The Fogarty Emerging Global Leader Award (K43) provides 3–5 years of intensive, mentored support to early-career investigators based at institutions in low- and middle-income countries. It is a career-development award, not a standard project grant, and is meant to create independent research leaders who can compete for major NIH or other international funding. NCI participates in this mechanism and explicitly supports global cancer research projects under this K43 program.
Eligibility Criteria:
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Principal investigator must be a citizen or permanent resident of an eligible low- or middle-income country (LMIC) and hold a junior faculty or research scientist position at an LMIC institution
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Host institution must be an LMIC academic or research institution (US institutions are not eligible as the applicant organization)
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Strong prior research training (e.g., PhD, MD with research experience, or equivalent) and early publications
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Committed mentors (local and, often, high-income–country co-mentors) with strong funding and expertise in the proposed research area
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Cancer-focused projects eligible under NCI’s participation when aligned with global cancer research priorities
Funding Details:
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3–5 years of mentored support
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Provides salary (career development) support and research project funds; specific caps vary by NIH Institute/Center and FOA version
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Protected time: typically at least 75% effort on research and career development activities
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Strong expectation that awardees transition to independent funding (e.g., R01-equivalent or other major grants) by the end of the K43 period
Deadline:
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Current FOAs (PAR-24-295/296) list recurring due dates:
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Application deadlines: December 3, 2025 and December 3, 2026 (5:00 PM local time of applicant organization).
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Letter of intent: 30 days before each application deadline
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Where to go for further information:
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Fogarty International Center program page – Emerging Global Leader Award (K43).