Mentored Career Transition Award for Intramural Fellows (K22 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

The Mentored Career Transition Award for Intramural Fellows (K22) is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a key agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Specifically, this funding opportunity is overseen by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which supports innovative research on mental health to improve understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illnesses. The K22 program is designed to support postdoctoral researchers currently working within the NIMH Division of Intramural Programs (DIRP), facilitating their progression to independent, tenure-track faculty roles at eligible academic institutions across the United States. This K22 mechanism is structured in two distinct phases: the intramural phase and the extramural phase. During the intramural phase, postdoctoral fellows continue their mentored research within NIMH's DIRP. Upon successful transition, fellows enter the extramural phase at a U.S.-based academic institution, where they continue to receive mentorship while beginning to establish an independent research program. The award is specifically intended for research that does not include leading an independent clinical trial. However, applicants may propose research experiences within clinical trials led by their mentors or co-mentors, enabling them to develop relevant skills without assuming primary responsibility for clinical trial execution. The K22 award does not permit clinical trials led by the applicant, nor ancillary or feasibility clinical trial studies. Instead, the focus remains on transitioning highly qualified individuals from a government research setting into competitive academic research careers. Support provided during the extramural phase includes salary and research development funds, aimed at helping the awardee secure further independent research funding, including NIH R01 or similar awards. Eligibility for this grant includes a broad range of U.S. entities and organizations. Eligible applicants span public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, for-profit organizations, tribal governments (both federally recognized and others), and various faith-based and community-based organizations. Foreign institutions and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, though foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement may be included in applications. Notably, the applicant must be a postdoctoral fellow currently in the NIMH DIRP. Applications for this opportunity must be submitted through Grants.gov. The current application cycle closes on December 17, 2025, which also marks the posting date of the most recent synopsis update. While the original closing date is listed as March 12, 2026, the current operational deadline is December 17, 2025. The grant opportunity is recurring, allowing potential applicants to anticipate future rounds if the current deadline is missed. Applications must be prepared and submitted according to NIH guidelines, and all communications regarding the opportunity should be directed to NIH Grants Information at [email protected]. Additional details and requirements are provided in the full opportunity announcement, which can be accessed through the NIH grants guide. The K22 award remains an integral part of the NIH's strategy to retain and develop top talent within the mental health research field, with structured mentorship, phased transition support, and eligibility flexibility across a wide spectrum of U.S. institutions. The focus on a smooth transition from intramural to extramural research settings helps ensure continuity in scientific inquiry and contributes to the development of a strong pipeline of independent researchers in mental health disciplines.