K23: Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Awards
The Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award program (K23) provides support for an intensive, mentored research career development experience for individuals with a clinical doctoral degree who have made a commitment to patient-oriented research. Three versions of the award are available:
- Clinical Trial Not Allowed (PA-20-205)
- Clinical Trial Required (PA-20-206)
- Basic Experimental Studies in Humans (PA-20-204)
Early career investigators should also consider other Career Development Awards and research grants for Early Stage Investigators.
Due dates for resubmissions are one month later than for initial submissions.
NIA normally allows $25,000 in research development support per year but will support up to $50,000 a year when the costs generated by the patient-oriented research protocol(s) require these additional funds. The request for additional funds must be justified in the application by the additional costs associated with pursuing these particular protocol(s).
Patient-Oriented Research
Similar to the K08, the K23 trains aspiring clinician-scientists to become independent researchers. However, for the K23 an investigator must focus on patient-oriented research. For the purposes of the K23 award, Patient-Oriented Research is defined as research conducted with human subjects (or on material of human origin such as tissues, specimens and cognitive phenomena) for which an investigator (or colleague) directly interacts with human subjects. This area of research includes: 1) mechanisms of human disease; 2) therapeutic interventions; 3) clinical trials; and 4) the development of new technologies. Excluded from this definition are in vitro studies that utilize human tissues but do not deal directly with patients. In other words, patient-oriented research is research in which it is necessary to know the identity of the patients from whom the cells or tissues under study are derived.
How to Apply
Find general information on applying to career development awards.
K23 Review
NIA K23 applications are reviewed by NIA Chartered Review Committee AGCD-3.