NIA Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Awards to Promote Diversity in Translational Research for AD/ADRD (K99/R00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 24 271

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 24 271

The NIA Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Awards to Promote Diversity in Translational Research for AD/ADRD (K99/R00, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is an NIH funding opportunity (PAR-24-271; CFDA 93.866) run by the National Institute on Aging. Its central aim is to strengthen and diversify the translational research workforce focused on Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD). The program is framed as a “pathway to independence” award, meaning it is intended to help advanced postdoctoral researchers move from mentored training into an independent research position with their own research program. The long-term objective is to expand the pool of translational scientists from diverse backgrounds who are prepared to contribute to, and eventually lead, interdisciplinary and team-science efforts addressing AD/ADRD treatment, prevention, early detection, and disease management and care.

A key feature of this NOFO is its explicit emphasis on translational research skills and experiences that can be applied across the AD/ADRD spectrum. The opportunity is broad in scientific scope: it supports work ranging from population-based and epidemiologic studies to research that may inform or enable new diagnostics and therapeutics, and it explicitly includes behavioral and social research. Importantly, the focus is not just on producing a set of research results during the award period, but on building the candidate’s capability to operate as an independent translational investigator in AD/ADRD. The award is meant to support highly trained early career researchers as they strengthen their expertise, publication record, and independence, positioning them for a faculty or other independent research role and for competitive future funding.

This NOFO also draws a bright line around clinical trial leadership. It is labeled “Clinical Trial Not Allowed,” which means the candidate’s proposed project cannot involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial. However, the announcement makes room for valuable clinical trial exposure: candidates are allowed to propose a research experience within a clinical trial as long as the trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor. In practice, this lets applicants gain hands-on translational and clinical research experience (for example, working with trial data, biospecimens, recruitment frameworks, or trial-related mechanistic studies) without being the responsible party directing the clinical trial itself.

Eligibility is wide on the institutional side, reflecting NIH’s intent to make the mechanism accessible across many sectors and organization types. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special district), as well as independent school districts and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments) are also included. The NOFO additionally highlights categories of organizations often associated with serving underrepresented groups or specific communities, such as 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 and eligible federal agencies. While the document lists “Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations)” among other eligible applicant types, it also explicitly states that non-domestic entities are not eligible to apply, and that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. At the same time, it permits foreign components as defined by NIH policy, meaning a U.S.-based applicant organization may be able to include certain foreign activities or collaborations if they meet NIH’s definition and requirements for foreign components.

From an administrative perspective, this is a discretionary grant opportunity under the NIH umbrella. The opportunity was created on 2024-09-04, and the listed closing date is 2027-07-12, indicating a multi-year window during which applications may be accepted according to NIH submission cycles and any stated receipt dates in the full announcement. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source details, which is common for NIH career development announcements where budgets and award counts can depend on appropriations, institute priorities, and the number of meritorious applications in a given round.

Overall, this NOFO is best understood as an NIH career transition mechanism aimed at advanced postdocs who are building a translational AD/ADRD research trajectory and who also align with the program’s diversity-oriented workforce goal. It supports the final stretch of mentored development and the leap to independence, encourages interdisciplinary and team-based translational work spanning biomedical, clinical-adjacent (without trial leadership), behavioral, and social science approaches, and seeks to grow the next generation of independent investigators equipped to push forward progress in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIA Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Awards to Promote Diversity in Translational Research for AD/ADRD (K99/R00 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): 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-09-04.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-07-12.
• 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 24 271

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