NIMH POLICY UPDATE FOR CAREER AWARDS (K-SERIES) Release Date: June 12, 2000 NOTICE: MH-00-002 National Institute of Mental Health This notice provides a revision and update of the most recent NIMH POLICY UPDATE FOR CAREER AWARDS (K-SERIES) that was published in the NIH Guide on July 29, 1998. This document is intended to complement the policies of the Trans-NIH K-Series program announcements (see below). Prospective applicants must follow all the instructions covered under each program announcement as well as the Research Career Award section of PHS 398 when preparing an application. Note, however that this policy announcement DOES NOT address NIMH-specific career award programs. It DOES, however, apply to the following NIH-wide program announcements. All career award announcements can be found at <http://www.nimh.nih.gov/grants/training.cfm> PA-00-019: Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) PA-00-020: Independent Scientist Award (K02) PA-00-021: Senior Scientist Award (K05) PA-00-003: Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08) PA-00-004: Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) PA-00-005: Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24) NIMH GENERAL POLICY ON CAREER AWARDS K01, K08, and K23 Awards: NIMH mentored career development award mechanisms (K01, K08, and K23) are intended to assist new investigators at stages beyond postdoctoral training to gain additional supervised experience in order to become an independent scientist. Support for the K01, K08, and K23 awards are limited to one five year term, and are further restricted to one mentored career award per individual. Institutions are encouraged to use these awards to help transition the awardee from mentored research to independence. NIMH realizes that new investigators often need to obtain external support and/or move to another institution in order ultimately to secure a more independent position (e.g., faculty). Therefore, it is the policy of NIMH to be flexible with regard to transfer to another institution. Applicants are expected to pursue research and career development activities directly relevant to the mission of the NIMH. Applications with marginal or no mental health relevance will be considered unresponsive to these programs. These applications will not be considered further and will be returned to the applicant. Therefore, it is very important that prospective applicants contact the appropriate Institute office, listed under INQUIRES, prior to preparing an application. NIMH mentored career award recipients are encouraged to apply for independent research grant support (e.g., R03 or R01) during the period of the award. However, in general, NIMH discourages awardees from applying for an NIH research grant during the initial stages of the mentored K award (corresponding approximately to the first two years of the award). Regardless of the timing, when a research grant application is subsequently submitted to the NIMH requesting support that overlaps the period of mentored K award support, the awardee must include a statement in the application which outlines how the career development and research supported through the K award will be impacted or modified should the new research application be supported. The applicant should identify how these applications (career award and research grant) relate to one another, highlighting any areas of scientific overlap. Since R01 and several other research grant applications now follow modular guidelines, any budgetary overlap issues will need to be resolved with NIMH staff prior to award. It should be noted that no salary for the principal investigator will be provided in the research grant during the period of career development support. Therefore, applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss these issues with the NIMH program staff prior to submitting a new grant application. K02 and K24 Awards: The early to mid-career awards, K02 and K24, are available for two five year terms (including one competitive renewal). Investigators with peer-reviewed, independent research support may receive an initial K02 or K24 award from NIMH. However, an individual who previously has held an NIMH K01, K08, or K23 award must have NIMH research support at the time of his/her first K02 or K24 award. Eligibility for renewal of K02 or K24 awards is limited to NIMH grantees at the time of award. Support from either K02 or K24 or any combination of these awards is limited to two five-year terms. K05 Awards: The senior scientist award, K05, is restricted to one five year term only, and is available only to those researchers who are Principal Investigators (PI) on an active NIMH research grant at the time of award. Current K05 awardees are NOT eligible to submit a competing renewal (type 2) application. K02, K05, and K24 Awards: Scientists who hold a position with firm salary support for research or whose primary responsibility is administrative, must demonstrate a compelling need for a K02, K05, or K24 award. For the purpose of these policies, eligible applicants are NIMH Principal Investigators (PI) on R01, R10, R18, R21, R24, R29, R37, P01, P20, P30, P50, and U01 grants. It should be noted that investigators who direct subprojects on P series grants, or are PI on a subcontract on any other grant mechanism, are NOT eligible. NIMH POLICY ON ALLOWABLE COSTS The unique aspects of NIMH allowable costs, specifically in the categories of salary and research support are listed below. Salary for K01, K02, K05, K08, and K23 Awards: Beginning with competing awards made in fiscal year 2001, the NIMH will contribute up to 100% of the Principal Investigator"s institutional base annual salary in any given year, 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, and that the annual salary is based on a full-time 12-month position. This policy applies to all new (type 1), and competitive renewal (type 2) applications. However, it does NOT apply to non-competitive continuation (type 5) applications resulting from competing applications that began prior to fiscal year 2001. It is important to emphasize that these awards require a commitment of a minimum of 75% of full-time professional effort to research and career development activities for the period of the award. Salary for K24 Awards: Please note that the K24 award is different from the other mechanisms covered under this policy announcement. Therefore, the applicant is referred to the NIH-wide K24 program announcement for information about salary and research costs. Research Development Support for K01, K08, and K23 Awards: The NIMH allows for funds up to $50,000 per year for expenses outlined in each program announcement (note that $50,000 is the upper limit allowed for the first year AND each subsequent year). Applicants must clearly justify any requested costs. Research Support for K02, K05: For the K02 and K05 awards, the NIMH 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 (note that $25,000 is the upper limit allowed for the first year AND each subsequent year). Change of Institution: NIMH career award grantees must follow the instructions in each K program announcement when planning a change of institution. In addition, it should be noted that NO transfers will be allowed for awards with less than six months remaining neither in the project period, nor during a period of administrative extension or after a project has terminated. INQUIRIES Consultation with NIMH staff is encouraged especially during the planning phase of the application. Prospective applicants may visit the NIMH Research Training and Career Development Website: <http://www.nimh.nih.gov/grants/training.cfm> to obtain additional information. Walter Goldschmidts, Ph.D. Division of Neuroscience and Basic Behavioral Science National Institute of Mental Health 6001 Executive Boulevard Room 7200, MSC 9645 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 443-3563 FAX: (301) 443-1731 E-mail: wgoldsch@mail.nih.gov Della Hann, Ph.D. Division of Mental Disorders, Behavioral Research and AIDS National Institute of Mental Health 6001 Executive Boulevard Room 6217, MSC 9621 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 443-9700 FAX: (301) 480-6000 E-mail: dhann@mail.nih.gov Enid Light, Ph.D. Division of Services and Intervention Research National Institute of Mental Health 6001 Executive Boulevard Room 7160, MSC 9635 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 443-1185 FAX: (301) 443-4045 E-mail: elight@mail.nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Diana S. Trunnell Grants Management Branch National Institute of Mental Health 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6115, MSC 9605 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 443-2805 Fax: (301) 443-6885 Email: dtrunnel@mail.nih.gov


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