NIH to restrict Pathways to Independence grants to U.S. citizens and permanent residents

The National Institutes of Health announced plans to limit eligibility for its “Pathways to Independence” award to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and non‑citizen nationals. The change would bar international researchers on visas from applying for the program.

The Pathways to Independence award, also known as the K99/R00, provides two years of postdoctoral funding followed by three years of support for establishing an independent laboratory. It has been one of the few federal mechanisms that allowed non‑U.S. scientists to secure stable funding while building a career in American biomedical research.

Experts warn that removing this option could make it harder for promising scholars on visas to find a foothold in the United States, potentially weakening the pipeline of talent that fuels drug discovery and academic innovation.