The NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA CA 23 042

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 23 042

The NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed), listed under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-CA-23-042, is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) program within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) designed to help exceptional PhD (or equivalent) graduate students move efficiently from the late predoctoral stage into strong postdoctoral cancer research positions and, ultimately, toward independent research careers. The core idea is to identify trainees who have already been recognized by their institutions as unusually promising and deeply committed to cancer research, then give them structured support that bridges the often difficult transition from dissertation work to a productive, career-building postdoc. As the title indicates, this opportunity does not allow clinical trials, so proposed work must stay within the non-clinical-trial scope as defined by NIH.

The award is structured as a transition mechanism, meaning it is meant to cover two linked phases of training and career development. The F99 portion supports the final stage of graduate training, helping the fellow complete key predoctoral milestones while positioning them competitively for postdoctoral recruitment. The K00 portion then provides mentored support during the postdoctoral period, with an emphasis on building the skills, record of accomplishment, and professional trajectory needed to become an independent cancer researcher. Across both phases, NCI expects the recipient to pursue not only high-quality cancer-relevant research, but also intentional career development activities aligned with their long-term goal of research independence. In practical terms, that typically means a thoughtful plan for mentorship, training experiences, and professional development that go beyond day-to-day bench or computational work and clearly build toward independence.

In terms of who can apply as an eligible applicant organization, the opportunity is broadly open across many U.S.-based entities and organizational types that commonly participate in NIH funding. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities. NCI also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. This broad eligibility language reflects NIH’s interest in supporting talent across many institutional settings and communities.

At the same time, there are important limitations related to non-U.S. involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities that are foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which generally means a U.S. applicant organization may include certain well-justified foreign elements of the project when permitted under NIH rules, even though the primary applicant organization must be domestic.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant funding opportunity in the Education and Health activity area, with CFDA number 93.398, offered by NIH/NCI. The posting lists an original closing date of 2024-11-19. While the excerpt provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, the intent and structure are clearly focused on investing in a pipeline of highly promising cancer researchers at a key career transition point, pairing research training with deliberate career development so that recipients are better positioned to secure strong postdoctoral appointments and progress toward independent investigator status.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00 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): 93.398.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-08-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-19. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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 RFA CA 23 042

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