Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient Oriented Research (Parent K24) | Apply Online

FAQs: NIH Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient Oriented Research (Parent K24) - PA-10-061

What is this funding opportunity?

This is the NIH Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient Oriented Research (Parent K24), funding opportunity number PA-10-061. It is a discretionary NIH grant opportunity intended to strengthen the clinical research workforce by supporting established, midcareer clinician-scientists who conduct patient oriented research.

What is the main purpose of the K24 (Parent) award described here?

The core purpose is to provide protected time for experienced, midcareer investigators so they can (1) advance their own patient oriented research programs and (2) serve as committed research mentors for the next generation of clinically trained researchers.

Who is this award meant to support on the investigator side?

It is aimed at established, midcareer clinician-scientists, typically at the Associate Professor level or an equivalent midcareer rank, who are actively engaged in patient oriented research.

What does NIH mean by "patient oriented research" in the context provided?

Based on the information provided, it refers to research that directly involves human participants and addresses clinically relevant questions.

How is a K24 different from a standard research grant?

This opportunity uses the NIH K24 career development award mechanism. It is not described as a standard research project grant meant only to fund experiments. Instead, it is a career award that explicitly supports the awardee's time and role as a mentor alongside continued research effort.

What is the mentoring component expected to look like?

The award is designed so the midcareer investigator can serve as a committed research mentor while continuing their own patient oriented research. The mentoring focus is aimed primarily at clinical residents, clinical fellows, and/or junior clinical faculty who are developing the skills and publication track record needed to become independent investigators.

Who are the primary intended mentees?

The announcement emphasizes mentoring for clinical residents, clinical fellows, and/or junior clinical faculty who are working toward independence as investigators.

Does the opportunity encourage contacting NIH before applying?

Yes. Applicants are encouraged to communicate early with the relevant NIH Institute or Center (IC) program staff because requirements and expectations can vary by IC, including around scientific fit, budget details, and program priorities.

Do requirements and expectations differ across NIH Institutes and Centers?

Yes. The information provided states that requirements and expectations can vary somewhat by NIH Institute or Center, particularly around scientific fit, budget details, and program priorities.

Is funding guaranteed if an application is submitted?

No. NIH indicates that awards depend on available funds and on the number of applications judged highly meritorious, meaning funding is competitive and not guaranteed in any given cycle.

What kinds of research topics or activity categories are included?

The activity categories listed span areas such as education and training, environment, food and nutrition, health, income security, and social services. This reflects the broad range of patient oriented research topics that NIH components may support under this parent K24 announcement.

Which NIH areas or domains appear to participate (based on the CFDA list described)?

The CFDA numbers tied to the announcement indicate wide NIH participation across many biomedical and behavioral domains. Examples mentioned include environmental health, oral health, deafness and communication disorders, complementary and integrative health, sleep disorders, drug abuse, mental health, nursing research, cancer research training, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, blood disorders, arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions, diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases, neurosciences, allergy and infectious diseases, child health and human development, aging, and vision research.

What does it mean that this is a "parent" K24 announcement?

Based on the description provided, the parent K24 announcement functions as a cross-cutting career development pathway that multiple NIH Institutes and Centers can use to support midcareer clinical investigators whose work involves human participants and clinically relevant questions.

What types of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility for applicant organizations is broad and includes many U.S.-based entities. Eligible applicants listed include public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with and without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education); state and local governments (including county and city or township governments); special district governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and independent school districts.

Are any specific institution types explicitly called out as eligible?

Yes. Additional eligible categories listed include historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity specifies that there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

Is this specific funding opportunity still open?

The dates provided indicate the specific posting is archived. The source information shows an archive date of June 7, 2011, along with closing dates that have already passed, and it states that the posting is now archived even though the K24 mechanism continues under other NIH postings over time.

What are the key dates listed for this announcement?

The announcement was posted on December 16, 2009, with a later creation date recorded as April 8, 2011. The source information provided also shows an original closing date of January 7, 2013, a current closing date of May 7, 2011, and an archive date of June 7, 2011.

Where can someone find the full text of the archived FOA?

NIH points applicants to the archived FOA page at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-061.html.

Who should be contacted for technical access or linking issues related to the FOA page?

For technical access or linking issues, NIH lists the Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact as FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.

What is the overall workforce goal behind this award?

The award is intended to strengthen the clinical research workforce by supporting midcareer clinician-scientists and emphasizing mentorship for clinically trained researchers who are earlier in their careers.