Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Clinical Trial Required) is sponsored by National Institutes of Health (NIH). This award supports the career development of investigators who have a clinical doctorate and are committed to patient-oriented research. Pharmacogenetics research with a clinical trial component would be a strong fit.

PA-24-185: Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) This funding opportunity was updated to align with agency priorities. Carefully reread the full funding opportunity and make any needed adjustments to your application prior to submission. Department of Health and Human Services Part 1.

Overview Information Participating Organization(s) National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) Components of Participating Organizations NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH ( NIH ) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute ( NHLBI ) National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism ( NIAAA ) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ( NIAID ) National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases ( NIAMS ) National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering ( NIBIB ) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development ( NICHD ) National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders ( NIDCD ) National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research ( NIDCR ) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases ( NIDDK ) National Institute on Drug Abuse ( NIDA ) National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences ( NIEHS ) National Institute of General Medical Sciences ( NIGMS ) National Institute of Mental Health ( NIMH ) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and National Institute of Nursing Research ( NINR ) National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities ( NIMHD ) National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health ( NCCIH ) All applications to this funding opportunity announcement should fall within the mission of the Institutes/Centers.

The following NIH Offices may co-fund applications assigned to those Institutes/Centers. Office of Research on Women's Health ( ORWH ) Office of Data Science Strategy ( ODSS ) National Eye Institute ( NEI ), April 15, 2024 - Participation added ( NOT-EY-24-003 ) Special Note: Not all NIH Institutes and Centers participate in Parent Announcements.

Candidates should carefully note which ICs participate in this announcement and view their respective areas of research interest and requirements at the Table of IC-Specific Information, Requirements and Staff Contacts website. ICs that do not participate in this announcement will not consider applications for funding. Consultation with NIH staff before submitting an application is strongly encouraged.

Funding Opportunity Title Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 – Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award Notices of Special Interest associated with this funding opportunity November 24, 2025 - Notice of Rescheduled NIDCR Pre-Application and Technical Assistance Webinars on Applying for Fellowship (F) Awards and Career Development (K) Awards.

See Notice NOT-DE-26-013 . September 25, 2025 - Notice of NIDCR Pre-Application and Technical Assistance Webinars on Applying for Fellowship (F) Awards and Career Development (K) Awards. See Notice NOT-DE-26-012 .

March 31, 2025 - This funding opportunity was updated to align with agency priorities. Carefully reread the full funding opportunity and make any needed adjustments to your application prior to submission. April 04, 2024 - Overview of Grant Application and Review Changes for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025.

See Notice NOT-OD-24-084 November 12, 2024 - Updated NIDDK Guidance for NIDDKs Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08) and Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23): Percent Effort of Surgeon-Scientists; PA-24-182; PA-24-185. See Notice NOT-DK-25-002 .

September 4, 2024 - Notice of Correction to the Eligible Individuals (PD/PI) Section for the NIHs Parent Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23s) and the Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (Parent K24s). See Notice NOT-OD-24-168 June 4, 2024 - Guidance Regarding Reduction of Effort for NIMHD Individual Mentored K Awards.

See Notice NOT-MD-24-017 May 2, 2024 - Notice to Extend the Expiration Date for the Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Awards (Parent K23s). See Notice NOT-OD-24-113 April 15, 2024 - NEI Notice of Participation in PA-24-185. See Notice NOT-EY-24-003 .

August 31, 2022 - Implementation Changes for Genomic Data Sharing Plans Included with Applications Due on or after January 25, 2023. See Notice NOT-OD-22-198 . August 5, 2022 - Implementation Details for the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy.

See Notice NOT-OD-22-189 . Funding Opportunity Number (FON) Companion Funding Opportunity Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Devel Awd Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Devel Awd See Section III. 3.

Additional Information on Eligibility . Assistance Listing Number(s) 93. 855, 93.

865, 93. 113, 93. 307, 93.

233, 93. 837, 93. 838, 93.

839, 93. 840, 93. 286, 93.

859, 93. 866, 93. 279, 93.

121, 93. 361, 93. 242, 93.

853, 93. 173, 93. 273, 93.

313, 93. 310, 93. 847, 93.

213,93. 867 Funding Opportunity Purpose The purpose of the NIH Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) is to support the career development of individuals with a clinical doctoral degree who have made a commitment to focus their research endeavors on patient-oriented research.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is designed specifically for applicants proposing research that does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial . Under this NOFO applicants are permitted to propose a research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor.

Those proposing a clinical trial or an ancillary clinical trial as lead investigator, should apply to the companion NOFO ( PA-24-184 ). Open Date (Earliest Submission Date) Letter of Intent Due Date(s) The following table includes NIH standard due dates marked with an asterisk.

Renewal / Resubmission / Revision (as allowed) AIDS - New/Renewal/Resubmission/Revision, as allowed All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

New Date May 08, 2027 (Original Date: May 07, 2027) per issuance of NOT-OD-24-113 Required Application Instructions It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the Career Development (K) Instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide except where instructed to do otherwise (in this NOFO or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts ).

Conformance to all requirements (both in the How to Apply - Application Guide and the NOFO) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV . When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the How to Apply - Application Guide , follow the program-specific instructions.

Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review. There are several options available to submit your application through Grants. gov to NIH and Department of Health and Human Services partners.

You must use one of these submission options to access the application forms for this opportunity. Use the NIH ASSIST system to prepare, submit and track your application online. Use an institutional system-to-system (S2S) solution to prepare and submit your application to Grants.

gov and eRA Commons to track your application. Check with your institutional officials regarding availability. Workspace to prepare and submit your application and eRA Commons to track your application.

Part 1. Overview Information Part 2. Full Text of Announcement Section I.

Funding Opportunity Description Section II. Award Information Other Award Budget Information Section III. Eligibility Information Section IV.

Application and Submission Information Section V. Application Review Information Section VI. Award Administration Information Section VII.

Agency Contacts Section VIII. Other Information Part 2. Full Text of Announcement Section I.

Funding Opportunity Description The overall goal of the NIH Research Career Development program is to help ensure that a pool of highly trained scientists is available in appropriate scientific disciplines to address the Nation's biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs.

NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) support a variety of mentored and non-mentored career development award programs designed to foster the transition of new investigators to research independence and to support established investigators in achieving specific objectives. Candidates should review the different career development (K) award programs to determine the best program to support their goals.

More information about Career programs may be found at the NIH Research Training and Career Development website. The objective of the NIH Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) program is to provide salary and research support for a sustained period of “protected time” (3-5 years) to ensure a future cadre of well-trained scientists conducting NIH-supported Patient-Oriented Research (POR).

The specific objectives of the Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award are to: (a) Encourage research-oriented clinicians to develop research skills and gain experience in advanced methods and experimental approaches needed to become independent investigators conducting patient-oriented research; (b) Increase the pool of clinical researchers who can conduct patient-oriented studies, capitalizing on the discoveries of biomedical research and translating them to clinical settings; and (c) Support the career development of investigators who have made a commitment to focus their research endeavors on patient-oriented research.

For the purposes of the K23 award, Patient-Oriented Research is defined as research conducted with human subjects (or on material of human origin such as tissues, specimens and cognitive phenomena) for which an investigator (or colleague) directly interacts with human subjects. This area of research includes: 1) mechanisms of human disease; 2) therapeutic interventions; 3) clinical trials; and 4) the development of new technologies.

Excluded from this definition are in vitro studies that utilize human tissues but do not deal directly with patients. In other words, patient-oriented research is research in which it is necessary to know the identity of the patients from whom the cells or tissues under study are derived. Studies falling under Exemption 4 for human subjects research are not included in this definition.

See also the NIH Directors Panel on Clinical Research Report . Note: This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is designed specifically for proposing research that does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial. Under this NOFO are permitted to propose a research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor.

Those proposing a clinical trial or an ancillary clinical trial as lead investigator, should apply to the companion NOFO ( PA-24-184 ).

Special Note: Because of the differences in individual Institute and Center (IC) program requirements for this NOFO, prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to consult the Table of IC-Specific Information, Requirements and Staff Contacts , to make sure that their application is appropriate for the requirements of one of the participating NIH ICs. See Section VIII. Other Information for award authorities and regulations.

Section II. Award Information Grant: A financial assistance mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity. Application Types Allowed The OER Glossary and the How to Apply - Application Guide provides details on these application types.

Not Allowed: Only accepting applications that do not propose clinical trials. Note: Applicants may propose to gain experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor/co-mentor as part of their research career development. Need help determining whether you are doing a clinical trial?

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications. Award budgets are composed of salary and other program-related expenses, as described below. The total project period may not exceed 5 years.

Other Award Budget Information The participating NIH Institutes and Centers will provide salary and fringe benefits for the award recipient (see Table of IC-Specific Information, Requirements and Staff Contacts ). Further guidance on budgeting for career development salaries is provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide .

In addition, the candidate may derive additional compensation for effort associated with other Federal sources or awards provided the total salary derived from all Federal sources does not exceed the maximum legislated salary rate (see http://grants. nih. gov/grants/policy/salcap_summary.

html ) and the total percent effort does not exceed 100%. See also NOT-OD-17-094 . Other Program-Related Expenses These funds may be used for the following expenses: (a) tuition and fees related to career development; (b) research-related expenses, such as supplies, equipment and technical personnel; (c) travel to research meetings or training; and (d) statistical services including personnel and computer time.

Salary for mentors, secretarial and administrative assistants, etc. is not allowed. Indirect Costs (also known as Facilities & Administrative [F&A] Costs) are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs. NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made from this NOFO.

Section III.

Eligibility Information Higher Education Institutions Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education Private Institutions of Higher Education Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education) Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education) For-Profit Organizations (Other than Small Businesses) City or Township Governments Special District Governments Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) U.S. Territory or Possession Independent School Districts Public Housing Authorities/Indian Housing Authorities Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Faith-based or Community-based Organizations 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. Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the How to Apply - Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award.

All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. Failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a late submission, please reference NIH Grants Policy Statement 2.

3. 9. 2 Electronically Submitted Applications for additional information.

System for Award Management (SAM) – Applicants must complete and maintain an active registration, which requires renewal at least annually . The renewal process may require as much time as the initial registration. SAM registration includes the assignment of a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code for domestic organizations which have not already been assigned a CAGE Code.

NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code – Foreign organizations must obtain an NCAGE code (in lieu of a CAGE code) in order to register in SAM. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) - A UEI is issued as part of the SAM. gov registration process.

The same UEI must be used for all registrations, as well as on the grant application. eRA Commons - Once the unique organization identifier is established, organizations can register with eRA Commons in tandem with completing their Grants. gov registration; all registrations must be in place by time of submission.

eRA Commons requires organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an application. Grants. gov – Applicants must have an active SAM registration in order to complete the Grants.

gov registration. Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s)) All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account. PD(s)/PI(s) should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate their existing account with the applicant organization in eRA Commons.

If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks. All PD(s)/PI(s) must be registered with ORCID .

The personal profile associated with the PD(s)/PI(s) eRA Commons account must be linked to a valid ORCID ID. For more information on linking an ORCID ID to an eRA Commons personal profile see the ORCID topic in our eRA Commons online help .

Eligible Individuals (Program Director/Principal Investigator) Any candidate with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) is invited to work with their mentor and organization to develop an application for support. Multiple PDs/PIs are not allowed.

By the time of award, the individual must be a citizen or a non-citizen national of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., possess a currently valid Permanent Resident Card USCIS Form I-551, or other legal verification of such status).

Current and former PDs/PIs on NIH research project (R01), program project (P01), center grants (P50), Project Leads of program project (P01), or center grants (P50), other major individual career development awards (e.g., K01, K07, K08, K22, K23, K25, K76, K99/R00), or the equivalent are not eligible.

Current and former PDs/PIs of an NIH Small Grant (R03), Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21/R33), Planning Grant (R34/U34), Dissertation Award (R36), or SBIR/STTR (R41, R42, R43, R44) remain eligible, as do PD/PIs of Transition Scholar (K38) awards and individuals appointed to institutional K programs (K12, KL2). Candidates for the K23 award must have a health-professional doctoral degree.

Such degrees include, but are not limited to, the MD, DO, DDS, DMD, OD, DC, PharmD, ND (Doctor of Naturopathy), as well as a doctoral degree in nursing research or practice. Individuals with the PhD or other doctoral degree in clinical disciplines such as clinical psychology, nursing, clinical genetics, speech-language pathology, audiology or rehabilitation are also eligible.

Individuals holding the PhD in a non-clinical discipline but who are certified to perform clinical duties should contact the appropriate Institute concerning their eligibility for a K23 award. Candidates also must have completed their clinical training, including specialty and, if applicable, subspecialty training prior to receiving an award. However, candidates may submit an application prior to the completion of clinical training.

This NOFO does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 1. 2 Definitions of Terms . 3.

Additional Information on Eligibility Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct, and each is from a different candidate. NIH will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time per NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2. 3.

7. 4 Submission of Resubmission Application . An individual may not have two or more competing NIH career development applications pending review concurrently.

In addition, NIH will not accept: A new (A0) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of an overlapping new (A0) or resubmission (A1) application. A resubmission (A1) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of the previous new (A0) application.

An application that has substantial overlap with another application pending appeal of initial peer review. (See NIH Grants Policy Statement 2. 3.

9. 4 Similar, Essentially Identical, or Identical Applications ). Candidates may submit research project grant (RPG) applications concurrently with the K application.

However, any concurrent RPG application may not have substantial scientific and/or budgetary overlap with the career award application. K award recipients are encouraged to obtain funding from NIH or other Federal sources either as a PD/PI on a competing research grant award or cooperative agreement, or as project leader on a competing multi-project award as described in NOT-OD-18-157 .

At the time of award, the candidate must have a full-time appointment at the academic institution. Candidates are required to commit a minimum of 75% of full-time professional effort (i.e., a minimum of 9 person-months) to their program of career development.

Candidates may engage in other duties as part of the remaining 25% of their full-time professional effort not covered by this award, as long as such duties do not interfere with or detract from the proposed career development program. Candidates who have VA appointments may not consider part of the VA effort toward satisfying the full time requirement at the applicant institution.

Candidates with VA appointments should contact the staff person in the relevant Institute or Center prior to preparing an application to discuss their eligibility. After the receipt of the award, adjustments to the required level of effort may be made in certain circumstances. See NOT-OD-18-156 and NIH Grants Policy Statement , Section 12.

3. 6. 4 Temporary Adjustments to the Percent Effort Requirement for more details.

Before submitting the application, the candidate must identify a mentor who will supervise the proposed career development and research experience. The mentor should be an active investigator in the area of the proposed research and be committed both to the career development of the candidate and to the direct supervision of the candidate’s research.

The mentor must document the availability of sufficient research support and facilities. Candidates are encouraged to identify more than one mentor, i.e., a mentoring team, if this is deemed advantageous for providing expert advice in all aspects of the research career development program. In such cases, one individual must be identified as the primary mentor who will coordinate the candidate’s research.

The candidate must work with the mentor(s) in preparing the application. The mentor, or a member of the mentoring team, should have a successful track record of mentoring individuals at the candidate’s career stage. The mentor(s) or mentoring team must demonstrate appropriate expertise, experience, and ability to guide the candidate in the organization, management and implementation of the proposed research and/or clinical trial.

Institutional Environment The applicant institution must have a strong, well-established record of research and career development activities and faculty qualified to serve as mentors in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. Section IV. Application and Submission Information 1.

Requesting an Application Package Buttons to access the online ASSIST system or to download application forms are available in Part 1 of this NOFO. See your administrative office for instructions if you plan to use an institutional system-to-system solution. 2.

Content and Form of Application Submission It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the Career Development (K) Instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide except where instructed in this notice of funding opportunity to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the How to Apply - Application Guide is required and strictly enforced.

Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review. For information on Application Submission and Receipt, visit Frequently Asked Questions – Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications . All page limitations described in the How to Apply - Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.

Instructions for Application Submission The following section supplements the instructions found in the How to Apply - Application Guide and should be used for preparing an application to this NOFO. All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed. SF424(R&R) Project/Performance Site Locations All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed.

Other Project Information All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed. SF424(R&R) Senior/Key Person Profile Expanded All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed. All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed.

PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed.

PHS 398 Career Development Award Supplemental Form The PHS 398 Career Development Award Supplemental Form is comprised of the following sections: Other Candidate Information Mentor, Co-Mentor, Consultant, Collaborators Environment & Institutional Commitment to the Candidate Other Research Plan Sections All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed.

All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions: Candidate Information and Goals for Career Development Describe the candidate's commitment to an academic career in Patient-Oriented Research (POR).

Describe all of the candidate's professional responsibilities in the recipient institution and elsewhere and describe their relationship to the proposed activities on the career award. Present evidence of the candidate's ability to interact and collaborate with other scientists. Describe prior training and how it relates to the objectives and long-term career plans of the candidate.

Describe the candidate's research efforts to this point in their research career, including any publications, prior research interests and experience. Provide evidence of the candidate's potential to develop into an independent investigator. Usually this is evident from publications, prior research interests and experience, and reference letters.

Candidates with limited research experience may propose a career development experience that includes a designated period of didactic training followed by a period of closely supervised research experience.

Career Goals and Objectives​ Describe a systematic plan: (1) that shows a logical progression from prior research and training experiences to the research and career development experiences that will occur during the career award period and then to independent investigator status; and (2) that justifies the need for further career development to become an independent investigator.

Candidate’s Plan for Career Development/Training Activities During Award Period The candidate and the mentor(s) are jointly responsible for the preparation of the career development plan. A career development timeline is often helpful. The didactic (if any) and the research aspects of the plan must be designed to develop the necessary knowledge and research skills in scientific areas relevant to the candidate's career goals.

Describe the professional responsibilities/activities including other research projects beyond the minimum required 9 person months (75% full-time professional effort) commitment to the career award. Explain how these responsibilities/activities will help ensure career progression to achieve independence as an investigator.

All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions: A sound research project that is consistent with the candidate’s level of research development and objectives of their career development plan must be provided.

The research description should demonstrate the quality of the candidate’s research thus far and also the novelty, significance, creativity and approach, as well as the ability of the candidate to carry out the research. The application must also describe the relationship between the mentor’s research and the candidate’s proposed research plan.

If more than one mentor is proposed, the respective areas of expertise and responsibility should be described. While the focus of the K23 award is on POR, complementary laboratory research directly related to patient-oriented research may be proposed in the application, thereby providing an opportunity for a career development experience in translational research.

If the applicant is proposing to gain experience in a clinical trial, ancillary clinical trial or a clinical trial feasibility study as part of his or her research career development, describe the relationship of the proposed research project to the clinical trial. Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research All applications must include a plan to fulfill NIH requirements for instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR).

See How to Apply - Application Guide for instructions.

Mentor, Co-Mentor, Consultant, Collaborators Section All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions: Plans and Statements of Mentor and Co-mentor(s) The candidate must name a primary mentor who, together with the candidate, is responsible for the planning, directing, monitoring, and executing the proposed program.

The candidate may also nominate co-mentors as appropriate to the goals of the program. The mentor should have sufficient independent research support to cover the costs of the proposed research project in excess of the allowable costs of this award.

Include a statement that the candidate will commit at least 9 person months (75% of full-time professional effort) to the career development program and related career development activities.

The application must include a statement from the mentor providing: 1) information on his/her research qualifications and previous experience as a research supervisor; 2) a plan that describes the nature of the supervision and mentoring that will occur during the proposed award period; 3) a plan for career progression for the candidate to move from the mentored stage of his/her career to independent research investigator status during the project period of the award; and 4) a plan for monitoring the candidate’s research, publications, and progression towards independence.

Similar information must be provided by any co-mentor. If more than one co-mentor is proposed, the respective areas of expertise and responsibility of each should be described. Co-mentors should clearly describe how they will coordinate the mentoring of the candidate.

If any co-mentor is not located at the sponsoring institution, a statement should be provided describing the mechanism(s) and frequency of communication with the candidate, including the frequency of face-to-face meetings. The mentor must agree to provide annual evaluations of the candidate’s progress as required in the annual progress report.

If the candidate is proposing to gain experience in a clinical trial as part of his or her research career development, the mentor or co-mentor of the mentoring team must include a statement to document leadership of the clinical trial, and appropriate expertise to guide the applicant in any proposed clinical trials research experience.

Letters of Support from Collaborators, Contributors and Consultants Signed statements must be provided by all collaborators and/or consultants confirming their participation in the project and describing their specific roles. Unless also listed as senior/key personnel, collaborators and consultants do not need to provide their biographical sketches.

However, information should be provided clearly documenting the appropriate expertise in the proposed areas of consulting/collaboration. Advisory committee members (if applicable): Signed statements must be provided by each member of the proposed advisory committee. These statements should confirm their participation, describe their specific roles, and document the expertise they will contribute.

Unless also listed as senior/key personnel, these individuals do not need to provide their biographical sketches.

Environmental and Institutional Commitment to the Candidate All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions: Description of Institutional Environment The sponsoring institution must document a strong, well-established research and career development program related to the candidate's area of interest, including a high-quality research environment with key faculty members and other investigators capable of productive collaboration with the candidate.

Describe how the institutional research environment is particularly suited for the development of the candidate's research career and the pursuit of the proposed research plan. Describe the resources and facilities that will be available to the candidate. Institutional Commitment to the Candidate’s Research Career Development The sponsoring institution must provide a