Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Clinical Trial Required) | PA 24 184

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 24 184

The Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) (Parent K23, Independent Clinical Trial Required) is an NIH career development grant designed to help early-career clinician-researchers build a strong, independent research trajectory in patient-oriented research. The program is aimed at individuals who already hold a clinical doctoral degree and have made a clear commitment to conducting research that directly involves human subjects, with a focus on questions that arise from patient care and that can improve clinical practice and health outcomes. The central idea is to provide protected time, structured mentorship, and a career development plan so the awardee can deepen research skills, produce publishable findings, and become competitive for future independent funding.

A defining feature of this particular K23 announcement is the “Independent Clinical Trial Required” designation. That phrasing signals that the proposed project is expected to include an independent clinical trial led by the candidate as part of the mentored research experience, rather than participating in a trial led by someone else. In other words, the applicant is not only training in patient-oriented research, but is also expected to take responsibility for key elements of designing and conducting a clinical trial within a mentored framework, consistent with NIH rules around what counts as an independent clinical trial.

The opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health under Funding Opportunity Number PA-24-184. It is a discretionary grant mechanism categorized under an education and health-related funding activity area, reflecting its focus on research training and career development rather than a single disease-specific research topic. It is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (now commonly referred to under broader assistance listings), which reflects that many NIH institutes and centers may use this parent announcement to support K23 awards within their respective mission areas.

Eligibility is broad on the organizational side, which is typical for NIH parent announcements. Eligible applicants include many types of U.S.-based entities such as state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and certain tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in the nonprofit category as specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations that meet NIH eligibility requirements. The announcement also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. This emphasis signals NIH’s intent that a wide range of institutional settings, including those serving historically underrepresented communities, can serve as applicant organizations and training environments for clinician-scientists.

At the same time, the notice is clear about limits related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, “foreign components” are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S. applicant organization may include certain well-justified foreign elements in the project (for example, a specific collaboration, population, or resource that is uniquely available abroad), as long as it meets NIH’s definition and is properly documented and approved within NIH policy.

The posted original closing date is May 7, 2027, indicating that NIH intends this parent K23 opportunity to remain available across multiple receipt cycles until that date, subject to NIH standard submission schedules and any updates or early changes NIH may issue. The notice does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the excerpted data, which is common for NIH opportunities where budget levels and the number of awards can vary by institute, fiscal year appropriations, and program priorities.

In practical terms, this K23 mechanism supports a mentored period where a clinician-researcher strengthens methodological expertise in patient-oriented research, gains hands-on experience leading a clinical trial, and builds a publication and grant record under the guidance of experienced mentors. The overall goal is to accelerate the transition from supervised training to research independence while keeping the work grounded in real patient needs and clinically meaningful outcomes.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.307, 93.310, 93.313, 93.361, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.847, 93.853, 93.859, 93.865, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-05-07.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

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