KUH Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA DK 21 033

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 21 033

The KUH Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed), Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DK-21-033, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant program designed to move talented PhD (or equivalent) trainees from the late predoctoral stage into a strong, focused postdoctoral experience in Kidney, Urology, or Hematology (KUH) research. The core idea is to attract outstanding graduate students who are currently training in other areas and intentionally redirect their trajectory into KUH science during the transition from dissertation work to postdoctoral training. In practice, this is a two-phase, mentored career development pathway: an initial predoctoral phase (F99) that supports the final stretch of graduate training and preparation for the postdoctoral move, followed by a mentored postdoctoral phase (K00) that supports the fellow as they deepen KUH expertise and build a foundation for research independence.

A defining feature of this opportunity is who it is meant to recruit. NIDDK is specifically inviting advanced graduate students from a broad range of disciplines that can bring fresh tools and perspectives into KUH research, including fields like engineering, statistics, data science, imaging, biochemistry, genetics, and related quantitative or technology-heavy areas. The program is not aimed at students who are already doing kidney, urology, or hematology research as their primary focus. Those students are considered outside the target population for this mechanism and are instead pointed toward the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31, PA-19-195). Put simply, this FOA is trying to widen and diversify the KUH pipeline by bringing in researchers who can transfer skills from other domains into KUH problems.

The announcement also draws a clear boundary around clinical trials. Applicants are not allowed to propose leading an independent clinical trial under this award. However, they may include research training experiences that involve a clinical trial as long as the clinical trial is led by a sponsor or co-sponsor (in other words, the fellow can gain experience working within a trial environment without being the person responsible for directing the trial). This distinction matters for application planning because it shapes what kinds of human-subjects research and translational training activities can be proposed while remaining compliant with the FOA.

From an applicant and institutional eligibility standpoint, the program is open to a wide range of U.S.-based organizations, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, plus other eligible entities as defined by NIH policy. The FOA explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as 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), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), signaling an intent to encourage broad participation across institution types and to strengthen diversity in the biomedical workforce. At the same time, foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible; however, foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, which can permit limited international collaboration or resources under specific NIH rules.

Operational details in the listing indicate this is a discretionary NIH grant in the health-related activity category (CFDA 93.847), administered by NIH with NIDDK program involvement, and the original closing date shown is 2025-04-01. The FOA strongly encourages prospective applicants to contact the NIDDK Program Official before putting substantial effort into an application, which is typical for specialized NIH training and transition mechanisms and is especially important here given the eligibility nuance (particularly the restriction that applicants cannot already be engaged in KUH research) and the clinical trial limitations.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "KUH Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00 - 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): 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-03-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-04-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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 RFA DK 21 033

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