Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (Parent K24 Independent Clinical Trial Required)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for early-to-mid career clinical researchers who want to establish themselves as independent investigators in patient-oriented research. Eligibility is limited to U.S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents affiliated with NIH-eligible organizations (universities, medical centers, research hospitals, nonprofit research institutions, and some government agencies). Applicants typically must have completed a postdoctoral fellowship or equivalent research training and have an M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent research doctorate. The "Parent K24 Independent Clinical Trial Required" designation means applications must propose to conduct or substantially participate in a clinical trial. Activities supported include salary support for the investigator, research project costs, equipment, and institutional resources. Support is typically 5 years and designed to help researchers transition to research independence while building their research portfolio.
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Program description
The purpose of the NIH Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24) is to provide support to mid-career health-professional doctorates for protected time to devote to patient-oriented research (POR) and to act as research mentors primarily for clinical residents, clinical fellows and/or junior clinical faculty.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Hospital
- Nonprofits
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Researcher (independent)
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NIH Form SF-424 (R&R) - application face page
- Project Narrative (typically 15 pages describing research aims, significance, and clinical trial design)
- Specific Aims (1 page outlining research goals)
- Research Strategy section covering Background, Significance, Innovation, Approach, and preliminary data
- Budget and Budget Justification (for 5-year project period)
- Biographical Sketch (NIH format) for applicant and key personnel
- Curriculum Vitae and bibliography documentation of research productivity
- Institutional commitment/support letter
- Clinical trial protocol or summary if applicable
- Letters of recommendation (typically 2-3)
- Facilities and Other Resources description
- Data and Safety Monitoring Plan (required for clinical trials)
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.233 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$16,277,433
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$15,004,395
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$12,669,690
-
$8,456,005
-
$7,924,752
-
$7,402,941
-
$7,333,951
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$7,218,079
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$6,771,213
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$6,674,878
Top States by Funding
- MA 17 awards $93.6M
- PA 11 awards $51.6M
- IL 10 awards $44.8M
- CA 11 awards $36.8M
- MD 7 awards $30.3M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.233). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $104,734,238 | |
| 2025 | $116,468,492 |
FAQ
Who can apply for the K24 Midcareer Investigator Award?
Early-to-mid career researchers with an M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent research doctorate who have completed postdoctoral training and are affiliated with NIH-eligible organizations. U.S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents are eligible.
What is the "Independent Clinical Trial Required" requirement?
This K24 requires that your proposed research involve conducting or being substantially involved in a clinical trial. Purely observational or non-interventional research does not meet this requirement.
What is the typical funding level and project duration?
K24 awards typically provide 5 years of support including investigator salary, research costs, and institutional support. While specific budget amounts vary, these awards generally support modest to moderate research programs.
When is the application deadline?
The next deadline is May 7, 2027, with applications opening April 25, 2024. NIH typically has multiple submission deadlines annually for this award.
How competitive is this award?
K24 awards are highly competitive. Success requires a strong track record of clinical research productivity, clear independence from previous mentors, and a well-designed clinical trial addressing important research questions.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly demonstrate your transition to research independence by showing how your proposed research differs significantly from your postdoctoral or training work and your previous mentors' research focus.
- Provide strong preliminary data from your own laboratory or clinical research group showing feasibility of the proposed clinical trial and your capability to lead it.
- Ensure your clinical trial is substantial and integral to your overall research program, not peripheral. The trial should represent a major component of your research portfolio.
- Include a strong institutional commitment letter detailing protected research time, mentoring support, and infrastructure resources the institution will provide during the award period.
- Build in structured mentoring and career development plans that address gaps in your research skills, project management, biostatistics, or clinical trial methodology as appropriate.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail because applicants lack sufficient independence from previous mentors, with research plans that appear incremental extensions of postdoctoral work rather than new research directions. Another frequent issue is insufficient or preliminary clinical trial design—reviewers want to see detailed methodology, not vague commitments to "conduct a trial." Finally, inadequate institutional support letters or insufficient protected research time commitments weaken applications significantly.
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