Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 19 011
The NIH Blueprint Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award (F99/K00), announced under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-NS-19-011, is a discretionary NIH grant mechanism designed to create a structured, supported bridge from late-stage PhD training into a neuroscience postdoctoral position. Its central goal is to strengthen the neuroscience research workforce by backing outstanding graduate students who come from backgrounds that are nationally underrepresented in neuroscience research and by giving them a defined, mentored pathway that carries across two key career stages. In practice, the award is meant to help a trainee finish the doctoral dissertation on a strong timeline, then successfully transition into a high-quality postdoctoral environment where they can deepen their research expertise and build the professional foundation needed for a long-term career as an independent neuroscience researcher.
A defining feature of D-SPAN is its two-phase structure, reflected in the F99/K00 activity codes. The first phase (F99) supports the final segment of doctoral training, emphasizing dissertation completion and preparing the trainee to compete for and enter the next stage of research training. The second phase (K00) supports the postdoctoral transition and early postdoctoral period, with a strong career development focus aimed at positioning the awardee to move toward independence. Across both phases, the program prioritizes robust mentoring and career development activities that match the awardee’s stated long-term objective of becoming an independent neuroscience investigator, rather than treating the postdoc simply as additional bench time. The intent is to reduce common transition barriers between graduate school and postdoctoral training and to provide continuity of support at a time when many trainees otherwise experience funding gaps or limited structured development.
The opportunity sits within NIH’s broader “Blueprint” effort, meaning it aligns with trans-NIH interests in neuroscience training and workforce development. While the notice references a wide set of CFDA numbers (including 93.113, 93.121, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.361, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, and 93.867), the practical takeaway is that the program is administered through NIH and connected to multiple NIH components that support neuroscience and related training goals. The awarding agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the opportunity category is listed as discretionary, with the funding instrument type being a grant and the broad activity category spanning areas such as education and health.
Eligibility, as presented in the source data, is broad at the organizational level and includes many common applicant types: state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and tribal organizations (other than federally recognized governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other entities. The notice also highlights additional eligible applicant categories that often align with workforce diversity goals, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (other than federally recognized), and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, the announcement makes clear that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, which means a U.S.-based applicant may, under NIH policy rules, include certain foreign elements in the project if properly justified and permitted under NIH definitions and requirements.
The timeline information provided indicates an original closing date of April 15, 2021, and a creation date for the opportunity record of October 3, 2018. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the supplied text, so applicants would normally need to consult the full NIH funding opportunity announcement and related NIH budget guidance to understand any institute-specific caps, standard allowance levels, and anticipated award volume. Overall, D-SPAN is best understood as a targeted, continuity-focused training-to-career-development award that concentrates resources at the critical PhD-to-postdoc handoff, with the explicit aim of supporting underrepresented trainees in neuroscience and strengthening their trajectory toward independent research careers.Apply for RFA NS 19 011
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIH Blueprint Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award (F99/K00)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.361, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-10-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-04-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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FAQs: NIH Blueprint D-SPAN Award (F99/K00) - RFA-NS-19-011
What is the NIH Blueprint Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award?
The D-SPAN Award is an NIH discretionary grant mechanism (F99/K00) designed to create a structured and supported bridge from late-stage PhD training into a neuroscience postdoctoral position. The program emphasizes continuity of support and a mentored pathway across two career stages to help trainees move toward independent neuroscience research careers.
What is the main goal of the D-SPAN program?
The central goal is to strengthen the neuroscience research workforce by supporting outstanding graduate students from backgrounds that are nationally underrepresented in neuroscience research. It aims to help them complete their dissertations on a strong timeline and transition into a high-quality postdoctoral environment with focused career development.
What does "F99/K00" mean in this opportunity?
F99/K00 refers to the award’s two-phase structure. The F99 phase supports the final segment of doctoral training, while the K00 phase supports the postdoctoral transition and early postdoctoral period with a strong career development focus.
What is supported during the F99 (predoctoral) phase?
The F99 phase supports late-stage PhD training with an emphasis on dissertation completion and preparation to compete for and enter the next stage of research training (a postdoctoral position).
What is supported during the K00 (postdoctoral) phase?
The K00 phase supports the transition into a postdoctoral position and the early postdoctoral period. It places strong emphasis on career development and positioning the awardee to move toward research independence, not simply accumulating additional research time.
How does D-SPAN help with the PhD-to-postdoc transition?
D-SPAN is intended to reduce common barriers at the graduate-to-postdoctoral handoff by providing continuity of support and a defined, mentored pathway across both phases. This can help address funding gaps and limited structured development that can occur during this transition.
What role do mentoring and career development play in this award?
Robust mentoring and career development activities are a priority across both phases. The program is designed to align these activities with the awardee’s stated long-term objective of becoming an independent neuroscience investigator.
Who is the awarding agency?
The awarding agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number provided is RFA-NS-19-011.
What is the opportunity category and funding instrument type?
The opportunity category is listed as discretionary, and the funding instrument type is a grant.
What broad activity area does this opportunity fall under?
The activity category spans areas such as education and health, and the opportunity is focused on neuroscience training and workforce development.
What does it mean that the program is part of the NIH "Blueprint" effort?
Being part of the NIH Blueprint effort means the opportunity aligns with trans-NIH interests in neuroscience training and workforce development and is connected to multiple NIH components that support neuroscience and related training goals.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The notice references multiple CFDA numbers: 93.113, 93.121, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.361, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, and 93.867.
Which organization types are eligible to apply (as listed in the source information)?
The eligibility list provided includes a broad range of applicant organizations: state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and tribal organizations (other than federally recognized governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other entities.
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations included in the listed eligibility categories?
Yes. The notice highlights additional eligible applicant categories often aligned with workforce diversity goals, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, TCCUs, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (other than federally recognized), and U.S. territories or possessions.
Are non-U.S. (non-domestic) organizations eligible to apply?
No. The announcement states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
Are foreign components allowed in any form?
Yes. The source information states that foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed. This indicates that a U.S.-based applicant may be able to include certain foreign elements if they meet NIH definitions and requirements and are properly justified under NIH policy.
Who is the award intended to support?
The award is intended to support outstanding graduate students from backgrounds that are nationally underrepresented in neuroscience research, with the purpose of supporting their progression from late-stage PhD training into a neuroscience postdoctoral position and onward toward independence.
Does the provided information specify the award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The supplied text indicates that the award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified.
Where would applicants typically look to find budget caps or the anticipated number of awards?
Based on the information provided, applicants would normally consult the full NIH funding opportunity announcement and related NIH budget guidance for any institute-specific caps, standard allowance levels, and anticipated award volume.
What are the key dates mentioned for this opportunity?
The opportunity record includes a creation date of October 3, 2018, and an original closing date of April 15, 2021.
What makes D-SPAN different from a typical postdoctoral experience?
The provided description emphasizes that the program is not meant to treat the postdoc as simply additional bench time. Instead, it prioritizes structured mentoring and career development with the goal of positioning the awardee for a long-term trajectory toward independent neuroscience research.
In one sentence, how should someone understand D-SPAN based on the provided description?
D-SPAN is a targeted, continuity-focused training-to-career-development award that concentrates resources at the critical PhD-to-postdoc transition, explicitly aiming to support underrepresented trainees in neuroscience and strengthen their path toward independent research careers.
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