Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: June 12, 2025 (New) | July 12, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission) | October 12, 2025 (New) | November 12, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission) | February 12, 2026 (New) | March 12, 2026 (Renewal/Resubmission) | June 12, 2026 (New) | July 12, 2026 (Renewal/Resubmission) | October 12, 2026 (New) | November 12, 2026 (Renewal/Resubmission) | February 12, 2027 (New) | March 12, 2027 (Renewal/Resubmission) | June 12, 2027 (New) | July 12, 2027 (Renewal/Resubmission) | October 12, 2027 (New) | November 12, 2027 (Renewal/Resubmission)
Funding Amounts: Up to 5 years total: up to 2 years intramural (NIH) and 3+ years extramural; up to $125,000/year salary (extramural phase), plus $50,000/year research development costs; 8% indirect costs (extramural phase).
Summary: Supports NINDS intramural neurologist- and neurosurgeon-scientists in transitioning to independent, research-active academic faculty positions, with a required independent clinical trial component.
Key Information: Applicants must be NINDS intramural neurologists or neurosurgeons within 4 years of residency/fellowship completion; only applications proposing an independent clinical trial are eligible.
Description
This opportunity, administered by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), is a Career Transition Award (K22) designed to support the transition of NINDS intramural clinician-scientists (neurologists and neurosurgeons) to independent, research-active academic faculty positions. The award is structured in two phases: an initial mentored period within the NIH intramural program (up to 2 years), followed by a mentored extramural phase (at least 3 years) at an eligible academic institution. The program specifically requires applicants to propose and lead an independent clinical trial, feasibility study, or ancillary study as part of their research and career development.
The goal is to foster the integration of highly skilled, NIH-trained clinician-scientists into the national neuroscience research community, supporting both their research and clinical activities as they establish independent careers.
Due Dates
- Standard NIH due dates apply:
- New Applications: June 12, 2025 | October 12, 2025 | February 12, 2026 | June 12, 2026 | October 12, 2026 | February 12, 2027 | June 12, 2027 | October 12, 2027
- Renewal/Resubmission/Revision: July 12, 2025 | November 12, 2025 | March 12, 2026 | July 12, 2026 | November 12, 2026 | March 12, 2027 | July 12, 2027 | November 12, 2027
- All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.
- The opportunity expires November 13, 2027.
Funding Amount
- Project Period: Up to 5 years total (up to 2 years intramural at NIH, at least 3 years extramural at an academic institution).
- Salary Support:
- Intramural phase: Salary consistent with NIH intramural program for the position.
- Extramural phase: Up to $125,000/year toward recipient’s salary (subject to NIH salary cap).
- Research Development Costs:
- Intramural phase: $25,000/year.
- Extramural phase: $50,000/year.
- Indirect Costs: 8% of modified total direct costs (extramural phase only).
- Number of Awards: Contingent on NIH appropriations and the number of meritorious applications.
Eligibility
- Individual Eligibility:
- Must be a clinically licensed neurologist or neurosurgeon in the NINDS intramural program.
- Must be within 4 years of completion of residency or clinical fellowship at the time of initial application (5 years for resubmissions).
- Must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or permanent resident by the time of award.
- Must not have held or currently hold an NIH individual career development award (K series), Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00), or be a PI on an NIH research grant (R01, R03, R21, P01, P50, or equivalent).
- Must propose to serve as the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial, feasibility study, or ancillary study.
- Institutional Eligibility:
- Only NINDS may apply for the initial intramural phase.
- Extramural phase must be at a U.S. academic institution (public or private), for-profit or non-profit, with appropriate research infrastructure.
- Foreign institutions and non-domestic components are not eligible.
- Effort Requirement:
- Neurologists: Minimum 75% full-time professional effort (9 person-months/year) dedicated to research.
- Neurosurgeons: Minimum 50% full-time professional effort (6 person-months/year) dedicated to research.
Application Process
- Application Guide: Follow the NIH Career Development (K) Application Guide and the specific instructions in the funding announcement.
- Submission: Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov using ASSIST, institutional S2S, or Grants.gov Workspace.
- Required Documents:
- SF424 (R&R) forms
- PHS 398 Career Development Award Supplemental Form
- Project Summary/Abstract (including research and career development plan)
- Research Plan (must span both intramural and extramural phases)
- Letters of reference (submitted directly via eRA Commons)
- Mentor and co-mentor statements
- Institutional commitment letter
- Data Management and Sharing Plan
- Human Subjects/Clinical Trials information (if applicable)
- Reference Letters: Required and must be submitted by the application deadline.
- Transition to Extramural Phase: Requires administrative approval by NINDS, evidence of a suitable faculty position, and institutional commitment.
Additional Information
- Clinical Trial Requirement: Only applications proposing an independent clinical trial (or feasibility/ancillary study) are eligible for this NOFO. Applicants not proposing an independent clinical trial should apply to the companion NOFO (PAR-25-215).
- Mentorship: A primary mentor at NINDS is required for the intramural phase; a co-mentor at the extramural institution is strongly encouraged for the transition phase.
- Transition Requirements: To obtain the 5th year of funding, recipients must submit an NIH R01, DP1, or R21 application as PI by the end of year 4.
- Protected Time: The extramural institution must guarantee the required protected research time and provide necessary resources.
- Data Sharing: All applications must include a Data Management and Sharing Plan in accordance with NIH policy.
- Review Criteria: Applications are evaluated on candidate potential, career development plan, research plan, mentorship, and institutional environment.
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Contact Information