Career Transition Award for NINDS Intramural Clinician-Scientists (K22 Clinical Trial Required) | PAR 25 216

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 25 216

The Career Transition Award for NINDS Intramural Clinician-Scientists (K22 Clinical Trial Required), funding opportunity number PAR-25-216, is an NIH grant mechanism meant to help strong early-career investigators move from mentored or structured training into fully independent academic research careers. It uses a two-phase design. The first phase takes place inside the NIH Intramural Research Program, where the awardee continues to build advanced research skills, publications, and a clearly defined independent research direction. The second phase supports the investigator after they leave NIH and accept a faculty-position at an external (extramural) institution, with the goal of launching an independent research program that can compete successfully for major independent funding while also sustaining clinical responsibilities.

This particular K22 is tailored to the mission and workforce needs of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Its focus is specifically on NINDS intramural neurologist-scientists and neurosurgeon-scientists who are ready to transition into independent, academic faculty roles. In practical terms, it is intended to bridge a common career gap for clinician-scientists: the period when they are moving into a new institution, setting up their research program, and balancing the time demands of clinical service with the need to generate data and publications that position them for long-term research funding. The "Clinical Trial Required" designation signals that the proposed work is expected to include a clinical trial component as defined by NIH policy, so applicants should anticipate meeting NIH expectations for clinical trial planning, oversight, and reporting as part of the research plan.

Eligibility is broad at the organizational level for the extramural phase and includes many types of U.S.-based entities that can host a faculty member and administer an NIH grant. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (when not institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The opportunity also explicitly highlights additional eligible institution types such as Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with eligible federal agencies and faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it clearly restricts foreign involvement: non-U.S. (foreign) organizations are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed.

Administratively, the sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the opportunity sits in the health funding category under CFDA 93.853. The posting shows an original closing date of 2027-11-12 and a creation date of 2024-12-02. While the excerpt does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, the central purpose is clear: to provide structured, time-limited support that accelerates the move from an NINDS intramural clinician-scientist role into an independent academic faculty position, with protected support aimed at establishing a sustainable research program alongside ongoing clinical work.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Career Transition Award for NINDS Intramural Clinician-Scientists (K22 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 2024-12-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-11-12.
• 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.

Apply for PAR 25 216

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