Paul B. Beeson Emerging Leaders Career Development Award in Aging

The Paul B. Beeson Emerging Leaders Career Development Award in Aging is an initiative of the National Institute on Aging (NIA), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the National Institutes of Health. This forecasted funding opportunity aims to support early-stage physicians and health professional investigators who demonstrate a strong commitment to research on aging and aging-related diseases. The award is part of the NIH Emerging Leaders Career Development Award framework and uses the K76 activity code to foster leadership development among researchers in geriatrics and aging science. The overarching goal of this initiative is to develop a pipeline of future leaders in aging research who can integrate advanced scientific inquiry with clinical practice, ultimately improving health outcomes for older adults. Candidates are expected to be early in their independent research careers and must have already received competitive research support at the faculty level. Unlike other mentored career development awards, this program targets individuals with a demonstrated ability to lead clinical or research activities, positioning them to impact their field significantly. Funded research under this award is expected to focus on innovative areas in geriatrics, gerontology, or related health disciplines. Allowable costs typically include salary support, research development expenses, and travel relevant to the awardee's development plan. While no cost sharing or matching requirement is specified, applicants must demonstrate the potential to become independent investigators and articulate a clear plan for achieving research and leadership milestones. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad, encompassing a range of governmental and nongovernmental entities, including state and local governments, educational institutions, tribal organizations, nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), and for-profit entities. Additionally, faith-based and community-based organizations, regional entities, and federally recognized and non-recognized tribal governments are eligible to apply, affirming the program’s inclusive scope. Applications are not currently being accepted; the program is forecasted with an estimated posting date of April 11, 2026, and an application due date of June 13, 2026. The projected award and project start date is April 13, 2027. No pre-application materials are required at this time. Potential applicants are encouraged to begin forming collaborations and project frameworks in anticipation of the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Once released, applications will be reviewed based on criteria such as research merit, leadership potential, and alignment with NIA’s mission. For inquiries, interested applicants may contact the NIA Training and Career Development team at NIAtraining@mail.nih.gov. While there is no downloadable PDF available at this stage, further details will be published through Grants.gov upon formal release of the NOFO.