Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Required) | PA 19 116

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 19 116

The Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08) is an NIH career development grant designed to help clinically trained researchers build the skills, track record, and independence needed for a long-term research career that addresses important health needs in the United States. The central idea is to give a qualified candidate with a clinical doctoral degree dedicated, protected time to pursue an intensive, supervised research and training experience. The program is meant to develop physician-scientists and other clinician-researchers through structured mentorship, focused research aims, and a clear career development plan that strengthens their ability to compete for future independent research funding and to lead impactful biomedical, behavioral, or translational research programs.

This particular funding opportunity announcement, PA-19-116, is the version of the parent K08 that is specifically intended for applicants who will be the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial. That includes not only a full independent clinical trial, but also an independent clinical trial feasibility study or an ancillary clinical trial that is separate and distinct. In other words, the FOA is tailored for candidates whose research and career development activities will include taking primary responsibility for planning and conducting their own clinical trial work. If an applicant is not proposing an independent clinical trial, or if they plan to gain experience by working on a clinical trial that is led by another investigator, NIH directs them to apply instead to the companion K08 announcement referenced in the text (listed as XXXXX in the provided description). This distinction matters because NIH structures review and application requirements differently depending on whether the applicant is leading the clinical trial versus participating in one led by someone else.

The award is issued by the National Institutes of Health as a discretionary grant and falls under broad public benefit areas tied to health and related services. It is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (now often referred to under Assistance Listing terminology), reflecting that many NIH institutes and centers can use this parent mechanism to support career development aligned with their missions. While the opportunity is NIH-wide in structure, the specific fit, topic priorities, and administrative details typically depend on which NIH institute or center an applicant targets.

Eligibility is broad at the organizational level and includes many types of U.S.-based entities that can serve as the applicant institution for the candidate. Examples listed include public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, independent school districts, special district governments, federally recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The announcement also highlights additional categories of eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, and eligible federal agencies, among others. At the same time, it draws a firm line on foreign eligibility: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed when they meet NIH’s definition and policy requirements, meaning parts of the project may be carried out internationally under an eligible U.S. applicant organization when appropriately justified and permitted.

From a practical standpoint, a competitive K08 application under this FOA generally hinges on three linked pieces: a strong candidate with a clinical doctorate and clear commitment to a research-intensive career, a rigorous and well-justified clinical trial-focused research plan that the candidate will lead, and a robust mentorship and career development structure that explains how the candidate will gain the skills, publications, preliminary data, and leadership experience required for independence. The emphasis on protected time is a defining feature of K awards, and applicants typically need to show that their institution will support that protected time and provide an environment where mentored development and responsible conduct of research training can realistically occur alongside clinical responsibilities.

The record provided lists the funding opportunity title as “Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Required)” with the opportunity number PA-19-116, created on December 20, 2018, and an original closing date shown as May 12, 2020. The entry does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the supplied fields, which is common in parent NIH FOAs because actual budgets and award counts can vary by institute, fiscal year, and the specific applications received.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.847, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-12-20.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-05-12. (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 PA 19 116

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