Research Career Enhancement Award for Established Investigators (K18 Clinical Trial Required)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for established investigators seeking to expand or redirect their research careers with a focus on clinical trials. Applicants must be research scientists, physicians, dentists, or other health professionals with doctorates who have already demonstrated an independent research program, typically through prior NIH funding. Eligible applicants include faculty at research institutions, including academic medical centers, universities, and other non-profit organizations with institutional support. Preference is given to investigators who are transitioning into new research areas, strengthening their independence, or developing novel clinical trial methodologies related to hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language disorders supported by NIDCD. The grant emphasizes developmental research awards for mid-career scientists committed to continued research and academic careers.
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Program description
The purpose of the NIDCD Research Career Enhancement Award for Established Investigators (K18) program is to enable established, proven investigators to augment or redirect their research programs through the acquisition of new research skills to answer questions relevant to the hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech and language sciences.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Application form (SF-424 R&R)
- Project narrative (5-15 pages depending on instructions)
- Specific aims
- Research plan with detailed clinical trial protocol
- Biographical sketch (NIH format, 2 pages)
- Personal statement (1 page)
- Letters of support from mentors and institutional leadership
- Budget and budget justification
- Institutional review board (IRB) determination letter or evidence of IRB submission
- Clinical trial protocol and related regulatory documents (ClinicalTrials.gov registration may be required or anticipated)
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.173 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$67,501,043
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$41,811,330
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$29,666,573
-
$25,009,162
-
$22,883,624
-
$22,740,456
-
$16,596,227
-
$13,760,149
-
$12,363,350
-
$12,276,804
Top States by Funding
- MA 11 awards $143.1M
- CA 10 awards $101.6M
- IA 5 awards $77.5M
- CT 2 awards $76.3M
- MD 8 awards $65.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.173). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $422,034,489 | |
| 2025 | $422,700,014 | |
| 2026 est. | $427,030,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this K18 award?
Established investigators with an earned doctorate (MD, DDS, PhD, DO, or equivalent) and evidence of an independent research program. Applicants must have institutional commitment and support from their organization.
Is clinical trial involvement required?
Yes, this K18 variant requires that the proposed research includes a clinical trial component. The research must have direct involvement of human subjects in the proposed studies.
What types of research does NIDCD support?
NIDCD funds research on hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language disorders. Your research should align with one or more of these mission areas.
How competitive is this award?
K awards are competitive. Success typically requires a strong track record of publications, prior funding, and a clear plan for research and career development. Most funded applicants have several years of independent research experience.
What is the typical funding level?
K18 awards typically provide salary support (up to 25% of a senior scientist position) plus modest research support for 5 years. Total annual costs vary but are generally in the range of $100,000-$200,000 per year.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly articulate your transition plan: explain what is new or different about your research direction and why this K18 is essential to your career development rather than general research funding.
- Emphasize the clinical trial component: since this K18 requires a clinical trial, design experiments with direct human subject involvement and clearly detail recruitment, enrollment, and data collection procedures.
- Build a strong mentoring team: even though K18s are for established investigators, include one or more mentors with expertise in your new research area and clinical trial methodology.
- Demonstrate institutional commitment: include strong letters of support from your department chair and institution showing commitment to your salary and protected time for research.
- Use preliminary data strategically: present compelling preliminary data from your planned clinical trial to demonstrate feasibility and reduce risk to reviewers.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants often fail to clearly demonstrate how this award advances their career beyond incremental progression. Reviewers reject applications where the clinical trial feels like an add-on rather than central to the research vision. Additionally, many established investigators underestimate the importance of a strong mentoring plan and clear institutional commitment—even experienced researchers need dedicated mentors in new areas, and the application must show protected time and institutional support for success.
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- OPEN NIDCD Mentored Career Development Award for Postdoctorate Au.D./Ph.D. Audiologists (K01 Clinical Trial Required) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Career Transition Award for NINDS Intramural Clinician-Scientists (K22 Clinical Trial Required) — National Institutes of Health