Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)

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Description

This opportunity from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides mentored career development support for clinical scientists aiming to conduct independent basic experimental studies involving humans. The program is designed to foster the transition of clinical doctorates into independent researchers who will address critical health-related research needs in the U.S. It offers "protected time" (3–5 years) for intensive, supervised research and didactic training in biomedical or behavioral science, including translational research.

This specific announcement is for basic science experimental studies with humans—prospective studies that assign human participants to conditions to understand fundamental phenomena, without a specific application toward processes or products. The proposed project must align with the scientific missions of one or more participating NIH Institutes or Centers (ICs).

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Due Dates

• Standard NIH due dates apply for new, renewal, resubmission, and AIDS-related applications.
• Upcoming deadlines include:
  • June 12, 2024 (New)
  • July 12, 2024 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision)
  • September 7, 2024 (AIDS)
  • October 12, 2024 (New)
  • November 12, 2024 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision)
  • January 7, 2025 (AIDS)
  • February 12, 2025 (New)
  • March 12, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision)
  • May 7, 2025 (AIDS)
  • ...and similar dates through May 7, 2027.
• All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.
• Full list of NIH standard due dates

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Funding Amount

• Award budgets include salary and other program-related expenses (e.g., tuition, research supplies, travel, statistical services).
• The total project period may not exceed 5 years.
• Salary and fringe benefits are provided as per the participating NIH Institute/Center's guidelines (see IC-specific information).
• Indirect costs are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs.

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Eligibility

• Eligible Individuals: Must have a clinical doctoral degree (e.g., MD, DO, DDS, DMD, OD, DC, PharmD, ND, DVM, or PhD in a clinical discipline such as clinical psychology, nursing, etc.).
• Must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or permanent resident by the time of award.
• Must not have held certain major NIH independent research or career development awards (see full announcement for details).
• Eligible Organizations:
  • Public and private higher education institutions
  • Nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status)
  • For-profit organizations (including small businesses)
  • State, county, city, township, and special district governments
  • Tribal governments and organizations
  • Independent school districts, public housing authorities, and others
• Ineligible: Non-U.S. organizations and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations (foreign components as defined by NIH are allowed).
• Mentor Requirement: Applicants must identify a primary mentor (or mentoring team) with relevant expertise and a strong track record in research and mentoring.

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Application Process

• Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov using ASSIST, institutional S2S, or Grants.gov Workspace.
• Follow the NIH Career Development (K) Application Guide and all program-specific instructions in the funding announcement.
• Required registrations: SAM, eRA Commons, Grants.gov, and ORCID for PD/PI.
• Reference letters must be submitted directly through eRA Commons.
• Applications must include:
  • Candidate’s background and career goals
  • Career development/training plan
  • Research plan (must propose a basic experimental study with humans as defined by NIH)
  • Mentor/co-mentor statements
  • Institutional commitment and environment
  • Data Management and Sharing Plan
  • Human Subjects and Clinical Trials information (if applicable)
• Strict adherence to page limits and formatting is required.

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Additional Information

• Only applications proposing independent basic experimental studies with humans (meeting both NIH clinical trial and basic research definitions) are eligible under this announcement.
• Not all NIH Institutes and Centers participate; applicants must consult the IC-specific requirements and contacts to ensure alignment.
• A minimum of 75% full-time professional effort (9 person-months) is required for the career development program.
• The program is not intended for patient-oriented research (see K23 for that focus).
• Review criteria include candidate potential, quality of the career development and research plan, mentor qualifications, and institutional environment.
• Data management and sharing, responsible conduct of research, and human subjects protections are required components.

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External Links

• Full Funding Announcement (NIH Guide)
• NIH K08 Activity Code Information
• IC-Specific Information, Requirements, and Staff Contacts
• NIH Application Guide for Career Development (K) Awards
• NIH Research Training and Career Development
• NIH Grants Policy Statement
• Apply via Grants.gov

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Contact Information

For all scientific, eligibility, and programmatic questions, consult the IC-specific contacts before applying.

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