The NCI Transition Career Development Award (K22 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) | PAR 21 318

FAQs: NCI Transition Career Development Award (K22) - PAR-21-318

What is the NCI Transition Career Development Award (K22) under PAR-21-318?

The NCI Transition Career Development Award (K22 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required), opportunity number PAR-21-318, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). It is designed to help cancer researchers move from mentored, non-independent roles into their first independent faculty appointments.

What is the main purpose of this K22 opportunity?

The core purpose is career transition support. It targets investigators who are finishing a mentored phase of training and need a structured bridge into research independence, specifically aligned with the start of a first independent tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty position.

What makes the K22 distinct compared to other career development support described here?

Based on the provided information, this K22 is tied directly to the start of the recipient's first independent faculty appointment and is intended to provide stability and momentum during the early years when a new principal investigator is establishing a lab, publishing as a senior author, defining a research niche, and competing for larger independent research grants.

When does the K22 support take place?

The support is structured to cover the initial three years of the recipient's first independent faculty appointment, as described in the opportunity summary.

What kind of support does the award provide?

The award is intended to provide protected time and resources during the early independent faculty years. In practical terms, it is meant to offset salary and provide research support so the investigator can devote substantial effort to developing and executing a cancer-focused research program.

What does "protected time" mean in the context of this award?

As described, the award is meant to reduce pressure to spend the majority of time on teaching, heavy service commitments, or soft-money clinical demands, allowing substantial effort to be focused on building an independent cancer research program.

What type of research is expected under this funding opportunity?

The FOA emphasizes "independent basic experimental studies with humans required." This indicates the proposed research is expected to include human participants or human-derived data and/or samples in a way that meets NIH definitions for human subjects research in a basic experimental context.

Does the proposed work need to involve human participants or human data/samples?

Yes. The opportunity description explicitly signals that the funded work involves independent basic experimental studies with humans required, meaning the research is expected to include human participants or human-derived data/samples consistent with NIH human subjects definitions in the basic experimental context.

Who is this award intended to help (career stage)?

It is intended for investigators transitioning out of mentored, non-independent roles and into their first truly independent faculty appointments, particularly during the early high-pressure years of launching an independent research career.

Is this award connected to obtaining a tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty position?

Yes. The K22 described here is tied directly to the start of a first independent tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty position, and the support is designed to apply during the first three years of that appointment.

What outcomes is the program trying to enable for awardees?

The program is meant to accelerate the transition to independence by helping investigators establish an independent cancer research program, build a lab, publish as a senior author, establish a research niche, and become competitive for future major independent research grants.

What types of U.S.-based organizations are eligible to apply as the applicant organization?

Eligible applicant organizations include a broad range of U.S.-based entities, including public and private institutions of higher education; state and local governments (including counties, cities, townships, and special districts); independent school districts; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized.

Are nonprofit organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The summary states that eligible applicants include nonprofits, both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3).

Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The summary indicates that for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.

Are small businesses eligible to apply?

Yes. Small businesses are explicitly listed among eligible applicant organizations.

Are public housing authorities eligible to apply?

Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are explicitly listed as eligible applicant organizations.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. The summary explicitly includes U.S. territories or possessions among the additional eligible categories.

Which institution types are explicitly called out as eligible in support of workforce development and equity?

The announcement explicitly calls out the following categories as eligible: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American 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; and regional organizations.

Are foreign (non-U.S.) institutions eligible to apply as the applicant organization?

No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign institutions, are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization for this opportunity.

Are non-domestic components of U.S. organizations eligible to apply?

No. The summary states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.

Are foreign components allowed in the project at all?

Yes, with conditions. While foreign institutions cannot apply as the applicant organization, foreign components are allowed when they fit NIH policy definitions in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. In other words, a U.S. applicant may include certain foreign activities or collaborations when justified and compliant with NIH requirements.

What agency and institute are offering this opportunity?

This is an NIH grant offered through the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is PAR-21-318.

What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed in the provided summary is 93.398.

How is this opportunity categorized administratively?

It is categorized as a discretionary grant, within the broader activity areas of education and health.

When was the FOA created?

The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) was created on March 15, 2021.

What is the listed original closing date?

The listed original closing date is March 14, 2024.

Does the provided summary state an award ceiling?

No. The provided text does not specify an award ceiling.

Does the provided summary state the expected number of awards?

No. The provided text does not specify the expected number of awards.

What does the award aim to provide during the early years of independence?

It aims to provide stability and momentum by supporting salary and research needs so a new faculty investigator can focus substantial effort on building an independent cancer research program during the first three years of the first independent appointment.