Mentored Career Development Award to Promote Faculty Diversity in Biomedical Research (K01) (Clinical Trial Required) | RFA HL 18 027

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HL 18 027

The Mentored Career Development Award to Promote Faculty Diversity in Biomedical Research (K01) (Clinical Trial Required) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA HL 18 027) designed to strengthen and expand the pipeline of independent biomedical researchers from diverse backgrounds that are underrepresented in research. The program specifically supports mentored career development for eligible faculty so they can deepen their expertise through structured, supervised research and specialized training, with the end goal of building a stronger, more diverse group of investigators positioned to become independent research leaders.

The scientific focus is centered on cardiovascular, pulmonary, and hematologic diseases, as well as sleep disorders, and it explicitly encourages projects that address both the general population and health disparities populations. The FOA emphasizes that applicants should be working in basic, clinical, or translational research areas that rely on advanced methods and experimental approaches. In other words, the award is meant for faculty who need protected time, mentorship, and a rigorous development plan to master sophisticated research tools and methodologies that can be applied to important problems in heart, lung, blood, and sleep research, including challenges that disproportionately affect underserved or marginalized communities.

A core feature of this K01 is the mentored structure. Applications are submitted by institutions on behalf of eligible faculty members, and the proposed career development plan must be carried out under the guidance of a mentor who is both an accomplished investigator in the relevant scientific area and experienced in developing independent investigators. This typically implies a training environment with strong research infrastructure, a clear plan for hands-on skill development, and thoughtful mentoring that goes beyond supervising a single project to include career planning, grantsmanship, publication strategy, networking, and progression toward research independence. Because this FOA is labeled “Clinical Trial Required,” the supported research is expected to include a clinical trial component consistent with NIH definitions and requirements, meaning applicants must be prepared to meet NIH expectations for trial design, oversight, and compliance.

Eligibility is broad on the institutional side and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Examples listed 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 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); small businesses; and other eligible entities. The FOA also calls out specific institution types as “other eligible applicants,” such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. Despite this wide eligibility within the U.S. and its territories, foreign participation is restricted: 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.

Administratively, the opportunity is offered by NIH and falls under the Health funding activity category, with CFDA numbers 93.233, 93.837, 93.838, and 93.839. The original closing date shown for this FOA was 2018-03-02, and the listing does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided source data. Overall, the program is best understood as a mentored faculty career development mechanism aimed at improving representation in biomedical research leadership while advancing rigorous, clinically relevant research (including a clinical trial) in the NHLBI mission areas of heart, lung, blood, and sleep, with clear relevance to health disparities where applicable.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mentored Career Development Award to Promote Faculty Diversity in Biomedical Research (K01) (Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.233, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-03-02. (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 RFA HL 18 027

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