NCI Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K08 - Clinical Trials Required) | PAR 18 336

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 336

The NCI Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K08 - Clinical Trials Required), funding opportunity number PAR-18-336, is an NIH/National Cancer Institute career development grant designed to help clinically trained investigators build the skills, track record, and independence needed for a long-term research career in cancer. It is a mentored award, meaning the applicant is expected to carry out an intensive, supervised research and training plan under the guidance of experienced mentor(s). The core aim is to provide sustained support and protected time so that early-career clinical scientists can focus on research and career development rather than being pulled primarily into clinical or other duties.

A defining feature of this NCI-specific K08 is its emphasis on promoting diversity in the cancer research workforce. The program is intended for clinical scientists from backgrounds that have been shown to be nationally underrepresented in health-related science, and for individuals who are committed to advancing basic biomedical, behavioral, or translational cancer research. That includes, explicitly, work addressing cancer health disparities, where research questions are tied to unequal cancer burden, access, outcomes, or other inequities affecting different populations. The overarching expectation is that by the end of the award period, scholars will have substantially strengthened their research capabilities and be positioned to compete successfully for independent NIH research funding such as R03, R21, or R01 grants.

Because this is a K08 with “Clinical Trials Required” in the title, the supported research is expected to include a clinical trial component consistent with NIH definitions and NCI expectations for this particular announcement. In practice, that signals that applicants should be prepared to propose a study that involves prospective assignment of human participants (or groups) to an intervention or similar condition to evaluate effects on health-related biomedical or behavioral outcomes, or otherwise meet the NIH clinical trial definition as applicable. The mentored structure also implies that the research environment and mentoring team should be appropriate for the complexity and regulatory demands of clinical trials work, including planning for oversight, participant protections, and trial conduct.

The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant under the NIH, with the activity area listed under education and health (CFDA 93.398). While the announcement centers on developing individual investigators, the application is typically submitted by an eligible organization on behalf of the candidate, reflecting NIH’s standard approach where the institution serves as the applicant organization and the scholar is the proposed awardee. A wide range of applicant organizations are eligible, including state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), other than institutions of higher education); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are also listed as eligible, along with other categories specified by NIH.

The funding notice also highlights additional eligible applicant types that align with the diversity and workforce-development goals of the program. These include 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, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized entities, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, the announcement clearly excludes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities from applying, and it does not allow non-domestic components of U.S. organizations. Foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not permitted, reinforcing that the research and program activities must be domestically based.

In terms of program intent and outcomes, the K08 is best understood as a bridge between clinical training and independent research leadership. It is meant to accelerate a candidate’s development through a focused period of mentored research, skill acquisition, and professional growth, producing tangible research outputs that demonstrate readiness for independent funding. The NCI frames success not only as individual career advancement but also as strengthening the national cancer research enterprise by supporting investigators whose perspectives and lived experiences have historically been underrepresented in health-related science, especially in areas such as cancer biology, behavioral oncology, translational science, and disparities research.

The source information provided lists an original closing date of 2021-05-07 and a creation date of 2017-10-31. No award ceiling or expected number of awards is specified in the excerpt, so those details would normally be confirmed directly in the full funding announcement and associated NIH policy documents.

• 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 - Clinical Trials Required)" 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 2017-10-31.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-05-07. (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 18 336

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