Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PA 24 182

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 24 182

The Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08, Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is an NIH career development grant designed to help clinically trained professionals become independent investigators in biomedical, behavioral, and translational research. Its central goal is workforce development: giving people with clinical doctoral degrees the structured mentorship, research training, and dedicated protected time needed to build a strong research trajectory that addresses U.S. health-related research priorities. In practical terms, the K08 supports an intensive, supervised period where the award recipient deepens research skills, generates publishable results, and positions themselves to compete for future independent NIH funding.

This opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under Funding Opportunity Number PA 24-182 and uses the grant funding instrument. It sits within a broad set of health and social-service related activity categories and is associated with multiple CFDA (Assistance Listing) numbers, reflecting that many NIH Institutes and Centers can use this parent announcement to support mentored clinician-scientists aligned with their missions. The listing emphasizes that the program is part of a long-standing NIH commitment to clinician-scientist development, especially for individuals who need time carved out from clinical responsibilities to focus on research and career development under the guidance of experienced mentors.

A key limitation is embedded in the title: independent clinical trials are not allowed. That means the award is not intended for applicants proposing to lead their own stand-alone clinical trial as the primary project. While clinical and translational research may be appropriate, applicants generally need to design a research plan that does not place them in the role of independently directing a clinical trial. (NIH often distinguishes between leading an independent trial versus working on research that may involve human participants or contributing to a larger trial under a mentor; the exact boundaries depend on NIH definitions and the specific application details, but the main takeaway is that proposing to independently run a clinical trial would not fit this announcement.)

Eligibility to apply as the applicant organization is broad and spans many U.S.-based entity types. 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; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other eligible organizations. The announcement also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal government agencies, regional organizations, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the geographic eligibility rules are strict for applicant organizations: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S. applicant organization can include certain foreign collaborations or elements when they meet NIH’s definition and requirements for a foreign component, even though the primary applicant organization itself must be domestic.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was created on April 24, 2024, and lists an original closing date of May 7, 2027. The provided data do not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the fields shown, which is common for parent NIH announcements because actual budgets, paylines, and award counts can vary by NIH Institute/Center, fiscal year, and the applicant’s proposed scope. Overall, the K08 is best understood as a mentored, protected-time pathway for clinically trained researchers to build the skills, publications, preliminary data, and mentorship network needed to transition into independent, sustained research careers that contribute to national health needs, while avoiding proposals centered on independently led clinical trials under this specific announcement.

• 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 Not Allowed)" 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, 93.310, 93.313, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.847, 93.853, 93.855, 93.859, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867, 93.879.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-24.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-05-07.
• 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 24 182

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