Institutional Mentored Career Development Award (Parent K12) (Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

The Institutional Mentored Career Development Award (Parent K12) is a federal funding opportunity offered by the National Institutes of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency responsible for conducting and supporting biomedical and behavioral research, and its mission focuses on improving health, extending life, and reducing illness and disability. Through this program, NIH seeks to strengthen the national research workforce by supporting institutional career development programs that prepare postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty for independent research careers. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support domestic institutions in developing structured, mentored research career development programs. These programs are designed to provide “protected time” for scholars to engage in intensive research and training activities that will help them transition to independent investigators. The program emphasizes tailored career development plans, allowing scholars at different stages of professional development to build on their existing research foundation and gain the skills necessary to lead independent research programs in biomedical and behavioral fields. Funding under this program supports a wide range of allowable costs associated with administering institutional career development programs. These include personnel costs for program leadership, scholar salary support, and program-related expenses such as training activities, travel, and mentor development. While budgets are not capped at a specific amount, they must reflect the actual needs of the proposed program. Indirect costs are reimbursed at a fixed rate of eight percent of modified total direct costs. The project period may extend up to five years, allowing institutions to develop sustained and impactful training environments. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad but limited to domestic entities. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, local and tribal governments, and certain federal entities. Foreign organizations are not eligible to apply, although limited foreign components may be permitted under specific conditions. Applicant institutions must demonstrate strong organizational capacity, including adequate facilities, faculty, and administrative support, and must commit to providing a supportive environment for scholar development. The application process requires submission through federal systems such as Grants.gov, the NIH ASSIST platform, or institutional system-to-system solutions. Applicants must complete several registrations, including SAM, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov, prior to submission. Applications must follow the NIH Training Instructions and include detailed program plans, budgets, and supporting documentation. The review process evaluates scientific merit, program structure, mentorship quality, institutional commitment, and the likelihood of successfully preparing scholars for independent research careers. The timeline for this opportunity follows standard NIH submission cycles. The funding opportunity was posted in June 2026, with the earliest submission date in September 2026. Standard due dates occur multiple times per year, including October, February, and June cycles, with corresponding review and award timelines extending into the following year. Awards are contingent on available appropriations and the quality of submitted applications. This program is recurring, with multiple submission opportunities annually through 2029, providing ongoing access for eligible institutions to apply.

Align proposal with NIH institute priorities; emphasize strong mentorship structure; demonstrate institutional commitment and scholar development pipeline