Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Can you apply?
This grant is for early-career researchers transitioning to independent quantitative research careers. Applicants must have a research doctorate or equivalent and be in an early-stage faculty position or comparable research role. The mentor requirement is central—you must identify an experienced quantitative researcher as your mentor who will provide structured guidance. The grant funds research and mentor-mentee activities but explicitly excludes independent clinical trials as primary projects.
This grant is for early-career researchers transitioning to independent quantitative research careers. Applicants must have a research doctorate or equivalent and be in an early-stage faculty position or comparable research role. The mentor requirement is central—you must identify an experienced quantitative researcher as your mentor who will provide structured guidance. The grant funds research and mentor-mentee activities but explicitly excludes independent clinical trials as primary projects.
Program description
The purpose of the Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award (K25) is to attract to NIH-relevant research those investigators whose quantitative science and engineering research has thus far not been focused primarily on questions of health and disease. The K25 award will provide support and “protected time” for a period of supervised study and research for productive professionals with quantitative (e.g., mathematics, statistics, economics, computer science, imaging science, informatics, physics, chemistry) and engineering backgrounds to integrate their expertise with NIH-relevant research.This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is designed specifically for applicants proposing research that does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial. Applicants to this FOA are permitted to propose research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor. Applicants proposing a clinical trial or an ancillary clinical trial as lead investigator, should apply to the companion FOA ().
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Graduate Student
- 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
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for early-career researchers transitioning to independent quantitative research careers. Applicants must have a research doctorate or equivalent and be in an early-stage faculty position or comparable research role. The mentor requirement is central—you must identify an experienced quantitative researcher as your mentor who will provide structured guidance. The grant funds research and mentor-mentee activities but explicitly excludes independent clinical trials as primary projects.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R)
- Project Narrative (research plan and mentoring plan)
- Biosketch (applicant and mentor)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Mentor Letter of Commitment
- Institutional Commitment Letter
- NIH Vertebrate Animals or Human Subjects forms (if applicable)
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 for the K25 award?
Early-career researchers with a doctorate in quantitative fields (biostatistics, epidemiology, computational biology, etc.). You must be in a faculty or equivalent position and have minimal prior independent research funding.
Do I need a mentor?
Yes. You must identify a qualified mentor with expertise in quantitative methods and research independence. The mentor is essential to the application.
What can the grant fund?
Salary, research expenses, and training activities that develop your quantitative research program. Clinical trials as the primary project are not allowed.
How long is the award?
Typically 5 years of funding to support your transition to research independence.
How competitive is this grant?
Moderately competitive. Review focuses on mentor quality, your research plan, and evidence of mentoring commitment.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Choose a mentor who has strong quantitative credentials and demonstrated success mentoring early-career researchers.
- Show a clear mentoring plan with specific milestones for achieving research independence.
- Demonstrate existing capability in your quantitative specialty; don't propose to learn entirely new methods.
- Include letters of support from both your mentor and your institution showing commitment of resources.
- Link your quantitative work to a clear health-related research question; avoid pure methodology projects.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak or uncommitted mentor relationships reduce competitiveness. Applicants often underestimate time needed to develop genuine independence plans and mentoring structures. Projects that are too ambitious or lack clear quantitative innovation often score poorly.
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