NIA Career Transition Award (K22 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), offers the Career Transition Award (K22 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) under Funding Opportunity Number PAR-24-120. This reissue of PAR-21-351 is aimed at supporting postdoctoral researchers in transitioning into independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty roles. The award is not intended for continued postdoctoral training or for individuals who plan to lead independent clinical trials. The K22 award facilitates career advancement by providing three years of research support at the transition institution, allowing recipients to establish a research program aligned with the NIA mission. Eligible candidates must be postdoctoral researchers with a terminal research or clinical doctorate who have no more than eight years of research experience post-degree. They must not have previously held an independent research faculty position or major research grants like R01 or K awards. U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is required. Applicants are expected to apply while still in a mentored postdoctoral role. Once awarded, recipients have up to 12 months to transition to a qualifying faculty position at a domestic academic institution. Federal institutions are not eligible as transition sites. The funding includes up to $116,000 annually for salary and $58,000 for research development costs, with a maximum project duration of three years. The funding does not cover mentor salaries or administrative costs but includes allowable expenses like tuition, travel, and supplies. Indirect costs are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs. The program does not permit independent clinical trials but may include clinical trial experience led by mentors. Applications are accepted on standard NIH due dates, with the next submission deadlines on June 12, 2024, October 12, 2024, and February 12, 2025. The final expiration date for the opportunity is July 13, 2026. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov using NIH ASSIST or an institutional system-to-system solution, and must follow all NIH and opportunity-specific instructions. Applications missing required documents or not conforming to requirements may be rejected. Evaluation criteria include the applicant's career potential, research plan, relevance to aging research, and institutional support. The transition institution must demonstrate a strong commitment, including a full-time faculty appointment, research space, and protected research time. Post-award, candidates must submit a transition application for funding activation, detailing the faculty position and institutional commitment. Applicants are encouraged to contact the NIA program staff with eligibility questions or before finalizing their applications. Key contacts include Jamie Lahvic, Ph.D. for scientific inquiries and Jessi Perez for financial matters. The application and review process follows NIH's standard peer review protocols and compliance requirements. Adherence to data sharing and responsible conduct of research is mandatory.

Ensure separation from postdoc mentor and outline a strong, distinct research plan. Include a detailed timeline and plan for applying for independent funding. Provide institutional support details and letters confirming collaboration.