NINDS Postdoctoral Mentored Career Development Award (K01 Clinical Trial Required) | PAR 20 050

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 050

The NINDS Postdoctoral Mentored Career Development Award (K01 Clinical Trial Required), funding opportunity number PAR-20-050, is an NIH grant program in the health area (CFDA 93.853) designed to help exceptional postdoctoral researchers transition into independent investigators in neuroscience and neurological disorders. The core idea is straightforward: NINDS wants to invest in promising, mentored postdocs who have both a well-conceived research project and a structured, thorough career development plan, so that by the end of the award they are positioned to launch an independent research program and develop into leaders in their field.

A defining feature of this particular K01 announcement is that it is specifically tailored for applicants whose proposed research and training plan includes leading a clinical trial. That means the candidate is expected to be the lead investigator for either (1) an independent clinical trial, (2) a clinical trial feasibility study, or (3) an ancillary study linked to an existing clinical trial. In other words, this is not simply a mentored award that allows exposure to clinical research; it is built for candidates who will take primary responsibility for a clinical trial component as part of their development into independent clinician-scientists or clinical investigators.

NINDS is explicit about when potential applicants should be thinking about applying. Candidates are encouraged to apply during the second through fourth year of their cumulative mentored postdoctoral research experience, and they may receive support under this K01 as long as they are within the first six years of cumulative postdoctoral research experience. The emphasis on applying earlier in the eligibility window reflects how heavily this FOA weighs the career development plan: NINDS is signaling that the training, mentorship, and structured development activities are not an add-on, but a central review consideration alongside the scientific merit and potential impact of the proposed clinical trial research. The expectation is that the award period will be used to build the candidate s expertise, independence, and track record so they can compete successfully for independent funding and establish a sustainable research niche.

Eligibility for applicant organizations is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based entities, such as public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, tribal governments (including federally recognized tribes), tribal organizations, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses, among others. The FOA also explicitly notes inclusion of institutions and organizations that serve specific communities, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies. At the same time, it draws clear boundaries around foreign involvement: non-U.S. (foreign) institutions are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, meaning certain project elements may be conducted abroad when appropriately justified and compliant with NIH policy, even though the primary applicant organization must be eligible and based in the United States.

Administrative details included in the source information indicate the opportunity is a discretionary grant program administered by the National Institutes of Health, originally created on 2019-11-07, with an original closing date listed as 2023-05-07. The provided fields do not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the excerpt, so prospective applicants would typically look to the full FOA text and NIH budget guidance for typical K01 cost structures and institute-specific budget expectations. Overall, this K01 is best understood as a mentored, career-launching mechanism for postdoctoral researchers who are ready to take on the responsibility of leading a clinical trial related to NINDS mission areas, while receiving structured mentorship and training intended to accelerate their path to independence.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NINDS Postdoctoral Mentored Career Development Award (K01 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.853.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-11-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-05-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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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