Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 24 188

The NIH Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24) is a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA 24 188) designed to strengthen the clinical research workforce by giving established, mid-career clinician-scientists protected time to do patient-oriented research and to mentor the next generation of clinical investigators. The core idea is to support health-professional doctorates who already have a record of conducting patient-oriented research (POR) so they can devote a meaningful portion of their professional effort to advancing research that directly involves human participants and to providing structured mentorship for clinicians in training. In practice, this award is meant to help experienced investigators stay productive and engaged in hands-on clinical research while also building a pipeline of well-trained residents, fellows, and junior faculty who can become independent patient-oriented researchers.

A defining feature of this specific parent announcement is the restriction reflected in the title: "Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed." That means the K24 mechanism under this announcement is not intended to support the awardee in leading an independent clinical trial as the primary purpose of the award. The program’s emphasis is on protected time for patient-oriented research activities and mentoring, rather than using the K24 as a vehicle to launch or run an investigator-initiated clinical trial. (Applicants still need to align their plans with NIH policy and the specific clinical trial definitions and instructions that apply to this funding announcement.)

The primary beneficiaries of the mentoring component are clinical residents, clinical fellows, and/or junior clinical faculty. The award is structured to reinforce the applicant’s role as a research mentor, typically within an academic medical center or similar clinical research environment, where trainees and early-career clinicians can gain direct experience in designing patient-oriented studies, navigating regulatory and ethical requirements, managing data and participant protections, writing manuscripts, and developing competitive grant applications. In other words, NIH is investing not just in one investigator’s time, but in a mentoring ecosystem that improves the long-term capacity of institutions to produce high-quality patient-oriented research and independent clinical investigators.

Eligibility is broad on the organizational side, reflecting NIH’s intent to reach many different institutional contexts where clinical research training and mentoring occur. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it clearly states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, which can matter for projects that include certain types of international collaborations or activities conducted abroad under a U.S. applicant organization.

Administratively, the sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the opportunity sits within the broad activity category covering education, environment, and health. The listing includes multiple CFDA numbers (now often referenced as Assistance Listing numbers) that correspond to various NIH institutes and centers participating in this parent program announcement. The opportunity was created on 2024-04-25, and the original closing date is listed as 2027-05-07, indicating that NIH expects to keep this parent announcement active over multiple receipt cycles during that window. The notice does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided text, which is common for NIH parent announcements because actual budgets, award sizes, and the number of funded applications depend on institute-specific priorities, available appropriations, and the strength of the submitted applications in peer review.

In summary, PA 24 188 is aimed at mid-career clinician-investigators who are already engaged in patient-oriented research and who are positioned to be impactful mentors. NIH support through the K24 is intended to buy protected time and stabilize the effort needed for sustained patient-oriented research productivity and high-quality mentorship, while explicitly avoiding the use of this particular parent mechanism to run an independent clinical trial as the central activity of the award.

  • The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (Parent K24 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): 93.113, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.310, 93.313, 93.361, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.855, 93.866.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-25.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-05-07.
  • 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 PA 24 188

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NIH Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24) - PA 24 188

What is the NIH Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24) under PA 24 188?

It is an NIH discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA 24 188) intended to strengthen the clinical research workforce by providing established, mid-career clinician-scientists with protected time to conduct patient-oriented research and to mentor the next generation of clinical investigators.

What is the main purpose of this K24 opportunity?

The program is designed to support mid-career health-professional doctorate holders who already have a record of patient-oriented research (POR), so they can devote a meaningful portion of their professional effort to (1) research that directly involves human participants and (2) structured mentoring of clinicians in training and early-career clinicians.

Who is this award intended for (career stage and background)?

This K24 is intended for established, mid-career clinician-scientists who are already engaged in patient-oriented research and are positioned to serve as impactful mentors for developing clinical investigators.

What does "patient-oriented research (POR)" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Based on the opportunity description, patient-oriented research is research that directly involves human participants. The award supports continued hands-on clinical research activity that involves people, alongside mentoring and training-related activities that strengthen the clinical research pipeline.

What does the award support in practice?

In practice, NIH support is intended to "buy" protected time for the awardee to remain productive and engaged in patient-oriented research while providing structured mentorship. The mentoring environment is typically an academic medical center or similar clinical research setting where trainees can gain direct experience with the practical work of patient-oriented studies.

What kinds of mentoring activities are emphasized?

The opportunity emphasizes structured mentorship that helps residents, fellows, and/or junior faculty learn how to design patient-oriented studies, navigate regulatory and ethical requirements, manage data and participant protections, write manuscripts, and develop competitive grant applications.

Who are the primary beneficiaries of the mentoring component?

The primary beneficiaries are clinical residents, clinical fellows, and/or junior clinical faculty who are developing toward independent careers in patient-oriented research.

What does "Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed" mean for PA 24 188?

It means this specific parent announcement is not intended to support the awardee in leading an independent clinical trial as the primary purpose of the award. The emphasis is on protected time for patient-oriented research activities and mentoring, rather than using the K24 as a vehicle to launch or run an investigator-initiated clinical trial.

Does this mean no clinical trials can be involved at all?

The information provided states that an independent clinical trial cannot be the primary purpose of the award under this announcement. Applicants are also expected to align their plans with NIH policy and the specific clinical trial definitions and instructions that apply to this funding announcement.

What is NIH trying to achieve with this award beyond supporting one investigator?

NIH is investing in a mentoring ecosystem. The goal is not only to protect the awardee's time, but also to build institutional capacity to produce high-quality patient-oriented research and develop residents, fellows, and junior faculty into independent clinical investigators over the long term.

Which federal agency is sponsoring this opportunity?

The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number is PA 24 188.

When was this opportunity created and how long is it expected to remain open?

The opportunity was created on 2024-04-25, and the original closing date is listed as 2027-05-07, suggesting NIH expects to keep this parent announcement active across multiple receipt cycles during that period.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply as the applicant?

No. The announcement states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply.

Are non-domestic components of U.S. organizations eligible to apply?

No. The announcement states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.

Are foreign components allowed in projects under a U.S. applicant organization?

Yes. The announcement notes that foreign components, as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. This can be relevant for certain international collaborations or activities conducted abroad under a U.S. applicant organization.

What types of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include a wide range of U.S.-based organizations and government entities, including state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.

Does the announcement call out any specific institution types as eligible?

Yes. It explicitly includes Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed within a broad activity category covering education, environment, and health.

Are award size (ceiling) and number of awards provided in the text?

No. The provided information does not include an award ceiling or an expected number of awards. This is described as common for NIH parent announcements because budgets and the number of funded applications depend on institute-specific priorities, available appropriations, and peer review outcomes.

Why are multiple CFDA/Assistance Listing numbers mentioned?

The listing includes multiple CFDA numbers (now often referred to as Assistance Listing numbers) corresponding to various NIH institutes and centers participating in this parent program announcement.

What is the core takeaway for potential applicants?

PA 24 188 is aimed at mid-career clinician-investigators with an existing record in patient-oriented research who can provide high-quality mentorship. The award is intended to provide protected time for sustained patient-oriented research productivity and structured mentoring, while explicitly not being used to run an independent clinical trial as the central activity.

Browse more opportunities from the same agency: National Institutes of Health

Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education, Environment, Health

Next opportunity: Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH) Model

Previous opportunity: NPI Annual Program Statement (New Partnerships Initiative (NPI)/Conflict Prevention and Recovery Program (CPRP) Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance)

Applicant Portal:

Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.

Apply for PA 24 188

 

Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PA 24 188) also looked into and applied for these:

Funding Opportunity
Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (Parent K24 Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 24 187

Funding Number: PA 24 187
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education, Environment, Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (Parent K24 - Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PA 24 189

Funding Number: PA 24 189
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education, Environment, Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Summer Research Education Experience Program (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 24 204

Funding Number: PAR 24 204
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education, Environment, Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN): Biologic-based Drug Discovery and Development for Disorders of the Nervous System (U44 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 24 294

Funding Number: PAR 24 294
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education, Environment, Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN): Biologic-based Drug Discovery and Development for Disorders of the Nervous System (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 24 293

Funding Number: PAR 24 293
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education, Environment, Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Emerging Global Leader Award (K43 Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PAR 24 295

Funding Number: PAR 24 295
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education, Environment, Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Emerging Global Leader Award (K43 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 24 296

Funding Number: PAR 24 296
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education, Environment, Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
CCRP Initiative: NIH Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Translational Exploratory/Developmental Research Projects (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 25 114

Funding Number: PAR 25 114
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education, Environment, Health
Funding Amount: $275,000
Time-Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 25 003

Funding Number: RFA ES 25 003
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education, Environment, Health
Funding Amount: $800,000
Transformative Research to Address Health Disparities and Advance Health Equity (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA NR 25 003

Funding Number: RFA NR 25 003
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education, Environment, Health
Funding Amount: $500,000
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Senior Fellowship (Parent F33) Apply for PA 25 424

Funding Number: PA 25 424
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education, Environment, Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent

 

Grant application guides and resources

It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!

Apply for Grants

 

Inside Our Applicants Portal

  • Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
  • Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
  • Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Access Applicants Portal

 

Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers

Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.

If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.

Learn More

 

 

Request more information:

Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "PA 24 188", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:

Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.

 

Ask a Question: