Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 20 202
The Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 - Independent Clinical Trial Required), funding opportunity number PA-20-202, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) career development grant designed to help clinically trained professionals become independent, impactful health researchers. The central aim is workforce development: it supports people who already hold a clinical doctoral degree and who are committed to building a long-term research career that addresses major biomedical, behavioral, or translational research needs in the United States. A defining feature of the K08 is that it provides funding specifically to protect dedicated time for research and career development, so the awardee can step away from heavy clinical or administrative loads and focus on rigorous, mentored research training under the guidance of experienced investigators.
This opportunity is structured around an intensive, supervised research career development experience. In practice, that means the applicant is expected to pursue a clearly defined research plan while also completing a tailored career development plan that builds the skills needed for independence (for example, advanced methods, study design, responsible conduct of research, grantsmanship, and other competencies aligned with the applicant's scientific trajectory). The scientific scope is broad and includes biomedical and behavioral research as well as translational work, which often bridges basic discoveries and clinical application. The title indicates "Independent Clinical Trial Required," signaling that the proposed project involves the awardee leading an independent clinical trial as part of the K08-supported research effort, rather than only participating in someone else's trial or limiting the work to non-trial research.
Eligible applicants span a wide range of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Standard eligible organizations listed include state, county, city/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; and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. The eligibility list also includes nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education) and certain for-profit organizations (excluding small businesses in one category while also listing small businesses separately as eligible). NIH also explicitly notes additional eligible institution types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and tribal governments that are not federally recognized.
There are important geographic and organizational constraints related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply directly, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. At the same time, NIH indicates that foreign components may be allowed under the NIH Grants Policy Statement definition, which generally means a U.S. applicant organization may include certain foreign activities or collaborations if they are well justified and meet NIH policy requirements, even though the applicant institution itself must be eligible and U.S.-based.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant program administered by NIH. The opportunity sits under broad public service areas associated with education, environment, health, and related social service categories, and it is linked to multiple CFDA numbers (including 93.113, 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.307, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.853, 93.865, and 93.866), reflecting that many NIH institutes and centers can use this parent announcement to support mission-aligned K08 applications. The posting shows a creation date of May 12, 2020, and an original closing date listed as May 7, 2024. The provided source excerpt does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, which often varies by NIH institute/center budgets, applicant demand, and the quality and fit of applications received in each review cycle.
Overall, the K08 (Independent Clinical Trial Required) is best understood as a mentored launchpad for clinician-scientists: it combines structured mentorship, a focused research project that includes leadership of an independent clinical trial, and protected research time so that a clinically trained investigator can develop the expertise, track record, and preliminary findings typically needed to compete successfully for subsequent independent research funding and to sustain a research-intensive career.Apply for PA 20 202
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, 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, 93.307, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-05-12.
- 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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FAQs: Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 - Independent Clinical Trial Required) (PA-20-202)
What is this grant opportunity?
The Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 - Independent Clinical Trial Required) is an NIH career development grant designed to help clinically trained professionals build toward independence as health researchers. It is a mentored award focused on developing a long-term, research-intensive career that addresses major biomedical, behavioral, or translational research needs in the United States.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is PA-20-202.
Who is this program intended to support?
This program is intended for people who already hold a clinical doctoral degree and are committed to becoming independent, impactful health researchers through an intensive, mentored career development experience.
What is the main purpose of the K08 award?
The central aim is workforce development. The award supports protected time for research and career development so a clinician can reduce competing clinical or administrative responsibilities and focus on rigorous mentored research training and skill-building for independence.
What does “mentored” mean in the context of this K08?
The opportunity is structured around a supervised research career development experience under the guidance of experienced investigators. The applicant is expected to complete both a clearly defined research plan and a tailored career development plan.
What types of research are within scope?
The scientific scope is broad and includes biomedical research, behavioral research, and translational research. Translational work may involve bridging basic discoveries and clinical applications.
What does “Independent Clinical Trial Required” mean?
It signals that the proposed K08-supported project involves the awardee leading an independent clinical trial as part of the research effort, rather than only participating in someone else’s trial or limiting the work to research that is not a clinical trial.
Does the award support career development activities in addition to research?
Yes. In addition to pursuing a research plan, the applicant is expected to complete a career development plan aimed at building skills needed for independence. Examples mentioned include advanced methods, study design, responsible conduct of research, and grantsmanship, along with other competencies aligned with the applicant’s scientific trajectory.
What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include a broad set of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Examples listed include state governments, county governments, city/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, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education (as described in the provided information).
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Certain for-profit organizations are included as eligible, and small businesses are also listed separately as eligible. The excerpt notes an exclusion for small businesses in one category while also listing small businesses separately.
Are minority-serving institutions and specific institution types included as eligible?
Yes. NIH explicitly notes additional eligible institution types including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly listed among additional eligible institution types.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are listed among eligible institution types.
Are tribal governments that are not federally recognized eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes tribal governments that are not federally recognized.
Can a foreign (non-U.S.) organization apply directly?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply directly.
Can a non-domestic component of a U.S. organization apply?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
Are foreign components allowed in any form?
Foreign components may be allowed under the NIH Grants Policy Statement definition. This generally means a U.S. applicant organization may include certain foreign activities or collaborations if they are well justified and meet NIH policy requirements, even though the applicant institution itself must be eligible and U.S.-based.
Which federal agency administers this program?
This is a discretionary grant program administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What public service areas are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity sits under broad public service areas associated with education, environment, health, and related social service categories.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The posting links the opportunity to multiple CFDA numbers: 93.113, 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.307, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.853, 93.865, and 93.866.
Why are there so many CFDA numbers listed?
The list reflects that multiple NIH institutes and centers can use this parent announcement to support mission-aligned K08 applications.
When was this opportunity created and when did it close (as listed in the excerpt)?
The posting shows a creation date of May 12, 2020, and an original closing date listed as May 7, 2024.
Is an award ceiling or number of awards provided in the excerpt?
No. The provided source excerpt does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards. It notes that these often vary by NIH institute/center budgets, applicant demand, and the quality and fit of applications received in each review cycle.
What is the overall value of this K08 to a clinician-scientist?
It is positioned as a mentored launchpad that combines structured mentorship, protected research time, and a focused research project that includes leadership of an independent clinical trial. The intent is to help the awardee develop expertise, a track record, and preliminary findings needed to compete for later independent research funding and sustain a research-intensive career.
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