Current K99 Eligibility Extensions
Consistent with NIH's Extension Policy for Early-Stage Investigator Status, NIAMS is strongly committed to early-stage investigators applying to the NIH Pathway to Independence Awards (Parent K99/ R00 Announcement). To support those applicants, NIH and NIAMS consider requests for extensions for various reasons, including:
- medical concerns,
- disability,
- family care,
- extended periods of clinical training,
- natural disasters, and,
- active-duty military service.
Each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. For questions and K99 extension requests, please contact [email protected].
Childbirth
NIH and NIAMS will approve a one-year extension of K99 eligibility for childbirth. The request must include the child’s date of birth. The one-year extension will automatically apply to the woman giving birth. Men, those adopting children, and same-sex partners of women giving birth can also apply for up to one-year of extension.
NIH ESI Extension Policy
Early-Stage Investigators (ESIs) who have experienced a lapse in their research or research training during the 10-year ESI period can request an extension of their ESI eligibility. Generally, the period of extension is equivalent to the time away. See policy notice NOT-OD-19-125 for more details.
Requesting an Extension
Principal investigators (PI) can submit a request for an ESI extension via an ESI Extension Request link found in the Education section of the PI’s Personal Profile in eRA Commons.
For step-by-step instructions, see
For more information, visit the NIH Early-Stage Investigator Extensions webpage.