Revised NIDA Policy Update for Mentored and Career Development Awards (K Awards)

Notice Number: NOT-DA-05-005

Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:

Key Dates
Release Date: February 16, 2005

Issued by
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), (http://www.nida.nih.gov/)

This Notice regarding the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Mentored and Career Development Program Announcements (K Awards) replaces NOT-DA-05-001 and is intended to complement the policies of the Trans-NIH K-series program announcements listed below. This notice supersedes the updates released on August 5, 1999 and October 28, 2004. Prospective applicants should carefully follow all guidelines and procedures outlined in each program announcement as well as the Research Career Award section of PHS 398 when preparing the application. Particular attention should be paid to the purpose of each award mechanism, eligibility requirements, research objectives, and review considerations.

The purpose of this notice is to address NIDA-specific issues and considerations regarding the following program announcements:

PA-00-019: Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K0l)
PA-00-020: Independent Scientist Award (K02)
PA-00-021: Senior Scientist Award (K05)
PA-00-003: Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08)
PAR-02-076: Mentored Clinical Scientists Development Program Award (K12)
PA-00-004: Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
PA-04-107: Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24)
PA-02-127: Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award (K25)

Note : This policy is effective beginning with competing and non-competing grants awarded after October 1, 2004.

Additional Information for NIDA Applicants

NIDA mentored K award mechanisms (K01, K08, K12, K23, and K25) are intended to assist new investigators after postdoctoral training to gain additional supervised experience in order to become independent research scientists. To facilitate this career path, NIDA mentored career award recipients, therefore, are encouraged to apply for independent research grant support (e.g., R01, R03, R21) after the first two years of the award period. Moreover, in 2003, NIH modified its policy on mentored career development awards to allow award recipients to replace some of their K effort with R effort to help transition to research independence (for details, see http://grants.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-04-007.html).

NIDA's Mentored and Career Award programs (excluding the K24) require the recipients to devote a minimum of 75% full-time professional effort to research and career development activities for the entire period of the award.

Applicants are expected to pursue research and career development activities directly relevant to the mission of NIDA. Therefore, the RESEARCH OBJECTIVES section of each program announcement should be followed closely during the preparation of an application. It is very important that prospective applicants contact the appropriate Institute Program Officer, listed under INQUIRIES (see below), prior to preparing an application.

Note especially that differences exist among various NIH Institutes regarding allowable costs. NIDA's allowable costs, specifically in the categories of salary and research support, are listed below separately for Mentored and Career Ks.

Salary and Support Structure

K01, K08, K12, K23, K25:

This policy applies to all new (type 1), K12 competitive renewals (type 2), and all non-competitive renewal (type 5) applications. The NIDA contribution to the principal investigator's salary for K01, K08, K23, K25 and for K12 scholars will be up to 100% of the Principal Investigator's institutional base annual salary, up to a maximum of $90,000. Note that the salary allowance will be commensurate with the actual level of effort up to $90,000.

K02 and K05:

This policy applies to all new (type 1), competitive renewals (type 2), and non-competitive renewal (type 5) applications. The NIDA contribution to the principal investigator's salary for the K02 and K05 will be 75% of the Principal Investigator's institutional base annual salary, up to a maximum of $90,000.

K24:

This policy applies to all new (type 1), competitive renewals (type 2), and non-competitive renewal (type 5) applications. As described in the general program announcement, the Principal Investigator must commit to 25 - 50% of full-time professional effort to patient-oriented research and mentoring.  The actual salary provided by NIDA will be determined by two factors:  (1) level of effort and (2) full-time, 12-month institutional salary up to the maximum legislated salary rate in effect at the time of award.  Note that based on both of these factors, the NIDA contribution will not exceed $90,000 per year.

Research Development Support (K01, K08, K23, K24, K25):

NIDA allows for funds up to $50,000 per year for research-related costs as outlined in each program announcement--examples include supplies, equipment, technical personnel, travel, and statistical services. ( Note : This new amount is effective beginning with competing and non-competing grants awarded after October 1, 2004.)

Research Support (K02, K05):

For the K02 and K05 awards, NIDA allows for funds up to $25,000 per year for those applications from individuals who are engaged in predominantly theoretical work, such as modeling or computer simulation, as outlined in each program announcement.

Renewals

K01, K08, K23, and K25 Awards:

Support for the K01, K08, K23, K25 awards are limited to one term of three to five years and are further restricted to one mentored career award per individual.

K02 and K24 Awards:

The Independent Scientist Award (K02) and Mid-career Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24) are renewable one time only.

Inquiries

Consultation with NIDA staff is encouraged especially during the planning phase of the application. Below are the names of the NIDA staff who can provide further information:

NIDA Institute Coordinators

Susan Weiss, Ph.D.
Coordinator, NIDA Research Training Committee
Office of Science Policy and Communications
(301) 443-6071
(301) 480-2485 (fax)
E-mail: sweiss@nida.nih.gov

Suman R. King, Ph.D.
Deputy Coordinator, NIDA Research Training Committee
Office of Science Policy and Communications
(301) 443-6071
(301) 480-2485 (fax)
E-mail: sr234c@nih.gov

For Programmatic Issues:

Division of Basic Neurosciences and Behavioral Research

Charles W. Sharp, Ph.D.
(301) 443-1887
(301) 594-6043 (fax)
E-mail: csharp1@nida.nih.gov

Division of Pharmacotherapies and Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse

Jamie Biswas, Ph.D.
(301) 443-8494
(301) 443-9649 (fax)
E-mail: biswas@nida.nih.gov

Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research

William Bukoski, Ph.D.
(301) 402-1526
(301) 402-2636 (fax)
E-mail: mailto:bbukoski@nida.nih.gov

Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Development, and Behavioral Treatment

Dorynne Czechowicz, M.D.
(301) 443-2237
(301) 443-6814 (fax)
E-mail: mailto:JK98P@NIH.GOV

For Review Issues:

Office of Extramural Affairs

Mark Swieter, Ph.D.
(301) 435-1389
(301) 443-0538 (fax)
E-mail: mailto:ms80x@nih.gov

Eliane Lazar-Wesley, Ph.D.
(301) 451-4530
(301) 443-0538 (fax)
E-mail: el6r@nih.gov

For Grants Management Issues:

Gary Fleming, J.D., M.A.
Chief, Grants Management Officer
(301) 443-6710
(301) 594-6849 (fax)
E-mail: gf6s@nih.gov

Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices

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