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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.
Early career investigators should also consider other Career Development Awards and research grants for Early Stage Investigators .
K23 at a Glance
- Eligibility Requirements: Clinical doctoral degree, U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Award Duration: Three to five years
- Due Dates: Feb. 12/March 12, June 12/July 12, Oct. 12/Nov. 12
- Budget: Up to $100,000 salary and $25,000 research support
- Questions? Contact NIATraining@mail.nih.gov
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.
K23 Awards Supported by NIA
NIA supports K23 awards through the NIH parent announcement. The NIH parent announcement includes multiple versions depending on the type of study proposed (clinical trial, non-clinical trial, basic experimental studies in humans).
| Name | Career Stage | Discipline | Notice of Funding Opportunities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award | Investigators with a clinical doctoral degree who have completed clinical training | All patient-oriented aging research | PA-24-184PA-24-185PA-24-186 |
How to Apply
Find general information on applying to career development awards .
Is my K23 research topic appropriate for NIA?
Consult the list of currently funded NIA K23 awards .
If you would like feedback on the appropriateness of your research topic for NIA, please submit a one-page overview of your specific aims to NIATraining@mail.nih.gov . A scientific program official from the appropriate division will contact you soon thereafter.