Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 24 186
The Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) is an NIH career development grant designed to help early-career clinicians build the skills, experience, and publication record needed to become independent investigators in patient-oriented research. It is aimed at individuals who already hold a clinical doctoral degree and have clearly committed to a research career that involves direct work with human participants or with human-derived materials where the investigator directly interacts with subjects. The overarching goal is to provide structured, mentored support so that recipients can strengthen their research expertise, develop a focused research program, and transition toward independent funding and leadership in clinical and translational research.
This specific parent opportunity, identified as PA-24-186, falls under the NIH activity category typically associated with research education and career development and is issued as a discretionary grant. It emphasizes patient-oriented research and includes a requirement related to independent basic experimental studies with humans, meaning the supported work must be grounded in studies involving humans in a way that meets NIH definitions for this type of research. In practice, this aligns the award with projects that are clinically relevant and human-centered, rather than purely animal, computational, or bench-based work without a direct human research component.
A wide range of applicant organizations are eligible to submit applications on behalf of candidates. Eligible applicants include many types of U.S.-based governmental entities (state, county, city or township governments, special district governments), independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Academic institutions are also broadly eligible, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. The opportunity also allows applications from nonprofit organizations (both those with and without 501(c)(3) IRS status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education in that category listing), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. In addition, NIH explicitly highlights eligibility for several mission-driven and capacity-building institution types, including 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 (AANAPISISs). Faith-based or community-based organizations, certain federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and Indian/Native American tribal governments (including those other than federally recognized) are also included among eligible applicant types.
Restrictions on non-U.S. involvement are important for this announcement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign organizations, are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization. Likewise, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed when they meet the NIH Grants Policy Statement definition, which generally means a project may include a defined foreign component under a U.S. applicant organization if it is justified and compliant with NIH policy. This distinction matters for applicants who collaborate internationally, because it permits certain international elements without allowing a foreign institution to serve as the primary applicant.
The administering agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the opportunity is listed under multiple CFDA numbers (now commonly referenced as assistance listing numbers), reflecting that multiple NIH Institutes or Centers may participate or support awards under this parent announcement. The opportunity was created on April 9, 2024, and lists an original closing date of May 7, 2027, indicating an extended window in which applications may be accepted across multiple receipt cycles typical of NIH parent K announcements. The public summary does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, which often means those details can vary by participating NIH Institute/Center, annual appropriations, and the number and quality of applications received in a given cycle.
In short, PA-24-186 is a mentored career development mechanism intended to protect time and provide resources for clinically trained researchers to develop into independent patient-oriented investigators. It supports a mentored training plan paired with a coherent, human-focused research project, is open to a broad set of U.S. organizations including many institutions that serve underrepresented communities, and allows foreign components only under NIH policy while prohibiting foreign organizations from applying directly.Apply for PA 24 186
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.310, 93.313, 93.361, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-05-07.
- 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.
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FAQs: NIH Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) - Parent Announcement PA-24-186
What is the Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)?
The K23 is an NIH career development grant intended to help early-career clinicians build the skills, experience, and publication track record needed to become independent investigators in patient-oriented research. The award is structured around mentored support so recipients can strengthen research expertise, develop a focused research program, and move toward independent funding and leadership in clinical and translational research.
What is PA-24-186?
PA-24-186 is the specific NIH parent opportunity for the K23 described here. It falls under an NIH activity category typically associated with research education and career development and is issued as a discretionary grant. It emphasizes patient-oriented research and includes a requirement tied to NIH definitions for human-centered experimental studies.
Who is this K23 opportunity intended for?
This opportunity is aimed at individuals who already hold a clinical doctoral degree and have a clear commitment to a research career involving patient-oriented research. It is designed to support early-career clinicians as they develop into independent investigators through structured mentorship and protected time for research and career development.
What does NIH mean by "patient-oriented research" in this context?
Based on the description provided, patient-oriented research involves direct work with human participants or work with human-derived materials where the investigator directly interacts with subjects. The supported research is expected to be clinically relevant and centered on human studies rather than purely animal, computational, or bench-based work without a direct human research component.
Does the proposed research have to involve humans?
Yes. The announcement emphasizes patient-oriented research and includes a requirement related to independent basic experimental studies with humans. In practical terms, supported work must be grounded in studies involving humans in a way that meets NIH definitions for this type of research.
What is the main goal of the K23 award under PA-24-186?
The overarching goal is to provide structured, mentored support so awardees can strengthen research expertise, build a coherent and focused research program in human-centered research, and transition toward independence (including pursuing independent funding and taking on leadership roles in clinical and translational research).
What kinds of organizations can apply?
A broad range of U.S.-based organizations are eligible to apply on behalf of candidates. Eligible applicant types include various governmental entities, academic institutions, nonprofits, for-profit entities (other than small businesses), and small businesses, among others listed in the opportunity description.
Are U.S. state, county, city, township, or special district governments eligible to apply?
Yes. The opportunity lists many types of U.S.-based governmental entities as eligible applicants, including state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments.
Are independent school districts eligible to apply?
Yes. Independent school districts are explicitly included among eligible applicant organizations.
Are public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities eligible to apply?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are listed as eligible applicant types.
Are colleges and universities eligible to apply?
Yes. Academic institutions are broadly eligible, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The opportunity allows applications from nonprofit organizations, including nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS status (as described in the provided eligibility listing).
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are included among eligible applicants, and small businesses are also eligible.
Are small businesses eligible to apply?
Yes. Small businesses are listed as eligible applicant organizations.
Does NIH highlight any institution types that serve underrepresented communities?
Yes. NIH explicitly highlights eligibility for several mission-driven and capacity-building institution types, including 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 (AANAPISISs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are included among eligible applicant types.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included among the eligible applicant types listed.
Are Indian/Native American tribal governments eligible to apply?
Yes. Indian/Native American tribal governments are included, including those other than federally recognized, as described in the eligibility summary provided.
Can a foreign (non-U.S.) organization be the applicant organization?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign organizations, are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization for this opportunity.
Can a non-U.S. component of a U.S. organization apply?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply under this announcement.
Are foreign components allowed at all?
Yes, in a limited way. Foreign components are allowed when they meet the NIH Grants Policy Statement definition. This means a U.S. applicant organization may include a defined foreign component if it is justified and compliant with NIH policy, even though a foreign organization cannot serve as the primary applicant.
What does this mean for international collaborations?
The rules described allow certain international elements under a U.S. applicant organization (as a defined foreign component under NIH policy), but do not allow a foreign institution to apply directly as the primary applicant. This is important for teams that collaborate internationally and need clarity on what is permitted.
Which federal agency administers this opportunity?
The administering agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Is this opportunity associated with specific Assistance Listing (CFDA) numbers?
Yes. The opportunity is listed under multiple CFDA numbers (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing numbers), which typically indicates that multiple NIH Institutes or Centers may participate or support awards under this parent announcement.
When was PA-24-186 created?
The opportunity was created on April 9, 2024.
What is the closing date for this opportunity?
The opportunity lists an original closing date of May 7, 2027, suggesting an extended window during which applications may be accepted across multiple receipt cycles typical of NIH parent K announcements.
Does the public summary state an award ceiling (maximum award amount)?
No. The public summary provided does not specify an award ceiling.
Does the public summary state how many awards NIH expects to make?
No. The public summary provided does not specify an expected number of awards. The description notes that these details often vary by participating NIH Institute/Center, annual appropriations, and the number and quality of applications received in a given cycle.
Is this a mentored award or an independent investigator award?
This is a mentored career development mechanism. It is designed to provide structured mentorship and support to help clinicians develop toward independence in patient-oriented research.
What kinds of activities does the award support?
Based on the description, the award supports a mentored training plan paired with a coherent, human-focused research project. The intent is to protect time and provide resources that help the candidate build research skills, develop expertise, and strengthen their publication record in preparation for independent research funding.
How does PA-24-186 distinguish itself from non-human or purely bench research?
The announcement emphasizes human-centered, clinically relevant studies and includes a requirement connected to basic experimental studies with humans. The description notes that this alignment favors projects that meet NIH definitions involving humans, rather than projects that are purely animal-based, computational, or bench-based without direct human research involvement.
Is this opportunity limited to academic medical centers?
No. While academic institutions are eligible, the eligibility list is much broader and includes governmental entities, nonprofits, for-profits (other than small businesses), small businesses, faith-based and community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and tribal governments, among others specified.
Why does the opportunity reference multiple NIH Institutes or Centers?
The opportunity is listed under multiple Assistance Listing (CFDA) numbers, which commonly signals that more than one NIH Institute or Center may participate in or support awards under this parent announcement.
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|---|
| Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PA 24 192 Funding Number: PA 24 192 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 24 181 Funding Number: PA 24 181 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PA 24 183 Funding Number: PA 24 183 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PA 24 177 Funding Number: PA 24 177 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PA 24 195 Funding Number: PA 24 195 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 24 133 Funding Number: PAR 24 133 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| PHS 2024-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 24 248 Funding Number: PA 24 248 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 - Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required (BESH)) Apply for PAR 24 227 Funding Number: PAR 24 227 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Human Brain Single-cell Genomics Explorer (U24 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 24 038 Funding Number: RFA NS 24 038 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Environmental Health Disparities Centers (P50) Clinical Trial Optional Apply for RFA MD 24 010 Funding Number: RFA MD 24 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 25 233 Funding Number: PAR 25 233 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 25 143 Funding Number: PAR 25 143 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32) Apply for PA 25 168 Funding Number: PA 25 168 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 25 298 Funding Number: PAR 25 298 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $375,000 |
| NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 25 302 Funding Number: PA 25 302 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 25 304 Funding Number: PA 25 304 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 25 306 Funding Number: PA 25 306 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 25 371 Funding Number: PAR 25 371 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 25 369 Funding Number: PAR 25 369 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Small Research Grant (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 25 370 Funding Number: PAR 25 370 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
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