Postdocs—Eligibility Extended for K22 and K99/R00 Due to COVID-19

Funding News Edition: July 21, 2021
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We have good news for postdoctoral researchers.

You may have a temporary extension to your eligibility for NIAID Career Transition Awards (K22) and NIH or NIAID Pathway to Independence Awards (K99/R00). Given that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted your ability to make progress on your research, NIAID issued the following two extension notices.

Notice To Extend Eligibility for Submission of K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award Applications (and Physician-Scientist K99/R00) Due to COVID–Related Disruptions

As you may know, under normal circumstances, you cannot have more than four years of cumulative postdoctoral research experience (i.e., all research experience subsequent to completing the doctorate) to be eligible to apply for the NIAID K99/R00.

With the extension—which applies to AIDS and non-AIDS applications—NIAID will provide a two-receipt cycle extension (roughly eight additional months) of eligibility for those who were eligible to apply for the K99/R00, under normal eligibility rules, between June/July 2021 and February/March 2022 (inclusive of these dates).

Example: Under normal eligibility rules, the final due date at which you can apply for a K99/R00 is June/July 12, 2021. You will now be eligible to apply for the K99/R00 in June/July 2021, October/November 2021, or February/March 2022.

Additionally, those who normally would have been eligible to apply for the June/July 2022 receipt date will have a one-receipt cycle (roughly four months) extension.

Example: Under normal eligibility rules, the final due date at which you can apply for the K99/R00 is June/July 12, 2022. You will now be eligible to apply for the K99/R00 up through the October/November 2022 due dates.

For other examples of extensions for the K99/R00, see the notice linked above.

Notice To Extend Eligibility for Submission to PAR-19-371, NIAID Career Transition Award (K22, Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Due to COVID-Related Disruptions

Under normal circumstances, you must have no more than five years of cumulative postdoctoral research experience (i.e., all research experience subsequent to completing the doctorate) on the relevant due date to be eligible to apply for the NIAID K22.

With the extension—which applies to AIDS and non-AIDS applications—NIAID will provide at least a two-receipt cycle extension (roughly eight additional months) of eligibility for individuals whose eligibility to apply for the K22, under normal eligibility rules (including the resubmission policy as defined in NOT-OD-18-197), is expiring between June/July 2021 and February/March 2022 (inclusive of these dates).

Example: Under normal eligibility rules, the final due date at which you can apply for the K22 is June/July 12, 2021. This individual will now be eligible to apply for the K22 in June/July 2021, October/November 2021, or February/March 2022.

In addition, those who normally would have been eligible to apply for the June/July 2022 receipt date will have a one-receipt cycle (roughly four months) extension.

Example: Under normal eligibility rules, the final due date at which an individual can apply for the K22 is June/July 12, 2022. This individual will now be eligible to apply for the K22 up through the October/November 2022 due dates.

For other examples of extensions for the K22, see the notice linked above.

If You Have Questions

Direct them to Dr. Deborah Philp in our Office of Research Training and Special Programs at AITrainingHelpDesk@niaid.nih.gov.

Contact Us

Email us at deaweb@niaid.nih.gov for help navigating NIAID’s grant and contract policies and procedures.

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