Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)

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Description

This NIH opportunity provides mentored career development support for clinicians (with clinical doctoral degrees) who are committed to patient-oriented research, specifically for independent basic experimental studies involving humans. The K23 mechanism is designed to foster the transition of research-oriented clinicians to independent investigators by providing protected time (3–5 years) for research and career development activities. The focus is on studies that prospectively assign human participants to experimental conditions to understand fundamental aspects of phenomena, without specific application toward processes or products.

The program is open to a wide range of clinical disciplines and is intended to increase the pool of clinical researchers capable of translating biomedical discoveries into clinical settings. The proposed research must align with the scientific missions of one or more participating NIH Institutes or Centers.

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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
  • Renewal/Resubmission/Revision: July 12, 2025 | November 12, 2025 | March 12, 2026 | July 12, 2026 | November 12, 2026 | March 12, 2027 | July 12, 2027
  • AIDS-related: September 7, 2025 | January 7, 2026 | May 7, 2026 | September 7, 2026 | January 7, 2027 | May 7, 2027

• All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.

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Funding Amount

• Award Duration: Up to 5 years.
• Budget: Composed of salary and other program-related expenses (e.g., tuition, research supplies, travel, statistical services).
• Salary: NIH Institutes/Centers provide salary and fringe benefits; see IC-specific guidance.
• Indirect Costs: Reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs.
• Number of Awards: Contingent on NIH appropriations and the number of meritorious applications.

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Eligibility

• Eligible Individuals: Must have a clinical doctoral degree (e.g., MD, DO, DDS, DMD, PharmD, clinical PhD, etc.) and have completed clinical training (specialty and, if applicable, subspecialty) before award.
• Citizenship: U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or permanent residents.
• Career Stage: Early-career clinicians; not available to current/former major NIH independent research or career development awardees (e.g., R01, K01, K08, K23, K99/R00, etc.).
• Effort: Minimum 75% full-time professional effort (9 person-months) must be devoted to the award.
• Mentorship: Applicants must identify a primary mentor with a strong track record in patient-oriented research.
• Eligible Organizations:
  • U.S. higher education institutions (public/private)
  • Nonprofits (with/without 501(c)(3) status)
  • For-profit organizations (including small businesses)
  • State, local, and tribal governments
  • Independent school districts, public housing authorities, and certain other organizations
• Foreign organizations and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components as defined by NIH policy are allowed.

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Application Process

• Submission: Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov, NIH ASSIST, or institutional system-to-system solutions.
• Required Registrations: SAM, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, and ORCID (for PD/PI).
• Application Guide: Follow the NIH Career Development (K) Application Guide and all program-specific instructions.
• Reference Letters: Required and must be submitted directly through eRA Commons.
• Mentor Statement: Must include a detailed plan for supervision, career progression, and annual evaluation.
• Institutional Commitment: The institution must provide a statement of commitment to the candidate’s development and ensure access to necessary resources.
• Data Management and Sharing Plan: Required for all applications generating scientific data.
• Consult IC-Specific Requirements: Review the Table of IC-Specific Information, Requirements, and Staff Contacts to ensure alignment with participating NIH Institutes/Centers.

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Additional Information

• Clinical Trial Requirement: Only applications proposing independent basic experimental studies with humans (meeting both NIH clinical trial and basic research definitions) are accepted.
• Not all NIH Institutes/Centers participate: Confirm participation and specific requirements before applying.
• No cost sharing required.
• Multiple applications: Allowed if scientifically distinct and from different candidates.
• Review Criteria: Emphasize candidate potential, quality of mentorship, research plan, and institutional environment.
• Reporting: Annual progress reports (RPPR) and mentor evaluations required.

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External Links

• NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement (PA-24-186)
• Grants.gov Opportunity Listing
• IC-Specific Information, Requirements, and Staff Contacts
• NIH K23 Activity Code Information
• NIH Research Training and Career Development
• NIH Application Guide for Career Development (K) Awards

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Contact Information