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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