Forecast to Publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity for Paul Calabresi Career Development Award in Clinical Oncology (K12 Clinical Trial Optional)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its National Cancer Institute (NCI), has forecasted an upcoming Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled the Paul Calabresi Career Development Award in Clinical Oncology (K12 Clinical Trial Optional). This grant opportunity is designed to support institutional research career development programs, specifically tailored to train clinician-scientists in cancer research. The core purpose of the K12 mechanism is to increase the number of qualified clinical investigators engaged in translational and clinical cancer research, equipping them with the necessary skills and mentorship to successfully bridge laboratory and patient-centered research. The funding initiative reflects NCI’s commitment to promoting the career development of clinical scientists by offering structured, mentored research opportunities that prepare individuals for independent academic careers. Each funded program must have a minimum of two oncology specialties represented within the faculty and among the pool of K12 Scholars. These programs are expected to be grounded in the host institution’s distinct oncology strengths, incorporating cutting-edge research and technology advancements. Furthermore, individualized career development plans must be established for each Scholar, accommodating their varying levels of prior research experience. Each Scholar must be paired with two mentors: one clinician conducting patient-oriented research and one basic science cancer researcher. Programs funded through this opportunity may include funding for salaries of program directors and scholars, research and development support, and associated administrative costs. The support for each Scholar ranges between two to three years of consecutive 12-month appointments, contingent on satisfactory progress toward academic independence. Scholars may engage in various types of clinical research experiences, including leading independent clinical trials, conducting ancillary studies, or contributing to trials led by other investigators. This funding opportunity is open to a wide array of eligible organizations, including state and county governments, federally recognized and other tribal organizations, school districts, housing authorities, and both public and private institutions of higher education. Eligible for-profit and nonprofit entities are also permitted to apply, including small businesses and organizations holding 501(c)(3) status. Candidates nominated for the K12 Scholar positions must hold full-time appointments at either the applicant institution or a partnering institution. Currently, this opportunity is in the Forecast stage. The estimated post date for the NOFO is December 1, 2025, with an application due date set for February 18, 2026. If selected, awards are expected to be made by January 6, 2027, with project start dates aligning with the same day. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching funds. Contact for this grant opportunity is Mark Damico, Ph.D., who can be reached at damicomw@nih.gov or by phone at 240-276-5630.