NIDDK Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01-No Independent Clinical Trials) | PAR 18 419

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 419

The NIDDK Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01 - No Independent Clinical Trials), Funding Opportunity Number PAR-18-419, is an NIH discretionary grant designed to help early-career researchers build the skills, publication record, and scientific foundation needed to become independent investigators. The core idea is to provide substantial protected time for a structured, mentored career development period lasting three, four, or five years. During this time, the award supports an intensive, supervised research and training experience in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences, specifically in areas that fall within the mission of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). In practical terms, it is meant for people who are beyond the very earliest postdoc stage but not yet fully independent, and who need concentrated time and mentorship to transition into a stable, self-directed research career.

This particular K01 announcement is aimed at experienced postdoctoral scientists (at least two years of postdoctoral experience) and/or newly appointed junior faculty, typically with a Ph.D. in a biomedical or behavioral discipline, who are pursuing research topics supported by NIDDK. The emphasis is not just on completing a research project, but on demonstrating a clear career development plan: applicants are expected to lay out how the mentorship team, training activities, and research aims will work together to move them toward independence. The award’s intent is to help the candidate strengthen their expertise, expand methodological skills, and generate results that position them to compete for future independent NIH research funding.

A major defining feature of this FOA is its restriction around clinical trials. It is specifically for candidates whose proposed research does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or leading an ancillary study that itself includes a clinical trial intervention. In other words, the applicant cannot be the lead investigator responsible for running an independent clinical trial under this announcement. However, the FOA does allow applicants to gain experience in clinical trials as part of their career development as long as the clinical trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor. If someone intends to lead a clinical trial (or lead an ancillary study that itself qualifies as a clinical trial) as the primary investigator, they are directed instead to apply to the companion funding opportunity referenced as PAR-DK-18-NNN.

Eligibility is broad across many organization types, consistent with NIH policies. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; 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; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and a wide range of nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status). For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses may also be eligible, along with other categories listed by NIH. The announcement also highlights additional eligible institution types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the FOA draws a clear line on foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization. That said, foreign components, as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, meaning a U.S.-based applicant organization may include certain foreign collaborations or elements when appropriately justified and compliant with NIH policy.

Administratively, the opportunity is run by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under CFDA number 93.847, and it falls under the broad activity area of health (with the listing also referencing food and nutrition/health as an activity category). The source data indicates an original closing date of 2021-01-07 and a creation date of 2017-11-29. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided listing. Overall, this K01 mechanism is best understood as a mentored launchpad: it supports promising postdocs and junior faculty with protected time and structured mentorship to build a compelling trajectory toward independent research, while specifically excluding projects where the candidate would be leading an independent clinical trial.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIDDK Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01-No Independent Clinical Trials)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-01-07. (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.

Apply for PAR 18 419

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