Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 19, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for early-career researchers pursuing independent clinical research careers. Applicants must hold an MD, DO, DDS, DPM, or PhD, and be US citizens or permanent residents. The award supports five years of mentored research and protected career development time at eligible institutions.
Eligible organizations include research universities, medical schools, hospitals, and other research institutions with IRB oversight. Foreign institutions cannot be primary awardees but may serve as research sites. Applicants must commit to a clinical research career at their institution.
The program supports basic, clinical, translational, and health services research. It does not support independent clinical trials as the primary project. Awards provide salary support, research supplies, and professional development funds.
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Program description
The primary purpose of the NIH Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Awards (K08) program is to prepare qualified individuals for careers that have a significant impact on the health-related research needs of the Nation. This program represents the continuation of a long-standing NIH program that provides support and “protected time” to individuals with a clinical doctoral degree for an intensive, supervised research career development experience in the fields of biomedical and behavioral research, including translational research.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) form
- Project Narrative (research plan)
- Biographical Sketch (NIH format)
- Mentoring Plan (2-3 pages)
- Mentor Biographical Sketch
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Institutional Commitment Letter
- Preliminary Data
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.172 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$40,531,110
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$34,574,245
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$32,186,204
-
$30,201,146
-
$30,195,606
-
$27,072,236
-
$26,495,937
-
$26,020,371
-
$24,413,854
-
$23,757,911
Top States by Funding
- CA 20 awards $335.5M
- MA 16 awards $313.7M
- WA 9 awards $140.7M
- NC 6 awards $108.5M
- NY 6 awards $104.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.172). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $452,727,668 | |
| 2025 | $423,878,429 | |
| 2026 est. | $9,989,158 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this K08 award?
Postdoctoral researchers and early-career clinicians with MD, DO, DDS, or DPM degrees. You must commit to a clinical research career at your institution.
What is the deadline and funding timeline?
The next deadline is May 8, 2027. Awards typically fund five years of mentored research and career development.
Can I conduct an independent clinical trial as my main project?
No. This K08 mechanism explicitly excludes independent clinical trials as the primary research focus. You must have a strong mentor.
How competitive is this award?
This is highly competitive. The NIH receives hundreds of K08 applications annually. Strong preliminary data and mentorship plans are essential.
What does the funding typically support?
Salary support for your protected research time, laboratory supplies, travel to conferences, and professional development activities. Typically $50,000-$100,000 annually.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Develop a close relationship with a research mentor early. A weak mentorship plan will sink your application.
- Present preliminary data from your own work. Show you can independently design and conduct research.
- Secure institutional commitment for protected research time. Most awards require 75% effort on research.
- Align your research question with the NIH strategic plan and your mentor's expertise. Misalignment reduces fundability.
- Budget conservatively and justify each category. NIH reviewers scrutinize every line item in K08 budgets.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak mentorship plans or mentors without sufficient research program. Independent clinical trials as the primary research aim. Insufficient preliminary data to demonstrate research independence.
Similar grants
- OPEN Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Required) — National Institutes of Health
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- OPEN Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 – Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Institutional Mentored Career Development Award (Parent K12) (Clinical Trials Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 – Independent Clinical Trial Required) — National Institutes of Health