Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HL 20 002
The Career Pathway to Independence in Blood Science Award for Physician Scientists (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Required), funding opportunity number RFA-HL-20-002, is a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) grant program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (National Institutes of Health). Its central goal is to build and sustain a strong pipeline of clinician-investigators in blood science by helping highly promising physician scientists move more quickly and confidently from mentored research roles into fully independent faculty careers. In practical terms, the program is meant to support the critical transition period when an early-career researcher is ready to step out of a training or mentored environment and begin establishing an independent research program that can compete for long-term NIH support.
This opportunity follows the K99/R00 career development structure. The K99 phase supports a mentored period in which the applicant deepens scientific and professional development under guidance, while completing a research plan that positions them for independence. After that, awardees may seek the associated R00 phase through a separate, linked funding opportunity to help them launch an independent research program in a tenure-track or equivalent position. The intent is that the R00 phase functions as a springboard into independence: building a research track record, generating publishable findings, and strengthening the investigator's competitiveness for subsequent NIH grants in blood science.
A defining feature of this specific FOA is its clinical trial requirement. It is explicitly designed for applicants who will serve as the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or a separate ancillary clinical trial as part of their research and career development plan. In other words, the applicant is expected to take primary responsibility for the design and conduct of the clinical trial activity (or an ancillary trial that is distinct and separately managed), rather than simply participating on a trial led by someone else. The FOA also clarifies the boundary for fit: applicants who are not planning to lead an independent clinical trial, or who primarily want clinical trial experience by working within a trial directed by another investigator, are directed instead to a companion announcement, RFA-HL-20-001.
The program sits within NIH's health funding activity category (CFDA 93.839) and is offered as a discretionary grant mechanism. Eligibility is broad on the institutional side and includes many types of domestic organizations that commonly host NIH-funded research. Examples listed include public and private institutions of higher education, federal recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations, state and local governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding higher education institutions in those categories), for-profit entities (other than small businesses), and small businesses, with additional eligibility details referenced in the full FOA text. The sponsoring agency is the NIH within HHS, specifically NHLBI, consistent with the program's focus on blood science.
From an administrative snapshot, the opportunity was created on December 3, 2018, and carried an original closing date of May 8, 2020. The expected number of awards was five. The listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates that a strict single maximum dollar cap is not provided in that particular summary field and that applicants should consult the full FOA for detailed budget limits, allowable costs, and institute-specific salary and research support guidelines.
Overall, this FOA is best understood as a targeted career-development-to-independence pathway for clinician scientists in blood science who are ready to lead clinical trial work. It combines structured mentored development with a planned transition to an independent faculty role, and it uses the clinical trial leadership requirement to ensure that awardees gain substantial experience directing human-subjects research as principal investigators while building the foundation for long-term, independent NIH-funded careers.Apply for RFA HL 20 002
- The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Career Pathway to Independence in Blood Science Award for Physician Scientists (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.839.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 03, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 08, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: Career Pathway to Independence in Blood Science Award for Physician Scientists (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Required)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the Career Pathway to Independence in Blood Science Award for Physician Scientists (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Required), funding opportunity number RFA-HL-20-002. It is an NHLBI (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) program within NIH (National Institutes of Health), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
What is the main goal of RFA-HL-20-002?
The central goal is to build and sustain a strong pipeline of clinician-investigators in blood science by helping highly promising physician scientists transition from mentored research roles into fully independent faculty careers. The program is designed to support the critical period when an early-career researcher is ready to establish an independent research program that can compete for long-term NIH support.
What career stage is this program designed to support?
It is aimed at early-career physician scientists who are in a mentored or training environment and are preparing to move into an independent faculty role, where they will build an independent research program in blood science.
What grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
This opportunity follows the K99/R00 career development structure. The K99 phase supports a mentored period of research and career development, and the R00 phase supports the transition to independence in a tenure-track or equivalent position through a separate, linked funding opportunity.
How does the K99 phase work in this program?
The K99 phase is the mentored phase. It supports the applicant as they deepen scientific and professional development under guidance, while completing a research plan intended to position them for independence.
How does the R00 phase work in this program?
The R00 phase is the independent phase intended to help awardees launch an independent research program after obtaining a tenure-track or equivalent position. The description emphasizes that the R00 phase is meant to function as a springboard into independence by building a research track record, generating publishable findings, and improving competitiveness for subsequent NIH grants in blood science.
Is the R00 phase included automatically with the K99 award?
No. The information provided states that awardees may seek the associated R00 phase through a separate, linked funding opportunity. That means transitioning to the R00 phase is not described as automatic in this summary and is pursued via a linked announcement.
What makes this FOA different from other K99/R00 opportunities?
A defining feature of RFA-HL-20-002 is that it has an independent clinical trial requirement. It is explicitly designed for applicants who will serve as the lead investigator of certain types of clinical trial activity as part of their research and career development plan.
What is the clinical trial requirement for this FOA?
The applicant is expected to serve as the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or a separate ancillary clinical trial. The key point is that the applicant takes primary responsibility for the design and conduct of the clinical trial activity (or an ancillary trial that is distinct and separately managed), rather than being a participant on a trial led by another investigator.
What kinds of trial activities are specifically mentioned as fitting this FOA?
The summary identifies three trial-related options: (1) an independent clinical trial, (2) a clinical trial feasibility study, or (3) a separate ancillary clinical trial that is distinct and separately managed.
What does it mean to be the "lead investigator" for purposes of this FOA?
Based on the description, it means the applicant has primary responsibility for the design and conduct of the clinical trial activity (or for an ancillary clinical trial that is separate and independently managed), rather than primarily gaining experience by working within a trial directed by someone else.
What if I want clinical trial experience but do not plan to lead the trial?
The FOA description states that applicants who are not planning to lead an independent clinical trial, or who primarily want clinical trial experience by working within a trial directed by another investigator, are directed instead to a companion announcement, RFA-HL-20-001.
What is the companion announcement mentioned for applicants who are not leading a trial?
The companion announcement listed is RFA-HL-20-001, referenced as the appropriate alternative for applicants who are not planning to lead an independent clinical trial or who primarily want experience on a trial led by another investigator.
What scientific area does this program focus on?
The program focus is blood science, and it is administered by NHLBI, consistent with NHLBI's mission areas.
Which federal agency sponsors this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is NIH within HHS, specifically the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
What is the CFDA number or assistance listing category provided?
The opportunity is listed within NIH's health funding activity category with CFDA 93.839.
What type of funding is this described as?
It is described as a discretionary grant mechanism in the summary provided.
What types of institutions are eligible to apply?
The institutional eligibility described is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations that commonly host NIH-funded research. Examples listed include:
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations
- State governments and local governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding higher education institutions in those categories)
- For-profit entities (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
The summary also notes that additional eligibility details are referenced in the full FOA text.
Is this opportunity limited to U.S. (domestic) organizations?
The examples provided are described as domestic organizations, and the summary frames eligibility around domestic organizational types. Any additional location-related requirements would be in the full FOA text (not provided here).
When was this opportunity created and when did it close?
The administrative snapshot states the opportunity was created on December 3, 2018, and had an original closing date of May 8, 2020.
How many awards were expected to be made?
The expected number of awards listed is five.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The listing shows an award ceiling of 0. The summary explains that this typically indicates a strict single maximum dollar cap is not provided in that specific summary field, and applicants should consult the full FOA for budget limits, allowable costs, and NHLBI/NIH salary and research support guidance.
Does this summary provide specific budget limits or allowable cost details?
No. The information provided notes that applicants should consult the full FOA for detailed budget limits, allowable costs, and institute-specific salary and research support guidelines.
What is the program ultimately trying to help awardees achieve?
The program is intended to accelerate and strengthen the transition to independence for clinician-investigators in blood science. The expected outcome described is that awardees build an independent research track record, produce publishable findings, and become more competitive for subsequent long-term NIH funding.
Why does this FOA emphasize clinical trial leadership?
The summary frames the clinical trial leadership requirement as a way to ensure awardees gain substantial experience directing human-subjects research as principal investigators while simultaneously building the foundation for long-term, independent NIH-funded careers in blood science.
Where should applicants look for the most detailed requirements?
The summary points to the full FOA text for additional eligibility details and for detailed budget limits, allowable costs, and institute-specific guidance.
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