Research Training Support

General Research Career and Training Support

Training Grants: Institutional Awards

Under the authority of the National Research Service Award (NRSA) act, NIA offers training grants to universities and other research-oriented institutions to support predoctoral and/or postdoctoral students pursuing research training at these institutions. NIA also offers short-term research training opportunities to students enrolled in doctoral health professional training programs. Faculty apply for a multiyear training grant from the NIA. Students apply directly to the institution that holds the grant. Additional information about the training programs NIA supports is provided below.

Current information on stipends, tuition allowance, allowable expenses, NRSA policies, and frequently asked questions about training grants is available at NIH Training.

Individual Fellowship Awards

Under authority of NRSA, NIA awards individual fellowships to postdoctoral students for a maximum of 3 years. Additional information about NIA’s support of these mechanisms is provided below. Some NIH Institutes offer predoctoral fellowships, but NIA does not. Consult the NIH Guide for individual announcements of these programs (search the Guide using the mechanism “F31”). NIA participates in the NIH initiatives offering predoctoral fellowships for minority students and students with disabilities. These programs are described in Training for Special Populations.

Current information on stipends for fellowships, other allowances, policies, and frequently asked questions about fellowships is available from NIH Training.

Research Career Development Awards

NIA offers mentored career development awards targeted to: (1) clinically trained individuals who wish to become independent researchers; (2) quantitatively trained individuals (e.g., in physics, mathematics, statistics, engineering) to develop skills in biomedical research; and (3) researchers seeking to reorient their career to aging, add substantial skills to their competence, or reenter research after some period of absence. NIA awards are mostly full time, require faculty appointment and support from the candidate's instutution, and provide some funds for research and research development expenses.

In addition, NIA offers career awards to:

• Allow more senior investigators—who have received prior funding as PIs—to develop skills and collaborations to become leaders in the research field
• Allow senior investigators to develop an area of aging research at a university or other research institution
• Support senior investigators developing a program award that allows clinically trained candidates with some research background to develop into independent researchers.

A chart and additional information on the career award mechanisms that NIA supports is provided below.

The NIH K Kiosk provides a “career award wizard” that is useful in determining which career awards are appropriate for applicants.

Loan Repayment Program for Clinical Researchers

NIA participates in the NIH loan repayment program for clinically trained individuals now pursuing research careers in patient-oriented research. The program allows a maximum of $35,000 annually for a maximum of 2 years depending on total educational loan debt. It offers a Federal tax offset for the amount of the repayment. Additional details about this and other extramural loan repayment programs are available in NIH loan repayment.

Awards and Opportunities

• Summer Institute on Aging Research
• NIA Intramural Research Program Summer Research Opportunities
• Short-Term Training for Health Professional Students

NIA offers the following long-term training, fellowship, and career development opportunities:

• Institutional Research Training Grants
• Individual Fellowships
• Research Career Development Awards at NIA
• Training Opportunities for Special Populations

Research Training Support

Awards to Institutions

Training Grant Policies at NIA

Fellowships: Awards to Individuals

Research Career Awards at NIA

Salary Caps and Allowable Expenses on NIA Career Awards

T32: Institutional Awards

The Institutional Awards (T32) enable institutions to give NRSA awards to individuals for predoctoral and postdoctoral research training in specified areas. For guidance on active awards, please see Training Grant Policies at NIA.

For more information:

See NIH NRSA Institutional Research Training Grants

• Release Date: May 16, 2002
• PA Number: PA-02-109

Note: The NIA accepts Institutional Training Grant applications on a single receipt date each year, which is May 10.

T32: Complementary Training Awards for Research on Aging

The Complementary Training Awards for Research on Aging (T32) award assist NIH-supported research training programs to train investigators for careers in aging research through an additional training program supported by the NIA.

For more information:

See NIA Institutional Training Awards

• Release Date: February 10, 2000
• PA Number: PA-00-057

T32: Cofunded Training Slots

The Cofunded Training Slots (T32) fill approved unfunded training positions on other NIH-supported institutional research training grants, with foci for each position limited to specified disciplines and fields that are highly relevant to aging research.

For more information:

Contact the NIA Training Officer.

T34: MARC Undergraduate NRSA Institutional Grants

The MARC Undergraduate NRSA Institutional Grants (T34) enable minority institutions to give NRSAs to individuals for undergraduate research training in the biomedical and behavioral sciences.

For more information:

See MARC Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U-STAR) Program

• Application Receipt Date: January 10 and May 10
• Release Date: December 6, 2001
• PA Number: PAR-02-033

T35: Short-Term Training: Students in Health Professional Schools

The Short-Term Training: Students in Health Professional Schools (T35) award provides short-term research experiences for students enrolled in doctoral health professional degree programs.

For more information:

See NRSA Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grants

• Release Date: March 27, 1998
• Notice: NOT98-027

T36: MARC Ancillary Training Activities

The MARC Ancillary Training Activities (T36) increase the number of well-trained minority scientists in biomedical disciplines and strengthen the research and teaching capabilities of minority institutions through various training mechanisms such as visits by experienced scientists to minority institutions or workshops designed to enhance research training for students/faculty from minority institutions.

For more information:

See MARC Ancillary Training Activities Grants

• Release Date: April 20, 1999
• PA Number: PAR-99-091

F31: Predoctoral Fellowships

The Predoctoral Fellowships (F31) encourage underrepresented minorities and students with disabilities to pursue research doctoral degrees, increasing the number of minorities and people with disabilities trained for careers in biomedical research.

For more information:

See NIH Predoctoral Fellowship Awards for Minority Students

• Release Date: February 24, 2000
• PA Number: PA-00-069

See NIH Predoctoral Felloship Awards for Students With Disabilities

• Release Date: February 24, 2000
• PA Number: PA-00-068

See Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities

• Release Date: April 9, 2001
• PA Number: PA-01-079

See Research Supplements for Individuals With Disabilities

• Release Date: April 9, 2001
• PA Number: PA-01-080

See Supplements to Promote Reentry Into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers

• Release Date: April 9, 2001
• PA Number: PA-01-081

See Minority Dissertation Research Grants in Aging

• Release Date: September 15, 1998
• PA Number: PA-98-110

F32: Postdoctoral Individual Awards

The Postdoctoral Individual Awards (F32) provide postdoctoral research training to individuals to broaden their scientific backgrounds and extend their potential for research in specified health-related areas.

For more information:

See NRSAs for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows

• Release Date: June 1, 2000
• PA Number: PA-00-104

F33: Senior Fellow Awards 

The Senior Fellow Awards (F33) provide opportunities for experienced scientists to make major changes in their research careers, broaden their scientific background, and acquire new research capabilities.

For more information:

See NIH NRSAs for Senior Fellows

• Release Date: August 28, 2000
• PA Number: PA-00-131

K01: Mentored Research Scientist Development Awards

The Mentored Research Scientist Development Awards (K01) support "career change" and "career enhancement."

Career Change

K01s supporting career change apply to investigators—either junior or senior—who wish to redirect his or her career. Appropriate peer review considerations include:

• Whether this is a substantial redirection
• Whether the redirection is appropriate given the candidate's current background and experience

Career Enhancement

K01s supporting career enhancement applies to relatively junior investigators applying for an additional period of supervised research experience. If the research is in the same field the individual trained in, it must expand the skills the individual possesses. Unlike a postdoctoral fellowship, the investigator must have demonstrated the capacity for productive work following the doctorate, and the institution sponsoring the investigator must treat the individual as a faculty member.

Currently, NIA does not limit the research areas that may be supported through the K01. However, individuals applying for this award are strongly encouraged to contact Institute staff to determine interest in the research area.

 For more information:

See Mentored Research Scientist Development Award in Aging

• Release Date: December 2, 1999
• PA Number: PA-00-019

K02: Independent Scientist Awards

The Independent Scientist Awards (K02) allow investigators time off from teaching or clinical duties.

Full-Time Researchers

One review concern arises with applicants who are full-time researchers. Because the K02 enables an investigator to concentrate on building his or her research career, full-time researchers can do so without further support. These investigators must provide justification by identifying career development activities that are not possible through regular research grant funding. In contrast, an investigator in a conventional academic position or who has clinical or administrative duties can identify how it allows time off from other duties.

Typical activities during a K02 include developing collaborative relationships with other investigators and laboratories and acquiring skills or additional training.

Funding

The K02 provides money for salary, but does not provide funds to conduct research; these funds must be provided by another research grant. The K02 requires the individual to have a research grant (e.g., an R01) to cover these costs before it is awarded.

A K02 candidate is expected to have had prior success in obtaining independent (R01-type) funding, but not be a senior investigator, indicating the time is unnecessary. The K02 allows the investigator to concentrate on building his or her research career. A typical transition constitutes a move from an R01 to multiple R01s, or from an R01 to a full-time research role.

Training/Mentoring

The K02 does not require a training component; this is a common misconception. The K02 does not require a mentor. However, the candidate can choose coursework as part of the career development plan. This award allows highly promising individuals the protected time to establish themselves as leaders in their own field. The application is judged by how promising the applicant is, the need for the time, and what the candidate intends to do with the time.

For more information:

See Independent Scientist Award

• Release Date: December 2, 1999
• PA Number: PA-00-020

K07: Academic Career Awards

The Academic Career Awards (K07) include two similar types: Development and Leadership. The NIA does not support Developmental K07 awards, but supports Leadership K07 awards.

Leadership K07 Awards

The Leadership K07 awards provide senior investigators with the resources to enhance the institution's capacity to conduct relevant research on an aspect of aging. One issue that arises in reviewing K07s is whether the award allows salary for a "research coordinator" to assist the principal investigator (PI) in development activities at the individual's institution. The program announcement guidelines indicate research support costs may be provided at the discretion of the Institute, but that salary for ancillary personnel support is not allowed.

Research Support Costs

NIA provides research support costs and uses the following guidelines to determine when funding for research support is allowable: 

• When funding is likely allowable: Where the individual has a substantive role in the project (i.e., participates in decisionmaking, has a record of accomplishment, adds a skill or extends the skills of the PI)
• When funding is likely not allowable: If the individual performs secretarial or administrative support or if the individual is clearly a technician rather than a contributor of ideas.

For more information:

See Academic Career Award

• Release Date: February 24, 2000
• PA Number: PA-00-070

K08: Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards

The Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards (K08) allow "aspiring clinician-scientists" who have acquired training and experience in research. Eligible applicants include clinicians with little or no research experience and those who have a few years of research experience. It is possible for a clinician to be supported under a K08 while acquiring a Ph.D. or other research degree. The career development plan is an integral part of this review. For junior clinicians with little or no research experience, the career development plan must be very detailed and show reviewers the individual will acquire sufficient training to become a research scientist.

For more information:

See Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award

• Release Date: October 8, 1999
• PA Number: PA-00-003

K12: Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Program Awards

The Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Program Awards (K12) allow the grantee to select appointees for individual slots on the K12; it is an institutional K08 or K23. Each appointee receives the equivalent of a K08 or K23 (i.e., salary and research expenses to train as a research scientist). Because the review committee may not be familiar with the individual's background, a significant amount of weight is given to the qualifications of the program director and to the capabilities of the institution to provide the research and training experiences necessary for clinicians to become research scientists.

The application also must document there is a highly qualified selection of candidates and these are in-place recruitment procedures that will ensure a continuing stream of highly qualified and diverse candidates. NIA caps K12 awards at $500,000 in direct costs per year.

For more information:

See Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Program Award

• Release Date: March 11, 2002
• PA Number: PAR-02-076

K23: Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Awards

The Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Center Development Awards (K23) increase human resources for patient-oriented research. Similar to the K08, it trains "aspiring clinician-scientists" to become independent researchers. However, an investigator must focus on patient-oriented research. NIA allows a maximum of $25,000 in research development support per year. When justified, exceptions are considered at a maximum of $50,000 per year.

Patient-Oriented Research

The definition of patient-oriented research given in this annoucement is: "Research conducted with human subjects (or on material of human origin such as tissues, specimens, and cognitive phenomena) for which an investigator 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."

For more information:

See Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award

• Release Date: October 8, 1999
• PA Number: PA-00-004

K24: Midcareer Investigator Awards in Patient-Oriented Research

The Midcareer Investigator Awards in Patient-Oriented Research (K24) build human resources in patient-oriented research and increase patient-oriented research. The K24 applies to clinical researchers who are generally no more than 15 years beyond their specialty training and who have active research support. These midcareer investigators are expected to:

• Have a track record in patient-oriented research
• Pursue patient-oriented research
• Mentor junior clinicians in patient-oriented research

Research and Research Development

Although the award requires the investigator to describe a research plan, the research plan can be a description of the investigator's currently funded research. Reviewers will examine such a plan to determine whether the research is a suitable vehicle for demonstrating skills and capabilities in patient-oriented research to junior clinicians. The investigator may propose new research. However, only $25,000 is allowed in research development costs, and this funding must be used to support mentoring activities (see below). Consequently, the additional research proposed in this application cannot be resource intensive.

The investigator is required to propose mentoring activities to increase the selection of clinicians who can conduct patient-oriented research and who can translate basic biomedical research findings into clinical settings. The research development expenses can be used to support research expenses of the junior clinicians and travel to scientific meetings or training.

Patient-Oriented Research

The definition of patient-oriented research given in this annoucement is: "Research conducted with human subjects (or on material of human origin such as tissues, specimens, and cognitive phenomena) for which an investigator 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."

For more information:

See Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research

• Release Date: October 8, 1999
• PA Number: PA-00-005

K25: Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Awards

The Mentored Quantitative Research Center Development Awards (K25)target quantitatively trained scientists in their early career through their midcareer. Examples of relevant specialties include: mathematics, statistics, computer science, informatics, physics, chemistry, and engineering. The award allows these individuals 3–5 years of salary support and research development expenses to work with a mentor or mentors in the biomedical or behavioral sciences. The K25 allows the researchers to use the interdisciplinary training either to develop independent research projects in the health sciences or to work as part of an interdisciplinary team focused on health sciences. This infusion of researchers with a quantitative specialization will inform new directions in the biomedical and behavioral sciences.

For more information:

See Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award

• Release Date: July 10, 2002
• PA Number: PA-02-127

K26: Midcareer Investigator Awards in Mouse Pathobiology Research

The Midcareer Investigator Awards in Mouse Pathobiology Research (K26) provide support to established pathobiologists to allow them time for mouse pathobiology research and to mentor beginning investigators. The target candidates are outstanding scientists engaged in pathobiology research who:

• Are within 15 years of their specialty training
• Can demonstrate the need for intensive research focus to enhance their research careers
• Are committed to mentoring the next generation of mouse pathobiologists

NIA cosponsors this announcement with the National Center for Research Resources. NIA is particularly interested in supporting investigators who focus on pathobiologies related to aging.

For more information:

See Midcareer Investigator Award in Mouse Pathobiology Research

• Release Date: March 7, 2001
• PA Number: PAR-01-064

Salary Caps and Allowable Expenses on Career Development Awards

NIA has recently announced an increase in the salary cap for certain career award mechanisms. See http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not99-118.html, effective in FY 2001.

NIA allows the following for salary and research expenses: