[Biomed_grad_faculty] Fw: Announcing the ACTION Potential F99/K00: NIH Transition Award for Neuroscience Trainees

[Sika Zheng]

Dear recent NINDS F31 applicants and awardees,



We're excited to announce a new opportunity for neuroscience graduate students interested in an independent research career: the ACTION Potential Award<https://www.nih.gov/nih-blueprint-neuroscience-research/training>, administered through the Parent F99/K00<https://files.simpler.grants.gov/opportunities/94d057db-76e8-43de-8f13-89d62c167fe9/attachments/05a4691c-915b-4415-b77d-42877ac4e2bb/PA-27-037-Full-Announcement.html> funding opportunity. It is supported by the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research<https://www.nih.gov/neuroscience-blueprint> and the BRAIN Initiative<https://www.nih.gov/brain>. Please help up spread the word about this program by sharing this information with your graduate program.



You can learn more about this opportunity below and at our upcoming webinar on NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research and BRAIN Initiative training opportunities on Thursday, July 16, 2026 at 2pm - 3pm EDT (Register here<https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/ba81ab2c-eb00-400c-9bb1-f44ecf76540d@14b77578-9773-42d5-8507-251ca2dc2b06>).



About the Award

The two-phase Academic Career Transition Initiative for Opportunities in Neuroscience (ACTION) Potential award supports you through the end of your PhD and into a postdoctoral position:

  *   F99 (PhD phase): 1-2 years of funding and structured support to help you finish your dissertation
     *   You must have at least 1 year left at time of award
  *   K00 (Postdoc phase): 3 years of continued funding and mentorship as you start your postdoc



The program is designed to make the PhD-to-postdoc transition less daunting. You'll get a formal training plan, a vetted mentor or mentor team, annual meetings with a cross-institutional neuroscience community, and career development programming — all aimed at setting you up for an independent research career.



Supported Research

The award is open to graduate students from a wide range of fields within neuroscience. You don't need to stay within a single institute's mission across PhD and postdoctoral training. The program is supported by the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research<https://www.nih.gov/neuroscience-blueprint> and the BRAIN Initiative<https://www.nih.gov/brain>, which are funded by multiple NIH Institutes who pool their resources to support the field as a whole. Your research must fit within the neuroscience mission of one of the participating institutes or offices: NCCIH, NEI, NIA, NIAAA, NIBIB, NICHD, NIDA, NIDCD (BRAIN Initiative research only), NIDCR, NIEHS, NIMH, NINDS, OBSSR.



How to Apply

Apply through the Parent F99/K00<https://files.simpler.grants.gov/opportunities/94d057db-76e8-43de-8f13-89d62c167fe9/attachments/05a4691c-915b-4415-b77d-42877ac4e2bb/PA-27-037-Full-Announcement.html> funding opportunity (PA-27-037). Help us identify your interest in this program by referencing the "Neuroscience Blueprint" in section A. Overall Training Goals, under Goals, Preparedness, and Potential in the Candidate Section. Note that final determination of mission fit is done by NIH staff.



Other Options

If you will complete your PhD in less than a year and plan to perform NINDS research in your postdoc, you may consider applying for the Academic Career Excellence (ACE) Award (K32)<https://files.simpler.grants.gov/opportunities/068900fa-8b72-47a1-83e4-ce1be082203d/attachments/d9b6f5e0-d520-4163-8767-6be100ba49bd/PAR-27-062-Revised-Full-Announcement.html> with your postdoctoral mentor. Candidates must submit their application up to one year prior to beginning their postdoctoral position or no more than two years after their postdoctoral training begins (resubmissions included).  Learn more at the NINDS K Award Open House<https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/78a4ae98-f08c-4603-86c4-3ee7c2e29d05@14b77578-9773-42d5-8507-251ca2dc2b06> on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 3 – 4 pm EDT.



Please reach out in advance of applying: email your questions and specific aims to BPF99K00 at nih.gov<mailto:BPF99K00 at nih.gov>


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