Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Clinical Trial Required)
Can you apply?
This grant is for early-career clinician-scientists who want to lead patient-oriented research. Applicants must have an M.D., D.O., D.D.S., D.V.M., or equivalent healthcare professional degree. You must commit 25% effort to research and secure a qualified mentor. Your institution must provide mentoring support and institutional commitment.
The award supports three to five years of research salary and modest research costs. You can conduct independent clinical trials as a principal investigator. International applicants must work at U.S.-based institutions. Prior funding or publication record is not required to be competitive.
This grant is for early-career clinician-scientists who want to lead patient-oriented research. Applicants must have an M.D., D.O., D.D.S., D.V.M., or equivalent healthcare professional degree. You must commit 25% effort to research and secure a qualified mentor. Your institution must provide mentoring support and institutional commitment.
The award supports three to five years of research salary and modest research costs. You can conduct independent clinical trials as a principal investigator. International applicants must work at U.S.-based institutions. Prior funding or publication record is not required to be competitive.
Program description
The purpose of the NIH Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) is to support the career development of individuals with a clinical doctoral degree who have made a commitment to focus their research endeavors on patient-oriented research.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- 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
- Veteran (individual)
Details
This grant is for early-career clinician-scientists who want to lead patient-oriented research. Applicants must have an M.D., D.O., D.D.S., D.V.M., or equivalent healthcare professional degree. You must commit 25% effort to research and secure a qualified mentor. Your institution must provide mentoring support and institutional commitment.
The award supports three to five years of research salary and modest research costs. You can conduct independent clinical trials as a principal investigator. International applicants must work at U.S.-based institutions. Prior funding or publication record is not required to be competitive.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) - Application cover form
- Project Narrative (Research Strategy section)
- Biographical Sketch (mentor and applicant)
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Mentor Letter (commitment to mentoring)
- Institutional Support Letter
- Letters of Reference (typically 3-5)
- Research Plan with Specific Aims
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.121 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$443,702,768
-
$32,310,944
-
$31,252,186
-
$29,535,192
-
$23,987,187
-
$23,513,241
-
$18,362,716
-
$16,829,492
-
$15,691,075
-
$14,460,130
Top States by Funding
- WA 2 awards $451.4M
- CA 13 awards $134.6M
- MI 4 awards $75.8M
- PA 4 awards $67.6M
- MA 5 awards $39.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.121). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $319,987,302 | |
| 2025 | $332,151,837 | |
| 2026 est. | $337,316,521 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply?
Healthcare professionals with research experience who want to develop into independent researchers. You need an advanced health professional degree and institutional support.
What can the funding support?
Salary, research costs, and mentoring support for patient-oriented research. You can conduct independent clinical trials.
How competitive is this award?
Moderately competitive. Reviewers focus on your research plan, mentor quality, and potential to become independent. Innovation and feasibility matter more than prior funding.
What's the time commitment?
You must dedicate at least 25% of your effort to the research project. Balance clinical practice with dedicated research time.
How long does the award last?
Typically three to five years, renewable based on progress and available funding.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Find a strong mentor early. Their experience and commitment matter significantly to reviewers.
- Develop a focused, doable research project. Avoid overly ambitious plans that seem unrealistic in the timeframe.
- Show how your research addresses patient needs or clinical questions. NIH values work with direct health relevance.
- Highlight your institution's research support and resources. Institutional buy-in strengthens applications.
- Plan for independence by year three or four. Show how you'll transition to leading your own research program after the award.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing research too dependent on the mentor's lab. Show you'll lead and grow independent.
Weak institutional commitment or unstable mentor. Reviewers reject applications lacking real support infrastructure.
Unfocused project scope with too many aims. Patient-oriented research requires clear, achievable clinical questions.
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