Forecast to Publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity for Paul Calabresi Career Development Award in Clinical Oncology (K12 Clinical Trial Optional)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for institutions offering cancer research career development programs. Applicant institutions must be U.S.-based and eligible to receive NIH funding. Scholars must hold MD, DO, DDS, DVM, or PhD degrees and have full-time appointments at the applicant or partner institution.
Programs must include at least two oncology specialties and assign each Scholar two mentors: one conducting patient-oriented research and one basic science cancer researcher. Scholars receive 2-3 years of support (12-month appointments) and can lead independent clinical trials, conduct ancillary studies, or gain trial experience under another investigator's leadership.
Institutions applying must demonstrate strengths in their selected oncology specialties and commit to individualized career development planning for Scholars at varying research experience levels.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Key dates
- Jul 1, 2025 Applications open
- Feb 18, 2026 Application deadline
- Jan 6, 2027 Award announced
- Jan 6, 2027 Project start
Program description
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the Paul Calabresi Career Development Award for Clinical Oncology (K12). The NOFO will invite applications for institutional research career development programs to support the training of clinical scientists in cancer research. The purpose of the Paul Calabresi Career Development Award for Clinical Oncology, is to increase the number of clinician-scientists trained in clinical and translational cancer research, promote their career development, and prepare them to be effective scientific partners with basic research scientists.
NCI Calabresi K12 programs are required to have at least two oncology specialties represented among the included faculty and the pool of K12 appointees (Scholars). The programs are expected to leverage the institution’s unique strengths in these oncology specialties and to incorporate the latest research and technology advancements in designing cutting-edge career development curricula. And the programs must establish individualized career development plans to accommodate Scholars with different levels of prior research training/experience and assign two mentors, a clinician conducting patient-oriented research and a basic science cancer researcher, to each Scholar.
The award budgets may include salary support for the PD(s)/PI(s) and Scholars, research and development support, and administrative support costs. The application must clearly indicate the number of Scholar appointments proposed for each year. Candidates must have a full-time appointment at the applicant institution or a partnering institution. Scholar support is provided for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years of consecutive funding for each scholar, consisting of 12-month appointments, provided their progress towards an independent academic career is on track and satisfactory. The program will allow the appointment of Scholars proposing to serve as the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial; or proposing a separate ancillary study to an existing trial; or proposing to gain research experience in a clinical trial led by another investigator as part of their research and career development.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance
- Project Narrative (with program description and Scholar selection criteria)
- Budget Narrative and Justification
- Institutional Biosketches for Program Director(s)/PI(s)
- Biosketches for Proposed Mentors
- Letters of Support from Institutional Leadership
Program contact
- 👤 Mark Damico, Ph.D. National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- 📧 damicomw@nih.gov
- 📞 240-276-5630
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.398 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$23,853,515
-
$22,820,040
-
$17,454,036
-
$15,407,472
-
$14,832,927
-
$14,410,208
-
$14,234,718
-
$14,219,981
-
$13,766,537
-
$13,734,930
Top States by Funding
- CA 14 awards $114.6M
- MA 10 awards $104.9M
- TX 9 awards $102.7M
- NY 9 awards $65.8M
- NC 6 awards $62.1M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.398). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $228,173,992 | |
| 2025 | $213,201,522 | |
| 2026 est. | $135,455,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Institutions eligible to receive NIH funding can apply. Applicant institutions must sponsor the program and ensure Scholars have full-time appointments. Scholars must hold MD, DO, DDS, DVM, or PhD degrees.
What are the key program requirements?
Programs must include at least two oncology specialties among faculty and Scholars. Each Scholar receives two mentors: one in patient-oriented research and one in basic science cancer research. Institutions must develop individualized career development plans.
How long is Scholar support provided?
Scholars receive 2-3 consecutive years of support in 12-month appointments. Continued support depends on satisfactory progress toward an independent academic career.
Can Scholars participate in clinical trials?
Yes. Scholars can lead independent clinical trials, conduct ancillary studies to existing trials, or gain research experience in trials led by other investigators as part of their career development.
What budget categories are supported?
Budgets may include salary for PD(s)/PI(s) and Scholars, research and development support, and administrative costs. The application must specify Scholar appointments proposed for each year.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly articulate institutional strengths in at least two oncology specialties before applying. Reviewers assess whether programs leverage unique institutional assets.
- Design individualized career development plans for Scholars at different research experience levels. One-size-fits-all plans will weaken competitiveness.
- Identify and describe mentoring pairs in detail: the patient-oriented researcher and basic science cancer researcher. Strong mentor credentials matter significantly.
- Include explicit language about how your program supports Scholars interested in clinical trials, whether as independent leads or participants. This is a program priority.
- Budget realistically for administrative and development support. Underfunded programs struggle with recruitment, mentoring, and curriculum quality.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Failing to clearly document two distinct oncology specialties or recruiting Scholars from only one specialty. Assigning single or inadequately qualified mentors instead of two complementary mentor pairs. Submitting generic career development plans without individualization or research experience differentiation.
Similar grants
- OPEN Paul Calabresi Career Development Award for Clinical Oncology (K12 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Limited Competition: Mentored Research Career Development Program Award in Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program (K12 Clinical Trial Optional) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Institutional Mentored Career Development Award (Parent K12) (Clinical Trials Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- CLOSED Forecast to Publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity for Academic Career Excellence (ACE) Award (K32 – Clinical Trial Required) — National Institutes of Health