NINDS Postdoctoral Mentored Career Development Award (K01 No Independent Clinical Trial Allowed) | PAR 18 686

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 686

The NINDS Postdoctoral Mentored Career Development Award (K01, No Independent Clinical Trial Allowed) is an NIH grant mechanism designed to help exceptional postdoctoral researchers transition toward research independence in areas aligned with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) mission. The central goal is to provide a protected, mentored period in which a candidate can pursue a potentially high-impact research project while also completing a structured, comprehensive career development plan. The award is built around the idea that strong training and deliberate career preparation are just as important as the research itself, so applicants are expected to lay out how mentorship, coursework or technical training, professional development activities, and research milestones will collectively position them to launch an independent program by the end of the K01 period.

This opportunity is aimed specifically at postdoctoral researchers who are still in the mentored phase of their careers. NINDS encourages candidates to apply during the second through fourth year of cumulative mentored postdoctoral research experience, with the expectation that the award would be held within the first six years of cumulative postdoctoral experience. A key message in the announcement is that candidates should not wait until the end of their eligibility window; submitting earlier is strongly encouraged because the award emphasizes a thorough career development plan that takes time to execute and is meant to shape the candidate into an independent investigator. By the conclusion of the award, the candidate should have an impactful, well-developed research direction, a strong track record of productivity, and the skills and expertise needed to be competitive for independent funding and recognized as an emerging leader in their field.

As indicated in the title, this K01 is not intended to support independent clinical trials. In practical terms, the research plan must fit within NIH rules for a K01 that does not allow the candidate to lead an independent clinical trial, which typically means the project should be preclinical, translational without an independent trial, or otherwise structured so that the candidate is not the one proposing and directing an independent clinical trial as the primary aim. Applicants generally need to ensure their proposed activities match the "no independent clinical trial allowed" requirement and that any involvement with clinical research is consistent with NIH policy for this specific FOA.

The funding opportunity is listed as PAR-18-686 and is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health area (CFDA 93.853) under the National Institutes of Health. The posting date in the provided record is February 28, 2018, and the original closing date shown is November 7, 2019 (meaning applicants should verify current availability and due dates through NIH and the FOA record, since NIH opportunities can be reissued, expired, or replaced over time).

A wide range of organizations can serve as applicant institutions. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (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, tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and other categories listed in the FOA. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it draws clear boundaries around foreign involvement: non-U.S. (foreign) institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. However, foreign components are allowed when they meet the NIH definition in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which generally means certain parts of the project can be carried out abroad if appropriately justified and compliant with NIH policy.

Overall, this K01 is structured as a mentored launchpad: it supports a defined period of intensive training and guided research so that a postdoctoral scientist can move from being primarily supervised to being prepared to lead an independent, sustainable research program in neurological science. The strongest applications are typically those that present a compelling and feasible research plan, a mentorship team with a clear commitment to the candidate's growth, and a career development strategy with concrete steps, timelines, and outcomes that clearly point toward independence by the end of the award.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NINDS Postdoctoral Mentored Career Development Award (K01 No Independent Clinical Trial Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.853.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-02-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-11-07. (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.

Apply for PAR 18 686

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