Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PA 20 190

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 20 190

The NIH Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) is a career development grant designed to help early-stage or transitioning researchers build the skills, publication record, and scientific direction needed to become independent investigators. Through this program, NIH provides three to five years of support and protected time so an applicant can pursue an intensive, supervised research and training plan under experienced mentorship. The overall goal is to accelerate a candidate toward research independence in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences by combining a structured career development plan with a focused research project that strengthens the applicant's long-term trajectory.

A key feature of this specific parent announcement is reflected in its title: "Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed." That means applicants cannot propose to lead an independent clinical trial as part of the K01-supported research. The award is meant to emphasize mentored development and research growth rather than independent trial leadership. Depending on NIH Institute and Center policies, candidates may still be able to gain clinical research experience in other ways, but the core K01 project under this FOA cannot be an independent clinical trial led by the K01 awardee.

NIH Institutes and Centers generally use the K01 mechanism to support mentored experiences that lead to independence, but the announcement also notes that some participating Institutes and Centers use K01 awards for specific situations. For example, certain ICs may prioritize applicants who are retraining into a new research area (such as moving from one discipline to another) or applicants who are restarting their research careers after a significant hiatus due to illness or major family responsibilities. The description also clarifies that some NIH components offer separate K01 funding opportunities specifically aimed at enhancing research workforce diversity, meaning applicants should pay attention to Institute-specific offerings in addition to this parent FOA.

Eligibility for applicant organizations is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based entities. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status) that are not institutions of higher education; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other organizations that meet NIH eligibility rules. The announcement explicitly highlights additional eligible categories, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), 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, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized ones, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Foreign and non-U.S. organizational participation is limited in specific ways. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, the announcement allows "foreign components" as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement. In practical terms, that typically means a U.S. applicant organization may include certain well-justified international collaborations or elements within the project, provided they meet NIH policy requirements and are appropriately described and approved.

Administratively, this opportunity is run by the National Institutes of Health and is a discretionary grant program under the funding instrument type "Grant," with activity categories tied to education and health. The funding opportunity title is "Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and the funding opportunity number is PA-20-190. The original posting/creation date is May 7, 2020, and the source information lists an original closing date of May 7, 2024. The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (now often referred to through Assistance Listing numbers), reflecting that many NIH Institutes and Centers participate and fund K01 awards through different NIH funding lines.

Overall, this K01 parent announcement is best understood as a structured mentored pathway: it pays for time and development so a candidate can deepen expertise, expand technical and conceptual skills, and produce strong research outputs under mentorship, with the end point being readiness to compete successfully for independent research funding. The most important constraints to keep in mind are the mentored nature of the award, the three-to-five-year protected-time expectation, and the explicit restriction that the proposed work cannot be an independent clinical trial led by the K01 awardee.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.307, 93.351, 93.361, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.855, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-05-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

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