NEI Institutional Mentored Physician Scientist Award (K12 Clinical Trial Optional)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its National Eye Institute (NEI), is offering the NEI Institutional Mentored Physician Scientist Award (K12 Clinical Trial Optional) to support innovative institutional research career development programs. This funding opportunity is designed to expand the community of clinician investigators engaged in vision research and enhance their capacity to lead independent research careers. The program aims to prepare clinically trained vision scientists by equipping them with contemporary multidisciplinary expertise in areas such as ocular genetics, artificial intelligence, computational modeling, ocular therapeutics, bioengineering, and bio-behavioral research. The funding opportunity allows scholars to serve as lead investigators of independent minimal risk clinical trials, participate in ancillary clinical trials, or gain research experience in trials led by other investigators. All clinical trials involved must meet NIH’s definition of minimal risk. The initiative encourages institutions to complement their existing research training and career development programs while ensuring that experiences offered under this award are distinct from those provided through other federally supported efforts. Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, U.S. state and local governments, tribal governments, and federal agencies. Foreign institutions are not eligible. Applicant institutions must demonstrate a strong research program in vision science, adequate institutional commitment, and sufficient faculty and facilities to support the proposed program. Program Directors/Principal Investigators should be established investigators with administrative and scientific leadership experience relevant to the program's goals. Applicants must follow the NIH SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and adhere strictly to the application instructions. Applications should include detailed project summaries, structured budgets, plans for responsible conduct of research, and clear documentation of clinical trial plans if applicable. Applications are submitted electronically through NIH ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or institutional system-to-system solutions. The program offers grants for project periods up to five years. Budgets are not limited but must align with project needs. Personnel costs are allowable for those directly involved in the program, and scholars must dedicate a minimum of 75% effort to research and career development activities. Ophthalmic surgeons may allocate 50% to 75% of their effort. Additional funding of up to $30,000 per scholar per year is available for program-related expenses, excluding advertising or unrelated recruitment activities. Applications are currently being accepted with the next submission deadline on June 9, 2025, and a subsequent cycle on June 9, 2026. Each application undergoes NIH’s rigorous peer review process, assessing factors such as program administration, proposed training, institutional environment, mentor qualifications, scholar potential, and prior training record. The application must demonstrate a commitment to training in rigorous and reproducible research methods and responsible conduct of research. Contact information for inquiries includes Neeraj Agarwal, PhD, at agarwalnee@nei.nih.gov for scientific questions; Brian Hoshaw, PhD, at brian.hoshaw@nih.gov for peer review inquiries; and Karen Robinson Smith at Karen.Robinson.Smith@nei.nih.gov for financial and grants management questions. The funding opportunity opened on May 9, 2024, and will expire on June 10, 2026. It is highly recommended that applicants consult with NEI staff before submission to ensure compliance and alignment with program expectations.