Emerging Global Leader Award (K43 Independent Clinical Trial Required)
Can you apply?
This grant is for early-career scientists and physicians who want to establish independent research programs internationally. Applicants must hold a PhD, MD, DDS, DVM, or equivalent degree and have 0-6 years of postdoctoral research experience. The award supports independent clinical trial research in low- and middle-income countries or global health settings. Eligible recipients include universities, medical schools, and NIH-funded research institutions with appropriate infrastructure and mentorship.
Program description
This is a reissue of the Emerging Global Leader Program (K43) to align with the clinical trials policy.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Form
- Project Narrative
- Detailed Clinical Trial Protocol
- Biographical Sketches (applicant and mentors)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Letters of Institutional Support
- Mentor Commitment Letter
- Preliminary Data/Feasibility Documentation
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.173 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$67,501,043
-
$41,811,330
-
$29,666,573
-
$25,009,162
-
$22,883,624
-
$22,740,456
-
$16,596,227
-
$13,255,879
-
$12,363,350
-
$12,276,804
Top States by Funding
- MA 11 awards $142.6M
- CA 10 awards $101.6M
- IA 5 awards $77.5M
- CT 2 awards $76.3M
- MD 7 awards $56.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.173). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $422,034,489 | |
| 2025 | $422,700,014 | |
| 2026 est. | $427,030,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this K43 award?
Early-career researchers with a terminal degree and 0-6 years postdoctoral experience. You must plan to conduct an independent clinical trial in a global health setting or low- and middle-income country.
What is the typical funding range for K43 awards?
K43 awards typically provide salary support and limited research costs. Exact amounts vary, but expect modest direct costs compared to R01 grants.
Must my clinical trial be based in a specific country or region?
The research must take place in low- and middle-income countries or address global health priorities. Your institution should have established partnerships in those regions.
How competitive is this award?
K43 awards are competitive. Reviewers prioritize scientific innovation, feasibility of the clinical trial, and evidence of mentorship and institutional support.
What documents are typically required?
Expect to submit a detailed research plan, biographical sketches of mentors, institutional commitment letters, and a budget justification that emphasizes the independent nature of your research.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize your independence from your mentor and supervisor. Demonstrate autonomy in study design and decision-making.
- Invest in describing the clinical trial's feasibility. Include preliminary data, site infrastructure, and participant recruitment plans.
- Secure strong mentorship letters. Mentors should describe their hands-off supervisory approach and your emerging independence.
- Build partnerships early with collaborators in the target country or region. Formalize commitments with institutional letters of support.
- Start writing 2-3 months before the deadline. K43 applications require detailed clinical trial protocols that take time to develop.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants blur the line between their mentor's work and their own independent research. Clearly delineate your novel contributions. Clinical trial designs that lack local partnerships or feasibility data are often rejected. Applications that appear to be extensions of a mentor's existing work rather than a truly independent project rarely succeed.
Similar grants
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Rangeland Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN Infertility Training Center — Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Eastern Nevada Conservation, Recreation and Development – NEVADA BLM — Bureau of Land Management