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Academic Career Excellence (ACE) Award (K32 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

National Institutes of Health · Opportunity number PAR-27-062

View the official notice on Grants.gov
1000 days left (deadline Jul 12, 2029)

Details summarized from the official notice as of Oct 16, 2026. Always confirm eligibility, deadlines and requirements in the official notice before applying.

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Key facts

Opportunity numberPAR-27-062
AgencyNational Institutes of Health
Department of Health and Human Services
Assistance listing (ALN, formerly CFDA)93.855, 93.398, 93.121, 93.286, 93.853
PostedMay 27, 2026
DeadlineJul 12, 2029
Cost sharing or matching requiredNo
Funding typeGrant
CategoryHealth
Last updated hereOct 16, 2026

Summary from the notice

The purpose of the Academic Career Excellence (ACE) Award (K32) is to support rigorous, mentored scientific research and career development for up to three years for early-stage postdoctoral scholars. 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). The ACE K32 will foster early, goal-directed planning and encourage innovative applications with the potential for a significant impact on scientific research and career development. Inclusion of preliminary data are not required as the ACE K32 emphasizes innovative research ideas and thoughtful plans for training and mentorship that will facilitate the development of the postdoctoral scholars who have the potential to become productive, independent investigators in research fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers.

Who can apply

The official notice lists these applicant types as eligible:

  • Special district governments
  • Small businesses
  • Others named in the notice (see the eligibility text)
  • County governments
  • City or township governments
  • Public and Indian housing authorities
  • Private colleges and universities
  • Other Native American tribal organizations
  • Public and state colleges and universities
  • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than colleges)
  • State governments
  • Federally recognized tribal governments
  • Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than colleges)
  • Independent school districts
  • For-profit organizations other than small businesses

Who should take a closer look

  • Small businesses
  • Nonprofits
  • Colleges and universities
  • State governments
  • Local governments
  • Tribal governments and organizations
  • Larger for-profit companies

Not listed as eligible

  • Individuals

Unless the eligibility text in the notice names you, this opportunity is probably not for you.

Eligibility details from the notice

Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information in the NOFO for additional information on eligibility.Foreign Organizations/International Collaborations:Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

Registrations you will likely need

Most applications submitted through Grants.gov need the following. Registration can take several weeks, so start early. The notice lists the exact requirements.

Past awards for this program

Totals for assistance listing 93.855, 93.398, 93.121, 93.286, 93.853 from public USASpending.gov data, as of Mar 26, 2026. Past awards do not predict future funding.

YearListingAwardsTotalAverage
2026 93.855 1 $1,062,954,652 $1,062,954,652

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