NCI Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K08 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 21 300

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 300

The NCI Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K08 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed), funding opportunity number PAR-21-300, is a National Institutes of Health grant mechanism aimed at developing the next generation of clinical scientists in cancer-related research. Its core purpose is to provide structured, mentored career development support and protected research time for individuals who already hold a clinical doctoral degree and who need a sustained period of intensive training to become independent investigators. The program is part of a long-running NIH approach to building the national biomedical and behavioral research workforce by helping early-career clinician-scientists deepen their research skills under supervision, with the long-term goal of producing researchers whose work meaningfully addresses U.S. health-related research needs.

A defining feature of this NCI-sponsored K08 is its explicit emphasis on promoting diversity in the cancer research workforce. It is specifically targeted to clinical scientists from backgrounds that have been shown to be nationally underrepresented in health-related science, and it supports those who are committed to careers in basic biomedical research, behavioral research, or translational cancer research. The scientific scope includes, and explicitly welcomes, research focused on cancer health disparities, reflecting NCI priorities around understanding and reducing unequal cancer burdens across populations. The expectation is that, by the end of the mentored award period, recipients will have substantially strengthened their research capabilities, established a clear trajectory toward independence, and be well positioned to compete for independent NIH research funding such as R03, R21, or R01 awards.

As indicated by the title, this is the K08 variant where an independent clinical trial is not allowed. In practical terms, the award is designed for mentored research and career development rather than for leading an independent clinical trial as the primary driver of the project. Applicants generally need to propose a research and training plan that is feasible within a mentored framework and aligns with NIH/NCI rules for this specific FOA regarding clinical trial leadership and responsibilities.

From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant within the Education and Health funding activity area, associated with CFDA number 93.398, and is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically through the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The listing provides an original closing date of 2024-09-07. The notice does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the supplied fields, which is common in NIH career development announcements where budgets are typically governed by NIH policy caps and institute-specific limits rather than a single across-the-board ceiling posted in the summary.

Eligibility is broad on the institutional side, spanning many types of U.S.-based organizations that can serve as the applicant organization and host the mentored career development environment. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also highlights additional categories of eligible applicant organizations such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized ones, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, the opportunity clearly restricts foreign involvement: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed.

Overall, PAR-21-300 is best understood as a mentored, career-building award for clinician-scientists who want to devote substantial protected time to developing advanced research skills and producing a strong body of cancer-focused research under mentorship, with an intentional emphasis on strengthening diversity among independent cancer researchers and on supporting work that can include cancer health disparities. The endpoint NCI is driving toward is not simply a completed project, but a well-trained, competitive investigator ready to transition from mentored development into independent grant support and a long-term research career in cancer.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NCI Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K08 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.398.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-09-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-09-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 21 300

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