NIAID Career Transition Award (K22) | PAR 16 434

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 16 434

The NIAID Career Transition Award (K22), funding opportunity number PAR 16-434, is a discretionary NIH grant designed to help postdoctoral fellows move into independent academic-style research careers. Its central goal is to support the transition from mentored postdoctoral training to a first independent position such as assistant professor (or an equivalent role) and to help the recipient launch an independent biomedical research program. In practical terms, this opportunity is meant to bridge a key career gap by giving promising early-stage scientists resources and structure to establish themselves as independent investigators, particularly within areas aligned with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

This opportunity uses the NIH grant funding instrument and falls under the Health funding activity category, with CFDA numbers 93.855 and 93.856. While the program is aimed at individual career development and transition, applications are submitted through eligible organizations rather than by individuals acting alone, which is typical for NIH mechanisms. The listing emphasizes that many types of organizations can serve as applicant institutions, spanning public and private higher education, nonprofit and for-profit entities (other than small businesses, with small businesses also listed), and multiple levels of government. Specifically, eligible applicants include state, county, and city/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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories). The breadth of eligible institution types signals that the program is intended to be accessible across a wide range of research and educational environments, not only traditional universities.

The announcement also calls out additional eligible applicant categories that reflect NIH-wide priorities around broad participation and institutional diversity. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and 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; U.S. territories or possessions; and Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized. The inclusion of these categories indicates that the K22 mechanism can be hosted by a wide variety of institutions, including those serving underrepresented populations and those outside the typical research-intensive university setting, as long as they meet NIH eligibility rules and can support the awardee in developing an independent research career.

At the same time, the opportunity places clear limits on non-U.S. participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are explicitly not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, the notice clarifies that foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning parts of the research may be conducted in collaboration with foreign sites or resources when justified and permitted under NIH policy, even though the primary applicant organization must be U.S.-based and eligible. This distinction matters for applicants whose research might benefit from international collaborations, field sites, or specialized resources abroad.

Administrative details in the source information indicate the opportunity was created on 2016-09-16 and lists an original closing date of 2019-09-07. The agency is the National Institutes of Health, with NIAID as the sponsoring institute for this career transition program. The provided excerpt does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full funding announcement or NIH budget guidance for the most accurate, current cost and project period expectations associated with the K22 mechanism.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIAID Career Transition Award (K22)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855, 93.856.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-09-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-09-07. (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 PAR 16 434

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