The purpose of the NINDS Postdoctoral Mentored Career Development Award is to support the ability of outstanding, mentored postdoctoral researchers to develop a potentially impactful research project with a comprehensive career development plan that will enable them to launch an independent research program. Candidates are encouraged to apply for support from this NINDS K01 any time between the second through fourth year of cumulative mentored postdoctoral research experience, and may be supported by this NINDS K01 within the first 6 years of cumulative postdoctoral research experience. Because the completion of a strong, well-planned, thorough career development plan, in addition to development of an impactful research project, is a critical aspect of this K01, applications are strongly encouraged early in the postdoctoral eligibility window. By the end of the proposed K01 award period, the candidate should be poised to begin an independent research career with a well-developed, impactful research project and the expertise required to become a leader in the field.
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is designed specifically for applicants proposing to serve as the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or a separate ancillary study to an existing trial, as part of their research and career development. Applicants not planning an independent clinical trial, or proposing to gain research experience in a clinical trial led by another investigator, must apply to companion NOFO (PAR-23-143).
Deadlines:
- K Series Deadlines: Feb. 12, Jun. 12, Oct. 12
- AIDS Deadlines: Jan. 7, May 7, Sep. 7.
PAR-23-142 Expiration Date: May 08, 2024
By the time of award, the individual must be a citizen or a non-citizen national of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., possess a currently valid Permanent Resident Card USCIS Form I-551, or other legal verification of such status).
Candidates must have more than 12 months, but no more than 48 months, of postdoctoral research experience as of the relevant application due date. Only candidates with a research doctorate (Ph.D. or equivalent) or candidates who have a clinical doctorate but will not have a license to practice clinically for the duration of the K01 award period are eligible to apply. Individuals who currently have a license to practice clinically, or will have a license to practice clinically at any time during the K01 award period, are not eligible. Candidates with a clinical doctorate (M.D. or equivalent) who are or will be licensed to practice clinically are encouraged to use either the K08, K23 or K99 mechanisms. This NINDS K01 will support only those in mentored, postdoctoral research positions. Individuals with any kind of faculty position (including Instructor, Research Assistant Professor, etc.) are not eligible to apply for this NINDS postdoctoral K01. If a K01 awardee transitions to a faculty position within the first 18 months of this award, the award will be terminated. However, if the awardee transitions to a faculty position after the first 18 months of the award, up to 12 months of the remaining time on the award may be used to support the scholar in the independent position.
In addition to standard, automatic NIH leave policies, K01 awardees who have children while supported by an award made under this NOFO, either through childbirth or adoption, are encouraged to consider requesting a six-month paid extension of their K01. NINDS may provide one six-month extension during the mentored postdoctoral period to ensure that K01 research and career development can be completed. Requests must be submitted in writing, following the procedures described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, Section 12.13.1.
Current and former PDs/PIs on NIH research project (R01), program project (P01), center grants (P50), Project Leads of program project (P01), or center grants (P50), other major individual career development awards (e.g., K01, K07, K08, K22, K23, K25, K76, K99/R00), or the equivalent are not eligible. Current and former PDs/PIs of an NIH Small Grant (R03), Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21/R33), Planning Grant (R34/U34), Dissertation Award (R36), or SBIR/STTR (R41, R42, R43, R44) remain eligible, as do PD/PIs of Transition Scholar (K38) awards and individuals appointed to institutional K programs (K12, KL2).
Candidates may not submit research project grant (RPG) applications concurrently with the K application, nor can they have a K application and R01 or equivalent application pending simultaneously. K award recipients are encouraged to obtain funding from NIH or other Federal sources either as a PD/PI on a competing research grant award or cooperative agreement, or as project leader on a competing multi-project award as described in NOT-OD 18-157.