Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DE 11 003
Apply for RFA DE 11 003
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIH Basic Behavioral and Social Science Opportunity Network (OppNet) Short term Mentored Career Development Awards in the Basic Behavioral and Social Sciences for Mid career and Senior Investigators (K18)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121 Oral Diseases and Disorders Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 24, 2010 and posted on Nov 24, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 24, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Small businesses County governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education City or township governments Special district governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities State governments Independent school districts Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIH Basic Behavioral and Social Science Opportunity Network (OppNet) Short-term Mentored Career Development Award (K18) is a discretionary NIH grant opportunity designed to help established investigators make a meaningful, mentored pivot into basic behavioral and social sciences research (often abbreviated as basic BSSR). The core idea is to give mid-career and senior researchers a defined period of protected time, ranging from three months to one year, to develop new capabilities, perspectives, and research approaches in basic BSSR under the guidance of an experienced mentor. Rather than functioning like a typical research project grant that primarily funds a standalone study, this K18 is positioned as a career development mechanism intended to support an intentional shift or expansion in an investigator's research trajectory.
The program is aimed at two main groups of applicants. First, it targets biomedical or clinical researchers who have limited experience in basic behavioral and social sciences research but want to integrate basic BSSR concepts into their existing research programs. For these candidates, the expectation is that they will train with a well-established basic BSSR investigator to learn foundational theories, methods, and analytic approaches that can reshape how they frame and pursue research questions in their home field. Second, the FOA also targets investigators who already work in basic or applied behavioral and social sciences but want to add new components or domains of basic BSSR to their work. In that case, the mentored period is meant to support cross-disciplinary enrichment, such as adopting new tools, theoretical frameworks, or methodologies from another discipline or scientific area to substantially strengthen or broaden an existing behavioral or social science research program.
A key emphasis of the announcement is that the award supports protected time for professional development and for building competence in basic BSSR, not simply adding funding to run a research project. The stated intent is to enable a real change in research direction toward basic behavioral and social science questions, or to significantly deepen an ongoing basic BSSR program through exposure to new theories or approaches. OppNet also notes that applicants are strongly encouraged to consult the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) definitions related to basic BSSR, which signals that alignment with NIH's conceptual boundaries for what counts as "basic" behavioral and social science research is important for responsiveness and competitiveness.
Administratively, the opportunity was issued by the National Institutes of Health under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DE-11-003, with the activity categorized under Health and the funding instrument listed as a grant. The CFDA listing included is 93.121 (Oral Diseases and Disorders Research), reflecting the cataloging and administrative classification used for federal assistance programs. The FOA did not require cost sharing or matching. It was posted on November 24, 2010, with an original and current closing date of January 24, 2011, and it was archived on February 24, 2011, indicating it was a time-limited solicitation rather than an open-ended standing program announcement.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations that can serve as applicant institutions, such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and some non-501(c)(3) entities), small businesses and other for-profit organizations (with distinctions noted), local and state governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, school districts, public housing authorities, and special district governments. The eligibility section also explicitly references additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. In practice, while institutions apply, the program is specifically tailored to the career stage and background of the investigator who will be the K18 candidate, with the central requirement being a credible mentored plan to build or expand basic BSSR expertise.
For access and support, the FOA directs users to the full announcement hosted on the NIH grants guide website and provides NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact emails for technical difficulties accessing the announcement or resolving linking issues.
FAQs: NIH OppNet Short-term Mentored Career Development Award (K18) (RFA-DE-11-003)
What is the NIH OppNet Short-term Mentored Career Development Award (K18)?
The NIH Basic Behavioral and Social Science Opportunity Network (OppNet) Short-term Mentored Career Development Award (K18) is a discretionary NIH grant opportunity designed to help established investigators make a meaningful, mentored pivot into basic behavioral and social sciences research (basic BSSR). It is positioned as a career development mechanism, not a typical project-focused research grant.
What is the main purpose of this K18 opportunity?
The core purpose is to provide a defined period of protected time for professional development so an investigator can build competence, perspectives, and research approaches in basic BSSR under the guidance of an experienced mentor. The intent is an intentional shift or expansion in an investigator's research trajectory toward basic behavioral and social science questions or approaches.
How is this K18 different from a standard research project grant?
This K18 is not described as primarily funding a standalone research study. Instead, it emphasizes protected time for mentored training and career development to enable a real change in research direction or a significant deepening of an existing basic BSSR program through new theories, tools, frameworks, or methodologies.
Who is this program designed for?
The opportunity is aimed at established investigators, specifically mid-career and senior researchers, who are seeking to develop or expand their expertise in basic behavioral and social sciences research through a mentored experience.
What types of applicants does the FOA specifically target?
The FOA highlights two main groups: (1) biomedical or clinical researchers with limited experience in basic BSSR who want to integrate basic BSSR concepts into their existing research programs, and (2) investigators already working in basic or applied behavioral and social sciences who want to add new basic BSSR components or domains to strengthen or broaden their research.
What does "mentored pivot" mean in the context of this award?
It refers to an established investigator undertaking a mentored period of focused development to change or expand their research direction toward basic BSSR. The mentored plan should credibly support gaining foundational theories, methods, and analytic approaches, or adding new cross-disciplinary elements that substantially strengthen a behavioral or social science program.
How long is the supported protected time period?
The opportunity supports a defined period of protected time ranging from three months to one year.
What activities is the protected time intended to support?
The protected time is intended to support professional development and building competence in basic BSSR, including developing new capabilities, perspectives, and research approaches under mentorship. It is meant to enable a genuine shift or meaningful enrichment of an investigator's research trajectory.
Is the award intended to simply add money to run a research project?
No. A key emphasis is that the award supports protected time for professional development and building competence in basic BSSR, rather than simply providing additional funds to conduct a research project.
What is meant by "basic BSSR" in this opportunity?
The opportunity uses "basic behavioral and social sciences research (basic BSSR)" as its focal area and signals that alignment with NIH's conceptual boundaries for what counts as "basic" BSSR is important for responsiveness and competitiveness.
Are applicants expected to follow NIH definitions of basic BSSR?
Yes. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) definitions related to basic BSSR, indicating that these definitions matter for alignment with the program's intent.
What kind of mentor is expected for a K18 candidate?
The mentored experience is described as being under the guidance of an experienced mentor. For biomedical or clinical researchers entering basic BSSR, the expectation is training with a well-established basic BSSR investigator. For those already in behavioral or social sciences, the mentor-supported plan should enable adding new basic BSSR components, tools, or frameworks from another discipline or area.
What kinds of outcomes does NIH appear to be seeking from this K18?
Based on the description, the desired outcome is a meaningful change in research direction toward basic behavioral and social science questions or a significant deepening of an ongoing basic BSSR program through exposure to new theories, methodologies, or cross-disciplinary approaches.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-DE-11-003.
Which federal agency issued this opportunity?
This opportunity was issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the funding instrument and activity category?
The funding instrument is listed as a grant, and the activity is categorized under Health.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA listing included is 93.121 (Oral Diseases and Disorders Research), reflecting the cataloging and administrative classification used for federal assistance programs.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA did not require cost sharing or matching.
When was the FOA posted and what were the closing dates?
It was posted on November 24, 2010. The original and current closing date listed was January 24, 2011.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. The announcement was archived on February 24, 2011, and it had a time-limited closing date of January 24, 2011.
What types of organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included many U.S.-based organization types, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and some non-501(c)(3) entities), small businesses and other for-profit organizations (with distinctions noted), local and state governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, school districts, public housing authorities, and special district governments.
Were minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations included in eligibility?
Yes. The eligibility section explicitly references Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and faith-based or community-based organizations, among others.
Were U.S. territories or federal agencies included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The eligibility section references eligible federal agencies and U.S. territories or possessions.
Does the institution apply, or does the individual investigator apply?
In practice, institutions apply as the applicant organizations, but the program is specifically tailored to the career stage and background of the investigator who will be the K18 candidate. A central requirement described is a credible mentored plan to build or expand basic BSSR expertise.
Where can applicants find the full announcement?
The FOA directs users to the full announcement hosted on the NIH grants guide website.
Who should be contacted for technical problems accessing the announcement?
The FOA provides NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact emails for technical difficulties accessing the announcement or resolving linking issues.
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