Open Funding Opportunities

The purpose of this NIH HEAL Initiative® Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) program is to support a cohort of new and well-trained, independent investigators from diverse backgrounds (e.g. see NOT-OD-20-031, Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity) conducting Pain and/or SUD research, in order to promote a diverse pool of available independent investigators working in research areas supported by the NIH HEAL Initiative®. This program is designed to facilitate a timely transition of eligible postdoctoral researchers from their mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions. The program will provide independent NIH research support during this transition to help awardees establish independent research programs in areas supported by the NIH HEAL Initiative®.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity is for basic science experimental studies involving humans, referred to in NOT-OD-18-212 as “prospective basic science studies involving human participants.” These studies fall within the NIH definition of a clinical trial and also meet the definition of basic research. Types of studies that should be submitted under this NOFO include studies that prospectively assign human participants to conditions (i.e., experimentally manipulate independent variables) and that assess biomedical or behavioral outcomes in humans for the purpose of understanding the fundamental aspects of phenomena without specific application towards processes or products in mind. Applicants not planning an independent clinical trial or basic experimental study with humans, or proposing to gain research experience in a clinical trial or basic experimental study with humans led by another investigator, must apply to the 'Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed' companion NOFO.

The proposed project must be related to the programmatic interests of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) based on their scientific missions.

The purpose of this NIH HEAL Initiative® Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) program is to support a cohort of new and well-trained, independent investigators from diverse backgrounds (e.g. see NOT-OD-20-031, Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity) conducting Pain and/or SUD research, in order to promote a diverse pool of available independent investigators working in research areas supported by the NIH HEAL Initiative®. This program is designed to facilitate a timely transition of eligiblepostdoctoral researchers from their mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions. The program will provide independent NIH research support during this transition to help awardees establish independent research programs in areas supported by the NIH HEAL Initiative®.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is designed specifically for candidates proposing research that does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, an ancillary study to a clinical trial, or an independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans (BESH). Applicants to this FOA are permitted to propose research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor. Those proposing an independent BESH as lead investigator, should apply to the companion FOA (RFA-NS-22-024).

Diversity Supplement Guidance pdf  221.15 KB