The NCI Transition Career Development Award (K22 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 18 467

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 467

The NCI Transition Career Development Award (K22 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) grant program designed to help cancer researchers move from mentored, non-independent positions into independent, faculty-level research roles. The basic idea is to smooth the career jump that often happens when someone finishes a postdoctoral or other mentored phase and is trying to establish themselves as an independent investigator. To do that, the award provides protected time by supporting a portion of the investigator's salary along with additional research support during the early years of their first independent appointment.

The award is structured to support the first 3 years of the recipient's initial independent tenure-track faculty position (or an equivalent independent faculty role). Importantly, that support begins once the candidate actually starts the tenure-track position, meaning it is aimed at the critical startup window when new faculty are building a research program, generating publishable results, and positioning themselves to compete for larger independent research grants. The "Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed" designation means the award is not intended to support an investigator-initiated clinical trial as the primary activity under this mechanism.

This opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under NCI, and it is categorized as a discretionary grant in the education and health funding activity area. The program is associated with CFDA number 93.398. The specific funding opportunity number listed is PAR 18 467, and the announcement was created on December 6, 2017. The original closing date listed for the opportunity is March 12, 2021. The source information provided does not list an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.

A wide range of U.S.-based organizations can apply as the sponsoring institution, including state, county, and city 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; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education when listed in that category); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other eligible entities. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal government agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the FOA clearly restricts foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed. In practice, this means the applicant organization and the supported work must be based in the United States and cannot include a formal foreign component under NIH rules.

Overall, the K22 mechanism here is best understood as a transition award that invests in a promising cancer researcher right as they become independent. By underwriting salary and research time during the first three years of a tenure-track-equivalent appointment, it aims to increase the likelihood that the investigator can establish a stable research program and successfully compete for longer-term NIH funding, while keeping the scope within non-independent clinical trial boundaries.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The NCI Transition Career Development Award (K22 - 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): 93.398.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-12-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-03-12. (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 18 467

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