NCI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity (K01 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 21 295

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 295

The NCI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity (K01 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed), Funding Opportunity Number PAR-21-295, is a discretionary NIH grant program from the National Cancer Institute aimed at strengthening and diversifying the cancer research workforce. Its central purpose is to broaden the diversity of perspectives in NCI-funded research by supporting investigators from diverse backgrounds, including groups that have been shown to be nationally underrepresented in the biomedical, behavioral, social, and clinical sciences. In practice, this award is structured to help promising scientists build the skills, publication record, and research trajectory needed to become independent cancer researchers, while ensuring they have the time and resources to do that work in a focused way.

A defining feature of this K01 is that it provides both salary support and research support in exchange for a sustained period of protected time devoted to career development and research. The intent is to create a stable runway for intensive mentored training, where the awardee is guided by an experienced mentor (and, when appropriate, additional co-mentors) and follows a clear career development plan. The emphasis is on developing independence through a mentored experience, typically including advanced training, responsible conduct of research, career skill building, and a coherent research project that aligns with NCI priorities in cancer-related science.

This specific FOA is designed for applicants whose proposed research does not include leading an independent clinical trial. That means the applicant cannot be the lead investigator for an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary study to a clinical trial under this announcement. However, the FOA does allow applicants to gain experience in clinical trials as part of their development as long as the trial is led by the mentor or co-mentor. Applicants who want to lead a clinical trial themselves (or lead an ancillary study tied to an ongoing trial) are directed to apply to the companion FOA that allows applicant-led clinical trials, rather than this one.

Eligibility is broad on the organizational side, consistent with many NIH opportunities. Eligible applicants include a wide range of U.S.-based entities such as state, county, and local governments; 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); tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible organizations. The FOA also calls out additional eligible applicant types often associated with serving underrepresented 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), along with faith-based or community-based organizations, certain eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, there are clear restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH Grants Policy) are not allowed under this opportunity. In other words, the applicant organization and the supported work must be structured without foreign components as NIH defines them for grant policy purposes.

Administratively, the opportunity is categorized under Education and Health funding activities and is associated with CFDA number 93.398. The original closing date listed for the opportunity is 2024-11-12, and the FOA record shows a creation date of 2021-08-31. While the listing includes placeholders for items like award ceiling and expected awards, the key takeaway is that the mechanism is a mentored career development grant (K01) intended to provide multi-year, structured support for protected research time and career development activities, specifically in the cancer research space and specifically for candidates aligned with the FOA’s diversity-focused goals, without applicant-led independent clinical trials.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NCI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity (K01 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.398.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-08-31.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-12. (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 21 295

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