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QUICK REVIEW GUIDE
Early Career Development Awards (K22)
PURPOSE: The Early Career Development award is intended to facilitate the transition of investigators from the mentored to the independent stage of their careers by providing "protected time" for newly independent investigators to develop and receive support for their initial research programs. The award applies to informaticians who are pursuing research in basic informatics, clinical informatics, or the informatics relevant to basic biomedical research.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT: This program uses the NIH K22 award mechanism. The total project period for an application submitted in response to this PA may not exceed 3 years. The K22 award will provide salary up to $75,000 plus fringe benefits. The total salary requested must be based on a full-time, 12-month staff appointment. The salary must be consistent with the established salary structure at the institution; the institution may supplement the NIH salary contribution up to a level that is consistent with the institution's salary scale. Up to $50,000 per year will be provided for the following types of expenses: (a) research expenses, such as supplies, equipment, and technical personnel; (b) statistical services including personnel and computer time; (c) tuition, fees, and books related to career development; and (d) travel to research meetings or for training. Salary for mentors, secretarial and administrative assistance, etc. is NOT allowed. Indirect costs will be reimbursed at 8 percent of modified total direct costs. Fees resulting from clinical practice, professional consultation, or other comparable activities required by the research and research-related activities of this award must be assigned to the grantee institution for disposition according to stated guidelines.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: To be eligible a candidate must have a doctoral degree (e.g. M.D., Ph.D.) and training in biomedical informatics. To apply, a candidate must have completed TWO YEARS OR MORE of postdoctoral, mentored informatics research or have been in an independent position for LESS THAN TWO YEARS at the time the application is submitted. Individuals may apply without a sponsoring institution while they are still in a mentored position. Successful postdoctoral applicants will be given up to 12 months to identify an independent, preferably tenure-track, position at a sponsoring institution before an award can be activated. Candidates already in their first independent research position may apply for this award in the first or second year of this position.

Recipients of this award must devote a minimum of 75 percent effort to the proposed research program. The remaining 25 percent effort can be divided among other clinical and teaching activities only if they are consistent with the program goals, i.e. the candidate's development into an independent clinical investigator. In no case, will it be permissible to work at a rate of less than 50 percent effort.

APPLICATION DATES: February 1, June 1, October 1

NIH REVIEW CRITERIA
The usual NIH criteria apply: significance; approach; innovation; investigator; environment; protection for human subjects and confidential information; inclusion; data sharing plan; budget. In addition, applicants should cover the following points in the application:
  • Describe the current position in terms of its ability to enable the candidate to pursue an independent career in informatics research
  • Describe all activities during the mentored period of informatics research training. Include all research experiences and mentors, any pertinent didactic experiences and any other experiences designed to acquire critical skills, techniques and scientific perspectives for pursuing an independent career in the chosen area of BIOMEDICAL INFORMATICS RESEARCH
  • Describe scientific productivity during the mentored period of career development
  • Describe factors that support potential to manage an independent research program
  • Describe opportunities to interact and collaborate with other scientists
  • Establish the ability to make a commitment of at least 75 percent effort to the career objectives of this award
NLM REVIEW CRITERIA
The following factors will also be considered:
  • An original research plan in basic or applied informatics, including sections on the Specific Aims, Background and Significance, Progress Report/Preliminary Studies, Research Design and Methods
  • How the proposed research extends the applicant’s completed mentored research training into new concepts and ideas
  • The description of equipment, specialized facilities and personnel resources that will be needed to conduct the proposed research
  • Plans for inclusion of women, minorities and children in any clinical or population research activities
  • Within the limitation of $50,000 direct costs, the applicant’s description, with justification, for all equipment, supplies and personnel that will be used.
The full program announcement is at http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-090.html

Last updated: 20 November 2003
First published: 20 November 2003
Metadata| Permanence level: Permanence Not Guaranteed