Applying for the NIH K Awards

The NIH's Career Development Awards (or K awards) are a unique set of awards at NIH in that they are focused first and foremost on the candidate, as opposed to the research project, although research is a component. The Ks are mentored awards designed to move an early career investigator, in need of mentoring and career development, to an independent investigator, successfully competing for an R01 (or similar award) by the end of their K award.

The majority of K awards are mentored awards for early career investigators, including the K99/R00, K01, K08, K23, and K25. For these mentored awards, the following apply:

• They require 75% protected time
• The awards range from 3-5 years
• There are no renewals
• Success rates vary by mechanism from 20-50%

The NIH has K awards that are available at different points, but the idea for most of the mentored Ks are to facilitate and support an investigator in different points in their career, but particularly early on.

The chart above from the NIH gives a sense of the appropriate timing for applying within one's career trajectory. At the post-doctoral level, the K99/R00 is designed for postdocs looking to transition to independent or tenure-track positions at an institution usually different from where they did their postdoc.  The K01 is a mentored research scientist award. The K08, the mentored clinical scientist development award, is designed for MDs who want to become bench scientists. The K23 is the mentored patient-oriented research career development award and the K25, the mentored quantitative research career development award is designed for PhDs in Engineering who want to transition to the Biological Sciences.

One seasoned K reviewer once explained the NIH K as being about "the wo/man, the plan, and the fan," suggesting that it's first and foremost about the candidate and their promise. Next, reviewers are looking for a clear, integrated plan that includes your career development plan, your mentoring plan, and your research plan. Lastly, your mentor and mentoring network must have the track record and commitment to you that shows they can facilitate your success in becoming an independent investigator by the end of the award.

The important thing to remember when applying for the NIH mentored career awards is that they are for folks who would not be considered independent investigators. Those who successfully compete for an R01 or other major independent award are ineligible. But, the applicant must also show their need for mentoring and additional training, and show reviewers how a K investment in them will move them from a promising start to realize their full potential as an independent investigator after being mentored and trained during their K award.

Resources:
Research Career Development Awards Page - NIH
NIH K Award Grant Planning Video - ORDE