NINDS Postdoctoral Mentored Career Development Award (K01 Clinical Trial Required) | PAR 18 685

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 685

The NINDS Postdoctoral Mentored Career Development Award (K01 Clinical Trial Required), funding opportunity number PAR-18-685, is a mentored NIH career development grant designed to help exceptional postdoctoral researchers transition into independent investigators in neuroscience and neurological disorders research. Run by the National Institutes of Health under CFDA 93.853, this program supports a candidate who has a strong research trajectory and pairs that person with structured mentorship, protected time, and a detailed career development plan so they can build the skills, publications, preliminary data, and professional profile needed to successfully launch an independent research program. A defining feature of this specific K01 is that it is labeled "Clinical Trial Required," meaning the proposed research is expected to include a clinical trial component consistent with NIH definitions and expectations for clinical trial applications.

The core goal of the award is not just funding a project, but deliberately shaping a postdoctoral scientist into an independent leader in the field by the end of the K01 period. The application is expected to combine two major elements: (1) a potentially impactful research project and (2) a comprehensive, well-structured career development plan. NINDS emphasizes that the career development portion is a critical part of the application, and applicants are encouraged to apply early within the eligible window so that the training, mentorship, and professional development activities can be maximized while the candidate is still in a formative postdoctoral phase. The overall expectation is that by completion of the award, the candidate will be positioned to move into independence with a clear research niche, strong expertise, and momentum to compete successfully for independent funding and faculty-level research opportunities.

Eligibility is framed around the candidate's postdoctoral experience timeline. NINDS encourages individuals to apply sometime between the second and fourth year of cumulative mentored postdoctoral research experience. In terms of support, an individual may be funded by this NINDS K01 as long as they are within the first six years of cumulative postdoctoral research experience. This timing guidance signals that the program is intended for researchers who have moved past the earliest acclimation period of their postdoc but are still early enough that a structured mentored award can realistically shape their transition to independence. The notice also strongly encourages applications early in the eligibility window, reflecting the program's focus on deliberate planning and staged skill-building rather than waiting until the end of postdoctoral training.

A wide range of organizations may apply on behalf of an eligible candidate, reflecting NIH's broad approach to institutional eligibility for training and career development mechanisms. Eligible applicant organizations listed include 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The opportunity also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible agencies of the federal government, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, tribal governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. This emphasis signals an intent to ensure broad participation across institution types, including organizations that serve underrepresented or specific regional populations.

At the same time, the announcement draws clear boundaries around non-U.S. involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. However, "foreign components" as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, meaning an otherwise eligible U.S.-based applicant organization may include certain defined international elements in the project when appropriately justified and compliant with NIH policy. In practice, that typically means the application remains anchored at an eligible U.S. institution, while specific project activities or collaborations abroad may be permitted if they meet NIH criteria for a foreign component.

Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant within the NIH health funding activity category. The source record lists an original closing date of 2019-11-07 and a creation date of 2018-02-28. While the listing does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided excerpt, the main program message is clear: this K01 is meant to fund a mentored postdoctoral period that is intentionally structured so the candidate finishes the award ready to step into independence, with a refined and impactful research direction, the right training and mentorship behind them, and the demonstrated capability to become a field leader.

• 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 2018-02-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-11-07. (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.

Apply for PAR 18 685

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