health · HHS-NIH11

Institutional Mentored Career Development Award (Parent K12) (Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

National Institutes of Health · PA-27-030

1066 days left

Deadline

July 12, 2029

GRANTQUICK SUMMARYPlain-English Overview

NIH's K12 Institutional Mentored Career Development Award is a standing program (open through 2029) funding institutions to run mentored research career development programs for junior faculty. The institution receives the grant and uses it to support multiple scholars — providing protected research time, mentoring, and career development for new investigators transitioning to research independence. Classic 'K' award mechanism.

Who Should Apply

Research universities and academic medical centers with strong mentoring infrastructure and track records of developing independent investigators. Must propose a structured career development program for multiple scholars.

Who Should NOT Apply

Individual junior faculty (they benefit but don't apply directly), institutions without mentoring programs, or schools without active NIH research portfolios to train researchers within.

Key Requirements (Plain English)

•Must provide institutional career development program for junior researchers
•Must include structured mentoring, protected research time, and training
•Must support multiple scholars transitioning to independence
•Rolling deadline through July 2029
•Must demonstrate institutional commitment to career development
•No cost-sharing required

💡 GrantQuick Tip

K12s are institutional awards — NIH judges your PROGRAM, not individual scholars. Show that previous scholars from your institution have successfully transitioned to R01 funding. The best K12 applications have: (1) a clear training curriculum, (2) named mentors with strong funding records, (3) institutional commitment (protected time guarantees), and (4) historical data showing your mentees become independent investigators. Track record matters more than the proposed curriculum.

Competitiveness: Moderate — rolling deadline with many institutions applying. Those with proven mentor-to-R01 pipelines succeed.

What This Grant Funds

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will award Institutional Mentored Career Development grants to eligible domestic institutions to support career development programs designed to prepare later stage postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty scholars who have made a commitment to an independent research career for their career advancement and transition to independence. Supported scholars will have "protected time" to engage in intensive, mentored research career development experiences in the fields of biomedical and behavioral research.This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) does not allow appointed scholars to lead an independent clinical trial but does allow them to obtain research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor. NIH strongly supports training towards a career in clinically relevant research. As such, gaining experience in clinical trials under the guidance of a mentor or co-mentor is encouraged.

Attachments

PDF

PA-27-030-Revised-Full-Announcement.html

Who Can Apply

Other Eligible ApplicantsNative American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)Faith-based or Community-based Organizations;Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government;U.S. Territory or Possession;Foreign Organizations/International Collaborations:Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

Eligible Applicant Types

Nonprofits without 501(c)(3)Other Tribal OrganizationsPublic Colleges & Universities501(c)(3) NonprofitsFederally Recognized Tribal GovernmentsPrivate Colleges & UniversitiesOther (see NOFO for details)

Funding Details

Cost Sharing Required?: No
Funding Instrument: grant

Key Dates

Posted: June 22, 2026

Application Deadline: July 12, 2029 (1066 days remaining)

Agency Contact

DBRW researchtraining@nih.gov

researchtraining@nih.gov

Ready to apply?

View the full NOFO and submit your application on Grants.gov

View on Grants.gov