Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Transition Award

The National Institutes of Health, a component of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, has announced a forecasted opportunity titled the Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Transition Award (Parent F99/K00). The primary aim of this initiative is to support and retain promising graduate students as they progress through their doctoral research training and transition into mentored postdoctoral career development opportunities. The research areas eligible under this award are those aligned with the missions of the various participating NIH Institutes and Centers. The Parent F99/K00 award mechanism is designed to facilitate a seamless transition from predoctoral to postdoctoral stages for early-career scientists. This transition award provides support for the completion of doctoral dissertation research and structured postdoctoral training, fostering career advancement and promoting continued engagement in biomedical and behavioral research. This funding opportunity underscores the NIH’s broader objective to cultivate a highly skilled and diverse scientific workforce. Funding under this program will be provided in the form of a grant, categorized under discretionary opportunities. It falls within the health funding activity, specifically supporting research relevant to the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research (Assistance Listing 93.077). The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching, thereby reducing financial barriers for eligible applicants. While the estimated total program funding, award ceiling, and award floor have not been specified, it is clear that multiple awards are expected, enhancing the reach and impact of the program. Eligible applicants include nonprofits with a 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, small businesses, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. This broad eligibility spectrum ensures that a wide range of institutions can participate and benefit from the program. The official contact for inquiries related to this opportunity is the Division of Biomedical Research Workforce at the NIH Office of the Director, Office of Extramural Research, who can be reached via phone at 301-451-0993 or email at nihtrain@mail.nih.gov. The forecasted timeline for this opportunity indicates an estimated posting date of January 23, 2026, with an application due date of April 8, 2026. The award and project start date are both projected for December 8, 2026, targeting the 2027 fiscal year. As of now, this opportunity remains in the forecasted stage, allowing potential applicants ample time to prepare their submissions. No pre-application deadlines or Q&A sessions have been announced at this stage. Interested parties are encouraged to monitor Grants.gov and the NIH communications channels for updates and the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) publication.