PA-24-187
Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (Parent K24 Independent Clinical Trial Required)
Summary
PA-24-187: Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24)
Research Focus
This award supports mid-career clinician-scientists conducting patient-oriented research (POR) — research involving direct investigator interaction with human subjects or human-derived materials (tissues, specimens, cognitive phenomena) to understand disease mechanisms, develop therapeutic interventions, conduct clinical trials, or create new technologies. Applicants must propose an independent clinical trial, clinical trial feasibility study, or ancillary clinical trial as a core component of their research and career development plan. The award emphasizes both advancing the investigator's own POR program and mentoring junior clinical investigators (particularly K23 grantees) to build the pipeline of well-trained clinical researchers. Studies must prospectively assign human participants to conditions and assess biomedical or behavioral outcomes; excluded are in vitro studies using human tissues without direct patient contact.
At-a-Glance
- Who can apply: Mid-career health-professional doctorates (typically Associate Professor level or equivalent) with existing independent, peer-reviewed research support; must plan to lead an independent clinical trial or basic experimental study with humans.
- Funding & project length: Not stated (see full NOFO for budget details).
- Award mechanism: K24 Midcareer Investigator Award (career development grant).
- Key dates: Application due dates on rolling basis (next: June 12, 2025); earliest start April 2026. Expiration May 8, 2027.
- Best fit for: Clinician-scientists in cardiology, aging, infectious disease, mental health, nursing, and related NIH IC missions seeking protected time for patient-oriented clinical trials and mentoring of junior investigators.
Note: Applicants not planning an independent clinical trial or proposing to gain experience in a trial led by another investigator should apply to companion NOFO PA-24-188 instead. Consult IC-specific requirements and NIH staff before submission.
Key Facts
Deadline
Fri, May 7, 2027
Posted
Thu, April 25, 2024
Keywords
Research Areas
Gotchas (3)
This K24 is specifically for applicants planning to lead an independent clinical trial, feasibility study, or ancillary trial. Applicants not planning an independent clinical trial or proposing only t
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Source Text
“This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is designed specifically for applicants proposing to serve as the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or a separate ancillary study to an existing trial, as part of their research and career development. Applicants not planning an independent clinical trial, or proposing to gain research experience in a clinical trial led by another investigator, must apply to companion NOFO (PA-24-188).”
NIAID has specific allowable application types and eligibility requirements that differ from other ICs, per NOT-AI-24-043 (May 7, 2025). The FOA emphasizes that 'Candidates should carefully note which
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Source Text
“May 7, 2025 - Notice of Change in the NIAID K24 Allowable Application Types and Eligibility Requirements. See Notice NOT-AI-24-043. ... Candidates should carefully note which ICs participate in this announcement and view their respective areas of research interest and requirements at the Table of IC-Specific Information, Requirements and Staff Contacts website. ICs that do not participate in this announcement will not consider applications for funding.”
The FOA title includes 'Independent Clinical Trial Required' but the text also mentions 'clinical trial feasibility study' and 'separate ancillary study' as acceptable. It is unclear whether a feasibi
85%
Source Text
“This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is designed specifically for applicants proposing to serve as the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or a separate ancillary study to an existing trial, as part of their research and career development.”