URL: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-23-287.html

Objectives

The goal of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Pathways to Independence Award is to help postdoctoral researchers complete necessary mentored training in order to transition to independent tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty positions, particularly in cancer control, cancer prevention, and cancer data sciences.

While the postdoctoral researcher is solely responsible for submitting their materials for internal review, both the researcher (candidate) and mentor are involved in submitting the external application. The mentor(s) the candidate identifies should be active investigators in the area of the candidate’s proposed research. Additionally, the mentor(s) are expected to propose a well-conceived plan for 1-2 years of substantive mentored research training and career development that will help their investigators become competitive candidates for tenure-track faculty positions and prepare them to launch robust, independent research programs.

Funding Information

Up to 5 years of support in two continuous phases:

  • initial/K99 phase: up to 2 years of mentored postdoctoral research training and career development
  • independent/R00 phase: up to 3 years of independent research support, contingent on satisfactory progress during the K99 phase and an approved, independent tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty position

In the K99 phase, candidates receive up to $100,000 per year for salary along with other research development benefits (up to $30,000 per year). Salary for mentors is not allowed.

In the R00 phase, total costs can be up to $249,000 per year, including salary, fringe benefits, research costs, and applicable indirect costs.

Eligibility

There is no citizenship requirement for applicants. Additionally, candidates must:

  • Have no more than 2 years of postdoctoral research experience as of the external application deadline
  • Be in mentored, postdoctoral training positions
  • Have a clinical or research doctorate. Though, clinicians in a clinical faculty position that indicates independence in clinical responsibilities but not in research may also be eligible.

Individuals are NOT eligible if they:

  • Have currently or previously held an independent research faculty or tenure-track faculty position, or its equivalent, in academia, industry or elsewhere; or
  • Have more than 2 years of related postdoctoral research training at the time of initial application or resubmission; or
  • Have been an independent PD/PI on NIH research grants (e.g. R01, R03, R21), NIH career development awards (e.g., K01, K07, K08, K23, K25), or other peer-reviewed NIH or non-NIH research grants over $100,000 direct costs per year, or Project Leaders on sub-projects of program project (P01) or center (P50) grants or the equivalent.

Internal Selection Process

The internal selection process depends on whether your grants are managed by BU or Boston Medical Center (BMC). Use the steps below to determine this information:

  • Step 1: Open the BUMC Home Institution Finder
  • Step 2: Log in to search the database – search using your last name
  • Step 3: Follow one process:
    • If you see BU or BU-CAMED, follow BU Process below
    • If you see BMC, follow the BMC Process below

BU Process

BU may submit up to 4 applications, one in each of the following areas: Cancer Data Science, Cancer Control Science, Molecular/Precision Cancer Prevention, and Other Cancer Research. See Eligibility Section 3 for descriptions of these areas.

Interested applicants should submit the following materials via InfoReady Review by: 4/16/2026

  • Proposal Summary (max 2 pages) describing past research and how it contributes to future research plans; identifying areas for professional development; and briefly describing the proposed clinical trial
  • Mentor Information & Justification (1 paragraph) identifying the mentor(s) for the proposed project and briefly explaining what expertise they have would that contribute to your professional development
  • Biosketch in SciENcv format (see BU’s walkthrough)

As necessary, a faculty review committee will review internal applications and select the institutional applicants.

BMC Process

BMC may submit up to 4 applications, one in each of the following areas: Cancer Data Science, Cancer Control Science, Molecular/Precision Cancer Prevention, and Other Cancer Research. See Eligibility Section 3 for descriptions of these areas.

If you are a fellow whose faculty advisor is a BMC investigator, please contact the Program Manager of Strategic Research Growth, Carolina Giudice (carolina.giudice@bmc.org) by Thursday, April 16, 2026 to express interest in this opportunity.

Deadlines

BMC Expression of Interest Due: Thursday, April 16, 2026

BU Internal Materials Due: Thursday, April 16, 2026 by 11:59 pm ET

Anticipated Notification Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026

External Materials Due: Monday, June 15, 2026

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