Limited Competition: Mentored Research Career Development Program Award in Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program (K12 Clinical Trial Optional)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 27, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for early-career clinical and translational researchers seeking mentored career development. Applicants must hold an M.D., Ph.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., or equivalent degree. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or foreign nationals with valid visas.
The program supports researchers at academic medical centers, research institutions, and CTSA-affiliated sites. Applicants must secure a mentor and institutional commitment. Applicants typically have 0-8 years of postdoctoral or clinical research experience.
Institutions must be eligible to receive federal awards. The grant supports salary, protected research time, mentoring, and professional development. Clinical trial experience is optional but encouraged.
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Program description
The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) will award Institutional Research Career Development (K12) programs through the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA). The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to encourage institutions to propose creative and innovative institutional research career development programs designed to prepare an outstanding heterogeneous pool of promising later stage postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty scholars who have made a commitment to independent clinical and translational science research careers (i.e., tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions)to facilitate their timely career advancementand continued engagement in research (i.e., sectors including academia, industry, nonprofit and government).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R)
- Project Narrative (Research Plan)
- Biosketch (Applicant and Mentor)
- Budget Justification
- Letters of Support (Mentor and Institutional)
- Research Training Plan
- Career Development Plan
- Biographical Sketch for Mentor
- Institutional Commitment Letter
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.350 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$139,753,636
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$118,592,298
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$118,098,707
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$112,138,469
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$102,903,347
-
$102,422,256
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$100,095,982
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$99,978,264
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$98,955,036
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$97,784,066
Top States by Funding
- CA 13 awards $662.0M
- NY 11 awards $506.1M
- MA 6 awards $321.4M
- NC 5 awards $313.7M
- OH 5 awards $167.6M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.350). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $595,597,945 | |
| 2025 | $626,227,752 |
FAQ
Am I eligible if I just finished my postdoc?
Yes. The program targets researchers in early stages of their research career, typically within 8 years of postdoctoral training.
Does my institution need to be CTSA-affiliated?
It helps. CTSA institutions have structured mentoring. Non-CTSA institutions may apply if they can demonstrate research support and mentoring capacity.
What is the funding level and timeline?
Awards typically provide 3-5 years of support. Budget limits vary by institution. Check the most recent program announcement for exact figures.
How competitive is this grant?
Very competitive. Strong research plan, experienced mentor, and institutional support are essential. Plan for a rigorous review process.
Can I use funding for clinical trial work?
Yes. The K12 mechanism optionally supports clinical trial experience and research skills development.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Secure a strong mentor with research funding and proven mentoring track record. Mentor commitment is critical to reviewers.
- Develop a focused, feasible research plan for 3-5 years. Show clear milestones and achievable aims.
- Emphasize protected research time. Applicants with 20-40% protected time are more competitive than busy clinicians.
- Submit letters of institutional commitment and mentor support early. These documents carry significant weight in review.
- Highlight your research training plan and career development goals. Show how the award will launch your independent research career.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak or uncommitted mentor. Reviewers view mentor credentials and prior mentoring success as essential to your success.
Overly ambitious research plan. Aim to show feasibility and completion, not groundbreaking discovery in five years.
Insufficient protected research time. Most competitive applicants have dedicated time; purely clinical schedules raise red flags about feasibility.
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