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NIH career development grants (K series)
Need assistance with NIH career development grants?
NIH career development grants (K series) are intended to provide support for trainees and early to mid-career scientists as a path toward conducting their research independently and being competitive for major grant support.
Applicants for K series grants should follow the most current NIH SF424 guidance, as well as any specific instructions in the funding opportunity announcement (FOA). Additionally, access Duke guidance on K awards to ensure compliance with NIH requirements, including minimum effort needed.
Also review additional NIH proposal guidance:
- Page limits for common sections
- Formatting guidelines
- Rules for text fields
- NIH Grants Policy Statement (to better understand the NIH, its grants process, and terms and conditions if the proposal is awarded)
Note: The FOA instructions always supersede the SF424 guidance.
Support for NIH proposal development
Included below are grant writing toolkits developed by the SoM Office of Research Development and the Office of Campus Research Development (OCRD).
- Campus Schools/Provost Area - the Office of Campus Research Development (OCRD) provides additional proposal development support for NIH grant proposals to Duke campus-side faculty upon request.
- School of Medicine - explore how the SoM Office of Research Development supports NIH proposals.
Templates and examples
NIH K grants toolkit
- NIH K award application tracking sheet and user guide
- Abstract
- Authentication of Key Biological and Chemical Resources
- Biosketch
- Budget Justification (Detailed)
- Candidate Information and Goals for Career Development
- Candidate’s Plan to Provide Mentoring; applicable only to mid- and senior-level K applicants
- Consortium/Contractual Arrangements
- Data Management and Sharing Plan
- Description of Institutional Environment
- Equipment
- Facilities and Other Resources
- Facilities and Resources Repository (access boilerplate language and contacts for facilities and resources to potentially support the project)
- DUSON Facilities and Other Resources
- Institutional Commitment to Candidate’s Research Career Development
- Introduction
- Letters of Support from Collaborators, Contributors, and Consultants
- Plans and Statement of Mentor and Co-Mentor(s)
- Project Narrative
- References
- Research Strategy
- Resource Sharing Plan
- Select Agent Research
- Specific Aims
- Tips for Tables, Charts and Figures
- Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research
- Vertebrate Animals
- Writing Tips
NIH K grants Human Subjects and Clinical Trials attachments
- PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trial Information fillable form (download to view); annotated fillable form (see p. 31)
- Study Record: Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information fillable form (download to view); annotated fillable form (see p. 32-37)
- Note: Career development award applicants who are proposing to gain clinical trial research experience under a sponsor’s supervision should only provide information in certain fields of the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information, given that the study is not an independent clinical trial. Do not provide information in “Section 4 – Protocol Synopsis” or in “Section 5 – Other Clinical Trial-related Attachments” of the Study Record.
- Availability of Investigational Product (IP) and Investigational New Drug (IND)/Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) Status
- Data and Safety Monitoring Plan
- Delayed Onset Justification
- Dissemination Plan
- Human Specimens and/or Data Not Considered Human Subjects Research
- Inclusion of Individuals across the Lifespan
- Inclusion of Women and Minorities
- Other Requested Information
- Overall Structure of the Study Team
- Protection of Human Subjects
- Recruitment and Retention Plan
- Recruitment and Retention Plan, if using existing dataset/resource
- Single IRB Plan
- Statistical Design and Power
- Study Timeline
- Tips for Tables, Charts and Figures
NIH K grant examples
Explore examples of common career development grant sections from NIA and NIAID. Please note that the examples may be dated - the exact requirements and formatting may have changed.
The NIH RePORTER tool can be used to find other investigators at Duke who have been awarded a similar mechanism and may be able to provide additional examples or advice.
Facilities and Resources Repository
Facilities and Resources Repository (access boilerplate language and contacts for facilities and resources to potentially support the project)
OCRD K Toolkits
Contact OCRD (sohini.sengupta@duke.edu) if you would like a toolkit that is not yet available for a K funding opportunity of interest.
NIH K Award Toolkit
The NIH K award toolkit provides guidance and templates to write a Parent-mentored K Award proposal for the following activity codes: K01, K08, K23, and K25. Both early-stage faculty and/or postdocs could be eligible to apply for these opportunities.
Upcoming deadlines: See standard due dates for K applications
NIH K99/R00 Toolkit (standard)
NIH K99/R00 toolkit (PA-24-193, PA-24-194, PA-24-195): The NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) program provides guidance and templates to write a Parent K99/R00 proposal. Eligible postdocs can apply. K99 awards are tailored for the K99 activity code, and only postdocs can apply.
Upcoming deadlines: See standard due dates for K applications