NOT-NS-02-014: NINDS POLICY UPDATE FOR CAREER (K) AWARDS

Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)
NIH... Turning Discovery Into Health^®

NINDS POLICY UPDATE FOR CAREER (K) AWARDS

Release Date:  July 8, 2002

NOTICE:  NOT-NS-02-014

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
 (http://www.ninds.nih.gov)

This policy notice replaces the previous notice NOT-NS-02-008 issued on 
February 6, 2002 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-
NS-02-008.html).

Institutional Commitment to the Candidate:

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) 
announces additional review and program priority criteria for 
institutional commitment to fellows applying for mentored K awards.  
The following criteria do not replace, but are in addition to the 
stated criteria in each of the parent program announcements for K08 and 
K23 awards:

The NINDS strongly encourages applicant institutions to demonstrate 
strong commitment toward the academic independence of candidates for 
K08 and K23 Awards.  The institutional environment and commitment to 
the candidate should convince the reviewers of the intent of the 
institution to transition the awardee from mentored research to 
independence.  The level of institutional commitment as reflected by 
the candidate"s appointment will be considered as a review and 
programmatic criterion.  For example, the title of Assistant Professor 
would suggest commitment toward an academic research career.

Please also note that in the case of the K01 award, "Career Development 
Award for Minority Scholars in Neuroscience," the applicant institution 
must provide evidence that a commitment of a full-time faculty position 
has been made to the candidate. (See: 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-02-106.html)

Salary and Research Costs:

The NINDS allowable salary and research costs for career award 
mechanisms are indicated below.  The mechanisms affected are the 
following 
(see: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/research_training.htm).

o Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01)
o Independent Scientist Award (K02)
o Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08)
o NINDS Career Transition Award (K22)
o Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)

Effective with career awards funded in FY 2002, all competing (Type 1) 
applications are eligible to request the following higher salary and 
research costs:

o Maximum allowable salary is $85,000.
o Maximum allowable research costs is $50,000.
o Maximum allowable total direct costs for the extramural phase of the 
K22 awards is $150,000, therefore, applicants may request any 
combination of salary (up to $85,000) and research costs up to the 
maximum allowable direct costs.

All non-competing (Type 5) K01, K08, and K23 awards will continue to 
receive salary and research support under the original terms and 
conditions of the award.  In addition, all non-competing (Type 5) K02 
recipients will receive $50,000 for research costs.  There will be no 
change in salary level for non-competing K02 awards.

NOTE: The salary limits and research costs for the following career 
award mechanisms will remain the same.  These programs follow separate 
NIH-wide guidelines:

o Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24)
o Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award (K25)

INQUIRIES

Henry Khachaturian, Ph.D.
Research Training and Career Development Officer
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Neuroscience Center, Room 2154 
6001 Executive Boulevard
Bethesda, MD  20892 (Courier Service:  Rockville, MD  20852)
Telephone:  (301) 496-4188
FAX:  (301) 594-5929
Email:  hk11b@nih.gov
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices