K12 Scholars Career Development Program RFA

HIGHLIGHTS

• Required minimum of 75% time committed to research and research career development for years 1-3.

• 75% salary support on salaries up to a maximum of $160,000 in salary (plus the associated fringe benefits), $30,000 in scholar research and development support per year ($10K guaranteed, $20K contingent), for years 1-2 with potential* 3rd year. This award is funded by the NIH CTSI grant for 24 months and the Medical School’s Dean Office and the Office of Academic Clinical Affairs for 12 months.   

*Scholars with R01 or equivalent funding in place are not eligible for year 3 internal UMN funding as this year is intended to help Scholars secure R01 or equivalent funding. Scholars with R21 funding as P.I. will be considered for possible year 3 internal K funding on a case-by-case basis, but this funding is not guaranteed. 

• Assistant Professor with salaried appointment (in rank ≤ 6 years)

• Committed to a long term clinical translational research-oriented career and desire further training in translational science. The applicant’s administrative units (Departments, Divisions and/or Programs) must be committed to ensuring that successful applicants have at least 75% of time available for research and research career development in the first 3 years (with exceptions only per NIH K Award guidelines). 

• K12 Scholar research projects must receive prior approval from NIH and NCATS after notice of award. Consequently the proposed Scholar research projects need to fall within the NIH priorities and guidelines for funding. The K12 P.I. and Program Directors are available for consultation regarding this if desired. 

• Multidisciplinary mentor team, including primary senior accomplished mentor (with active grant support), secondary mentor and data health scientist (biostatistician or informatician) representing different areas of expertise.  Each team must include one faculty member with some clinical background and, for projects with clinical trials, one member must have clinical trials expertise.

• Individualized educational and training plan, including ~ 10-20% of the 75% total effort is allocated to career development and training activities.

• Weekly (Wednesday afternoon K Scholar Multidisciplinary Seminar Series with CTSI Pre-K Scholars, BIRCWH (Women’s Health K12) program, LHS (Minnesota Learning Health Systems), and Individual K awardees

• CTSI will provide programmatic career development support after funding has concluded (includes monthly career development meetings, and, if funds permit, external grant reviews, grant editing support) 

• Progress in the program is evaluated semi-annually and satisfactory progress is required for re-appointment.

NATURE AND PURPOSE OF THIS RFA

The K12 Scholars Career Development Program is designed to develop the next generation of translational investigators through a structured training program with a mentored, multidisciplinary translational research emphasis. The goal is for K12 scholars to develop successful clinical translational science (CTS) research careers with extramural funding and scholarly publications.  Specific goals are to train individuals in team science, mentoring, and community engagement and provide skills in leadership and communication.

This three-year program trains junior investigators to be competitive for NIH independent K- or R01 Awards.  Up to 6 awards will be funded on this cycle.  Success of this program will be judged by the number who go on to secure NIH individual K-award grants in the short term, and NIH R01 and R01 equivalent funding in the long term, for clinical and translational research.  Applicants should be committed to a long term clinical translational research-oriented career. The applicant’s administrative units (Departments, Divisions and/or Programs) must be committed to ensuring that successful applicants have at least 75% of time available for research and research career development in the first 3 years (with exceptions only per NIH K Award guidelines).

This opportunity is open to all eligible persons regardless of race, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristic.