collaborators, and consultants)
• A new Resources page
• Final Progress Report for the K99 phase
• An updated research plan (the specific aims should be updated to reflect current plans for the R00 phase and the updated research plan should be briefly described in less than 5 pages)
• An updated Bibliography & References Cited section
• A new checklist
• A letter from the R00 Department or Division Chairman describing the R00 institution's commitment to the candidate and plans for his/her career development
• A final evaluation statement by the K99 phase mentor

Human Subjects

If the proposed research involves human subjects, provide:

• An updated Human Subjects section, including an "Inclusion Enrollment Report"
• Current IRB approval or expected approval date (award is not made until final IRB approval is granted)

Vertebrate Animals

If the proposed research involves vertebrate animals, provide:

• An updated Vertebrate Animals section (IACUC approval is JIT information)
• Award is not made until final IACUC approval is granted