Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 09 110
Apply for PA 09 110
- The National Institutes of Health in the education employment, labor and training environment food and nutrition health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Career Enhancement Award for Stem Cell Research (K18)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113 Environmental Health 93.233 National Center on Sleep Disorders Research 93.398 Cancer Research Manpower 93.837 Cardiovascular Diseases Research 93.838 Lung Diseases Research 93.839 Blood Diseases and Resources Research 93.847 Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 8, 2010 and posted on Feb 24, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 7, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments For profit organizations other than small businesses.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Career Enhancement Award for Stem Cell Research (K18) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity designed to help established investigators gain the specific training and career development needed to use stem cells effectively in their biomedical research. The core idea is that stem cell science is moving quickly and has major potential to transform how researchers understand, treat, and potentially cure a wide range of human diseases, but many investigators were trained before key stem cell tools and resources were widely available. As a result, they may have strong research programs yet still lack practical expertise in how to properly work with stem cell systems, interpret stem cell data, or integrate stem cell approaches into their existing projects. This award is meant to bridge that gap by supporting a structured period of skill-building so researchers can responsibly and competently adopt stem cell methods.
A major emphasis of the announcement is the need for hands-on readiness, especially around human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). At the time of the funding announcement, hESCs were relatively newly accessible to much of the research community, and the NIH highlighted that many scientists were not prepared to handle, maintain, or study them appropriately. That includes the specialized laboratory practices required for stem cell culture, the technical standards for maintaining pluripotency or directing differentiation, and the scientific judgment needed to design experiments that make sense for these systems. The opportunity also recognizes the broad scope of stem cell research beyond hESCs, including human adult stem cells, cord blood stem cells, and animal stem cell models. The NIH frames these different sources as valuable platforms for investigating disease mechanisms and developing new therapeutic strategies, provided investigators have the training to use them correctly.
This opportunity uses the NIH K18 mechanism, which is a Career Enhancement Award. In practical terms, that means the grant is intended to support an investigator's professional development rather than function strictly as a standard research project grant. The focus is on enabling a researcher to obtain targeted training and expand their capabilities so they can incorporate stem cells into their ongoing or future research trajectory. Because stem cell research touches many disease areas, the announcement involves multiple NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs), and applicants are encouraged to communicate with the relevant IC program staff. That outreach matters because participating ICs can differ in scientific priorities, programmatic expectations, and budgetary guidance, and NIH staff can help an applicant align the proposal with the IC most appropriate for the investigator's research area.
Funding levels and the number of awards are not fixed in the announcement. Instead, the NIH states that the total funding and the number of awards will depend on two things: the scientific quality and merit of the applications received, and the availability of funds. This is typical language for discretionary, competitive NIH programs, signaling that awards are driven by peer review outcomes and by the budget decisions within each participating IC in a given fiscal period.
Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of organizations that conduct biomedical research or training. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities), state governments, certain tribal governments and tribal organizations, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. The eligibility language also explicitly includes institutions serving specific populations, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and tribally controlled colleges and universities. The announcement further notes eligibility for non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions, reflecting NIH's willingness in some programs to support training-related activities that advance scientific capacity and public health-relevant research goals.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed as Funding Opportunity Number PA-09-110, titled "Career Enhancement Award for Stem Cell Research (K18)." It was posted on February 24, 2009, with an original and final closing date of May 7, 2012, and it is archived as of June 7, 2012. The program is cataloged under multiple CFDA numbers tied to different NIH mission areas (for example, environmental health, cancer research manpower, cardiovascular, lung, blood, diabetes/digestive/kidney diseases, and sleep disorders), which reinforces that the K18 stem cell career enhancement concept was intended to serve investigators working across many biomedical and disease-focused fields. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated for this opportunity.
For applicants seeking details beyond the summary, NIH directs prospective applicants to the full announcement at the provided NIH grants webpage and notes that technical access issues can be routed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster. The most important practical takeaway is that this K18 opportunity is fundamentally about enabling capable investigators to upskill into stem cell research through a supported career development period, with NIH encouraging early contact with the appropriate Institute or Center to ensure strong alignment with program goals and expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Career Enhancement Award for Stem Cell Research (K18)?
The Career Enhancement Award for Stem Cell Research (K18) is an NIH grant opportunity that supports established investigators who need targeted training and career development to use stem cells effectively in their biomedical research. It is designed to help investigators add stem cell capabilities to an existing or future research trajectory through a structured period of skill-building.
What problem is this NIH K18 opportunity trying to solve?
The opportunity is intended to address a practical gap: many investigators have strong research programs but were trained before key stem cell tools, methods, and resources were widely available. As stem cell science moves quickly, investigators may lack hands-on expertise in working with stem cell systems, interpreting stem cell data, or integrating stem cell approaches responsibly into their research. The K18 is meant to bridge that gap.
Is this award meant to fund a standard research project?
No. This opportunity uses the NIH K18 Career Enhancement Award mechanism, which emphasizes professional development and targeted training rather than functioning strictly like a traditional research project grant. The goal is to expand an investigator's skills so they can competently incorporate stem cell methods into their research program.
What types of stem cells are covered by this opportunity?
The announcement recognizes stem cell research broadly. It highlights human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) as a major emphasis, while also acknowledging other platforms such as human adult stem cells, cord blood stem cells, and animal stem cell models.
Why is there a special emphasis on human embryonic stem cells (hESCs)?
The announcement stresses hands-on readiness for hESC work because, at the time of the funding announcement, hESCs were relatively newly accessible to much of the broader research community and many scientists were not fully prepared to handle them appropriately. NIH emphasizes the need for specialized laboratory practices, technical standards, and scientific judgment when designing and interpreting experiments using these systems.
What kinds of skills or readiness does NIH emphasize for stem cell work in this program?
The opportunity emphasizes practical, hands-on preparedness. Examples noted in the summary include the ability to handle, maintain, and study stem cell systems properly; apply specialized laboratory practices for stem cell culture; meet technical standards for maintaining pluripotency or directing differentiation; and exercise sound scientific judgment in experimental design and data interpretation.
Who is the intended applicant audience?
The program is aimed at established investigators who have strong research programs but need specific training and career development to use stem cells effectively and responsibly in their biomedical research.
Which NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) participate?
The announcement involves multiple NIH Institutes and Centers because stem cell research touches many disease areas. Specific participating ICs are not listed in the summary provided, but the summary indicates that multiple ICs are involved and that priorities and guidance can differ across them.
Should applicants contact NIH program staff before applying?
Yes. Applicants are encouraged to communicate with the relevant NIH Institute or Center program staff. This matters because participating ICs can differ in scientific priorities, programmatic expectations, and budgetary guidance, and NIH staff can help align an application with the most appropriate IC for the investigator's research area.
How much funding is available and how many awards will be made?
The announcement does not fix funding levels or the number of awards. NIH states that the total funding and number of awards depend on the scientific quality and merit of the applications received and on the availability of funds.
What factors determine whether awards are made under this opportunity?
According to the announcement summary, awards depend on two main factors: (1) the scientific quality and merit of the applications received and (2) the availability of funds.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The summary states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this opportunity.
What organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. The summary lists eligible applicants as including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); state governments; certain tribal governments and tribal organizations; and for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
Are institutions that serve specific populations explicitly included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and tribally controlled colleges and universities.
Are non-U.S. organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The summary notes eligibility for non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), as well as regional organizations and U.S. territories or possessions.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and title?
The opportunity is Funding Opportunity Number PA-09-110, titled "Career Enhancement Award for Stem Cell Research (K18)."
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on February 24, 2009. The original and final closing date was May 7, 2012. The opportunity is archived as of June 7, 2012.
What does it mean that the opportunity is archived?
Based on the summary provided, "archived" indicates the opportunity is no longer active. The archive date listed is June 7, 2012, and the final closing date was May 7, 2012.
Why are multiple CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?
The summary states the program is cataloged under multiple CFDA numbers tied to different NIH mission areas (for example, environmental health, cancer research manpower, cardiovascular, lung, blood, diabetes/digestive/kidney diseases, and sleep disorders). This reflects that the K18 stem cell career enhancement concept was intended to serve investigators working across many biomedical and disease-focused fields.
Where can applicants find the full announcement and official details?
NIH directs prospective applicants to the full announcement on the NIH grants webpage referenced in the posting. For technical access issues, the summary notes that applicants can contact the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster.
What is the main practical takeaway for someone considering this opportunity?
The summary emphasizes that this K18 is fundamentally about helping capable investigators upskill into stem cell research through a supported career development period. A key practical step is early contact with the appropriate NIH Institute or Center to ensure the proposal aligns with that IC's program goals and expectations.
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