National K12 Program for the Career Development of Clinician-Scientists in Diabetes Research (Diabetes-DOCS) (K12 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National K12 Program for the Career Development of Clinician-Scientists in Diabetes Research, administered by the National Institutes of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is a federal discretionary funding opportunity designed to strengthen the national pipeline of clinician-scientists specializing in diabetes research. This program is part of the broader Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research portfolio and is aligned with federal priorities to advance biomedical research capacity. It is specifically associated with the Special Diabetes Program, which supports innovative research and collaborative networks focused on the prevention, treatment, and cure of type 1 diabetes and its complications. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the Diabetes Career Development Program, which addresses a documented shortage of pediatric endocrinologists, physicians, and other doctoral-level clinicians engaged in diabetes-related research. The program is structured as a national K12 institutional career development award, with a centralized administrative structure managed by one or more program directors or principal investigators. These leaders are supported by an advisory committee composed of experienced basic and clinical investigators with strong records in funded research and mentorship. While the award is made to a central administrative institution, program participants, referred to as scholars, are expected to remain at and conduct research within their home institutions across the United States. Funding supports structured career development activities for doctoral-level clinicians committed to diabetes research, with a strong emphasis on type 1 diabetes and its underlying causes and consequences. The program may also support research focused on type 2 diabetes or other forms of diabetes as co-funding allows. Allowable uses of funds include scholar salaries, research development activities, mentorship structures, and administrative coordination of the national program. Clinical trials are not allowed under this specific funding opportunity, which places a clear restriction on the scope of supported research activities. Eligible applicants include a broad range of entities such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, school districts, small businesses, and other eligible entities including federal agencies and non-domestic institutions. This inclusive eligibility framework reflects the national scope of the program and its intent to support a wide array of institutional structures capable of administering a coordinated career development initiative. The application process is expected to follow standard NIH submission procedures, including preparation of a full application through Grants.gov and adherence to NIH-specific requirements for K12 institutional awards. While specific application components are not detailed in the forecast, applicants can expect to include program plans, mentorship frameworks, evaluation strategies, and institutional commitment documentation. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this program, reducing financial barriers to participation. The opportunity is currently forecasted, with an estimated posting date of April 1, 2026, and an estimated application due date of July 1, 2026. The anticipated award date and project start date are both April 1, 2027, indicating a structured review and award timeline typical of NIH programs. The total estimated program funding is 3000000 dollars, with one expected award supporting the national administrative center. Contact information is provided for program-specific inquiries, including a named NIH official with both phone and email details for applicant support.