Research Specialist (Clinician Scientist) Award (R50 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Can you apply?
This grant is for early-career clinician scientists seeking dedicated research time and salary support. Applicants must hold an MD, DO, DDS, DVM, or equivalent terminal clinical degree. Positions must be within a domestic nonprofit or government institution affiliated with the National Cancer Institute mission. Applicants must commit significant time to cancer research while maintaining clinical duties. U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is required.
Key dates
- May 6, 2026 Applications open
- Nov 2, 2026 Application deadline in 153 days
- Jul 1, 2027 Award announced
- Jul 1, 2027 Project start
This grant is for early-career clinician scientists seeking dedicated research time and salary support. Applicants must hold an MD, DO, DDS, DVM, or equivalent terminal clinical degree. Positions must be within a domestic nonprofit or government institution affiliated with the National Cancer Institute mission. Applicants must commit significant time to cancer research while maintaining clinical duties. U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is required.
Program description
This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) invites grant applications for the Research Specialist Award (R50) specifically for clinician scientists supporting NCI-funded clinical trials research. The Research Specialist Award is designed to encourage the development of stable research career opportunities for exceptional clinician scientists who want to continue to participate in the NCI clinical trials networks through leadership in the 1) development of national clinical trials, 2) implementation of NCI clinical trials in their institutions, and 3) national service to the NCI clinical trials networks through participation in the scientific review committees, monitoring committees and other activities, but not serve as principal investigators of research project grants. These clinician scientists are vital to sustaining the NCI-funded clinical trials enterprise. The Research Specialist Award is intended to provide salary support and sufficient autonomy so that individuals are not solely dependent on NCI grants held by others or other sources of support for cancer research career continuity.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- Colleges (all higher ed)
- County Government
- Hospital
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Details
This grant is for early-career clinician scientists seeking dedicated research time and salary support. Applicants must hold an MD, DO, DDS, DVM, or equivalent terminal clinical degree. Positions must be within a domestic nonprofit or government institution affiliated with the National Cancer Institute mission. Applicants must commit significant time to cancer research while maintaining clinical duties. U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is required.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Cover Sheet
- Project Narrative
- Biographical Sketch (NIH Format)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Institutional Commitment Letter
- Mentor Letter(s)
- Research Environment Description
Program contact
- 👤 Coordinating Center for Clinical Trials, National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- 📧 ncir50@mail.nih.gov
- 📞 Please contact via email
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.397 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$263,969,536
-
$235,803,541
-
$221,888,292
-
$203,145,019
-
$163,189,642
-
$140,362,092
-
$127,756,828
-
$127,128,807
-
$123,361,385
-
$122,762,660
Top States by Funding
- CA 13 awards $897.9M
- NY 6 awards $623.7M
- MA 5 awards $446.7M
- PA 6 awards $442.8M
- TX 7 awards $430.6M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.397). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $608,105,052 | |
| 2025 | $607,075,632 | |
| 2026 est. | $338,673,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply?
You must hold a terminal clinical degree (MD, DO, DDS, DVM, or equivalent) and work at an NCI-affiliated research institution. U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is required.
What research areas are supported?
Cancer research across all NCI divisions. Clinical trials are not the primary focus of this award mechanism.
How long is the award period?
Typically 3-5 years of salary and research support. Multi-year commitments provide stability for research programs.
What are the funding expectations?
This supports dedicated research time and clinician-researcher salary. Funds cover protected research time, not full salary replacement.
Is prior research experience required?
You should show promise in cancer research with preliminary data or publications. First-time researchers can apply if mentored appropriately.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly describe protected research time in your institution and commitment to dedicate it to cancer research.
- Develop a focused, achievable research plan that leverages your clinical expertise and perspective.
- Secure strong mentorship and institutional support; include letters from both clinical and research mentors.
- Use preliminary data to demonstrate feasibility; pilot studies strengthen competitiveness significantly.
- Address how you will balance clinical duties with research and maintain both roles over the award period.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Overly ambitious research plans without sufficient preliminary data or pilot work. Weak institutional commitment or inadequate protected time allocation for research activities. Insufficient detail on how clinical experience informs the research direction.
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