K07: Academic Career Awards

Academic Career Awards (K07) include two types: Development and Leadership. The NIA does not support Developmental K07 awards, but supports Leadership K07 awards. The Academic Career Leadership award is suitable for an established researcher who is a leader in his or her research field. The award allows the leader both time and some funds to build an area or subfield of research on aging most likely at a particular institution although the funding may also be used to build an area through networked investigators or institutions.

In addition to paying 25% to 50% of the Academic Leader’s salary, the funds may be used to provide pilot funding for research by junior faculty, for curriculum development in the area of aging being expanded, for travel of junior faculty to other sites to learn techniques or to develop collaborations, for guest faculty to work with the junior faculty on particular research skills or for any additional activity that helps build the research area at the institution.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES
It is strongly recommended that prospective applicants contact the NIA Training Officer (BarrR@mail.nih.gov) early in the planning phase of application preparation to discuss research areas of interest and award provisions. Such contact will help ensure that applications are appropriate for assignment to the National Institute on Aging.

Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html and will be accepted at the standard application deadlines. Career award applications will become electronic submissions to Grants.gov using the SF424 form at a later date (click 'Electronic Submission' site for updates). Follow the instructions for Career Development Award Applications (CDA applications) with the differences noted below.

Letters of Reference
Letters of Reference are not required.

Description, Performance Sites, Key Personnel etc.
If the award will also include a research coordinator then that individual is a key personnel member in addition to the principal investigator. A research coordinator is an individual who contributes substantively to the academic leadership activities by organizing the activities of the program and provides advice to faculty on application procedures and potential sources of funding.

Career Development Plan
The Candidate: The Sections should be: Scientific and Mentoring Biography: Include descriptions of prior mentoring and leadership activities relevant to this award in addition to a narrative description of scientific contributions; Career Development/Training Activities during Award period: Describe any courses, degrees, or other formal training that will be expected of, or available to, faculty who are mentored through this award. Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). Describe how RCR training will be integrated into the career development activities of the proposed program.

Statement by Sponsor(s), Consultant(s), Collaborators) and Contributor(s): This section should include any letters from consultants and/or collaborators confirming their participation in the project and describing their specific roles.

Institutional Commitment to the Candidate’s Research Career Development
Provide evidence of commitment and support from the institution for the proposed application. There must be evidence of support for further enhancement of the academic area of interest to the NIA. The institutions must agree to release you from teaching or administrative duties for the effort that will be assigned to this award.

Research Plan

1. Specific aims:
   • State the goals of the award.
   • Identify any anticipated changes in the state of teaching and research on aging that are likely to continue after the award ends.
2. Background, Significance and Rationale:
   • Describe the current state of teaching and research on those aspects of aging proposed for development in the award.
   • Describe the significance for furthering research on aging of the proposed activities.
   • If applicable, describe any current or prior Academic Career Leadership Awards (K07) supported at the institution and describe how the proposed project adds to aging research at the institution beyond the activities supported by the prior award. NIA will not accept an application for review unless it is clear that the proposed work is substantially different from any prior award to the same institution and does not seek to continue or expand it.
3. Preliminary Studies/Progress Report:
• Show any development activities already initiated at the institution in the proposed field or in similar fields.
4. Research Design and Method:
   • Describe the research and organizational plan proposed to initiate or continue academic and research development in the area of interest to the NIA.
   • Describe any internal pre-award review or post-award procedures to evaluate pilot grants, sponsored travel awards and other specific development activities.
   • Describe plans for collaboration among departments and other steps to promote integrating curricula on aging and aging research in the fields being developed.

For more information, see:

• PA Number: PA-08-152
• Released: April 18, 2008