Independent Scientist Award (Parent K02 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)

The NIH Independent Scientist Award (K02) is a programme designed to foster the development of exceptional scientists and aid them in making significant contributions to their respective research fields. It offers support in the form of a salary for a period of three to five years and ensures "protected time" for recently independent scientists who can demonstrate a need for a period of intensive research in order to enhance their careers.

Each scientist's award programme is customized to the individual needs of the scientist. This announcement is specifically for basic science experiments involving human participants, as detailed in NOT-OD-18-212. These studies are classified within the NIH as a clinical trial but also meet the definition of basic research.

Studies appropriate for submission under this programme include those that assign humans to specific conditions (experimentally manipulating independent variables) and assess biomedical or behavioural outcomes with the aim of understanding the basic aspects of phenomena without a specific application or product in mind.

Scientists not intending to conduct an independent clinical trial or basic experimental study with humans, or looking to gain research experience under another investigator, must instead apply to the 'Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed' sister programme.

Lastly, the proposed research project must align with the programmatic interests of one or more of the cooperating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs), and be relevant to their scientific missions.