Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: June 12, 2025 (New) | July 12, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | September 7, 2025 (AIDS) | October 12, 2025 (New) | November 12, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | January 7, 2026 (AIDS) | February 12, 2026 (New) | March 12, 2026 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | May 7, 2026 (AIDS) | June 12, 2026 (New) | July 12, 2026 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | September 7, 2026 (AIDS) | October 12, 2026 (New) | November 12, 2026 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | January 7, 2027 (AIDS) | February 12, 2027 (New) | March 12, 2027 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | May 7, 2027 (AIDS)
Funding Amounts: 3–5 years of salary and research support; award budgets vary by NIH Institute/Center and include salary, fringe, and research development costs.
Summary: Provides mentored, protected time for early-career researchers in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences to achieve research independence (no independent clinical trials allowed).
Key Information: Applicants must consult the IC-specific requirements and contacts before applying; only U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents are eligible.
Description
The NIH Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) supports early-career researchers by providing protected time (three to five years) for intensive, supervised career development in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences. The goal is to facilitate the transition to research independence and competitiveness for future research project grants (e.g., R01). This opportunity is specifically for applicants who do not propose to lead an independent clinical trial, though mentored experience within a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor is permitted.
The K01 is used by participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) to support a range of career development needs, including training in a new field or re-entry after a career hiatus. Applicants must align their proposals with the mission and requirements of a participating IC.
Due Dates
- Standard NIH due dates apply:
- New applications: June 12, October 12, February 12 (annually)
- Renewal/Resubmission/Revision: July 12, November 12, March 12 (annually)
- AIDS-related applications: September 7, January 7, May 7 (annually)
- All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.
- The final application deadline is May 7, 2027.
Funding Amount
- Duration: 3 to 5 years of support.
- Budget: Includes salary and fringe benefits (level set by each NIH IC), plus research development support (e.g., supplies, tuition, travel, technical personnel).
- Indirect costs: 8% of modified total direct costs.
- Award size: Varies by IC; consult the IC-specific table for details.
Eligibility
- Eligible applicants:
- U.S. 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
- Federally recognized and other tribal governments/organizations
- Independent school districts, public housing authorities, regional organizations, faith-based/community-based organizations, and certain federal agencies
- Individuals:
- Must have a research or health-professional doctoral degree
- Must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or permanent resident by the time of award
- Must not have held or currently hold major NIH independent research or career development awards (e.g., R01, K01, K08, K23, K99/R00, etc.)
- Must commit at least 75% full-time professional effort to the award
- Foreign organizations: Not eligible to apply; foreign components may be included as defined by NIH policy.
Application Process
- Consultation: Applicants must review the IC-specific requirements and contacts and are strongly encouraged to contact relevant NIH staff before applying.
- Submission: Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov, NIH ASSIST, or institutional system-to-system solutions.
- Required registrations: SAM, eRA Commons, Grants.gov, and ORCID (for PD/PI).
- Application instructions: Follow the NIH Career Development (K) Application Guide and the specific instructions in the funding announcement.
- Mentor(s): Applicants must identify a primary mentor (and optionally co-mentors) with a strong track record and sufficient research support.
- Reference letters: Required and must be submitted directly through eRA Commons.
Additional Information
- No independent clinical trials: Applicants may not propose to lead an independent clinical trial; mentored experience in a trial led by a mentor/co-mentor is allowed.
- Effort requirement: Minimum 75% full-time professional effort (9 person-months) must be devoted to the award.
- Institutional environment: The sponsoring institution must demonstrate a strong research and career development environment.
- Review criteria: Emphasis on candidate potential, quality of career development plan, research plan, mentor qualifications, and institutional commitment.
- Data management: All applications must include a Data Management and Sharing Plan.
- Salary and research support: Levels and allowable costs vary by IC; see IC-specific table.
- Recent updates: The opportunity was updated March 31, 2025; review the full announcement for changes.
External Links
Contact Information