Advancing Research Careers (ARC) Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Transition Award to Promote Diversity (F99/K00 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 23 222

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 222

The Advancing Research Careers (ARC) Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Transition Award to Promote Diversity (F99/K00 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is an NIH grant opportunity designed to help late-stage PhD (or equivalent research doctorate) students from diverse backgrounds successfully move from the final stretch of graduate training into a strong, mentored postdoctoral position. The larger goal is to strengthen diversity in the biomedical research workforce by supporting scholars who show clear promise and who are preparing for research-focused careers where postdoctoral training is typically expected, including academic research and teaching across many institution types as well as research careers in industry or government.

This opportunity is structured as a two-phase, “bridge” style award. The first phase (the F99 phase) supports the fellow while they complete their dissertation research and remaining doctoral training. The second phase (the K00 phase) begins after the doctorate is completed and the scholar transitions into a mentored postdoctoral appointment, where the focus shifts toward postdoctoral research productivity and intentional career development. In practical terms, the award is meant to reduce the risk and instability that can come with the graduate-to-postdoc transition by providing a planned, continuous pathway of support, so long as the trainee meets the requirements for moving from the F99 to the K00 stage.

A defining feature of the ARC F99/K00 is that awardees are expected to be part of organized cohorts and to take part in mentoring, networking, and professional development activities coordinated through ARC Institutionally-Focused Research Education Award to Promote Diversity (UE5) recipients. This cohort-based component signals that NIH is not only funding individual research training plans, but also trying to build community, mentorship structure, and career exposure that can make postdoctoral success more likely. The research supported must align with the mission areas of participating NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs), meaning applicants should pay close attention to which NIH components participate and how their scientific area fits those priorities.

As stated in the title, clinical trials are not allowed under this specific funding announcement, so the proposed work must fit NIH’s definitions for non-clinical-trial activity under this mechanism. Applicants need to ensure their dissertation and postdoctoral plans do not cross into clinical trial territory as NIH defines it, since that is a common compliance issue that can affect eligibility.

The funding opportunity number is PAR-23-222, and it is offered by the National Institutes of Health as a discretionary grant in the education and health activity areas. It is associated with CFDA numbers 93.213, 93.286, 93.859, 93.867, and 93.879. The opportunity record shows an original closing date of 2027-05-07, indicating it is expected to remain open with recurring due dates or an extended submission window through that period (applicants should still verify the current cycle’s due dates and participating NIH ICOs in the live announcement).

Eligibility is broad at the organizational level and includes many U.S. institution types such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), as well as eligible tribal governments and tribal organizations. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicant categories often associated with NIH diversity-focused initiatives, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and certain federal agencies.

At the same time, there are important foreign eligibility limits. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations. However, “foreign components” as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, which generally means a U.S. applicant organization can include certain well-justified international elements within the project under NIH’s foreign component rules, even though a foreign institution cannot be the applicant.

Overall, this program is best understood as a targeted career-transition investment: it supports dissertation completion, then provides a structured runway into a mentored postdoc, while intentionally building cohort-based mentoring and professional development to help promising researchers from underrepresented or otherwise NIH-recognized diverse backgrounds persist and thrive in biomedical research careers.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing Research Careers (ARC) Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Transition Award to Promote Diversity (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): 93.213, 93.286, 93.859, 93.867, 93.879.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-10-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-05-07.
• 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 23 222

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