NOT-NS-03-001: NINDS POLICY UPDATE FOR CAREER (K) AWARDS

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and Human Services (HHS)
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NINDS POLICY UPDATE FOR CAREER (K) AWARDS

Release Date:  September 27, 2002

NOTICE:  NOT-NS-03-001

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

This policy notice replaces the previous notice NOT-NS-02-014 issued on 
July 8, 2002 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-NS-02-014.html).

Overall NINDS Career (K) Programs:

The NINDS supports a broad spectrum of K awards, including both 
mentored and independent awards.  These programs are described in the 
NINDS training and career development website: 
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/research_training.htm.  They include 
the K01, K02, K08, K22, K23, K24 and K25.  Some K programs have NINDS-
specific program announcements (K01 and K22) while others follow 
generic NIH guidelines.  Each program has its own policies and 
procedures described below.  A major objective of NINDS career 
development programs is to support the career development of clinician 
scientists (see: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-
files/NOT-NS-01-011.html).  The following policies and procedures for each K 
mechanism are in addition to the standard criteria in each of the 
parent NIH-wide program announcements for K awards:

K01: The three available NINDS programs have their own specific 
requirements as indicated in the following program announcements: 1) 
"NINDS Mentored Research Scientist Development Awards in Translational 
Research" (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-02-140.html), 
2) "Career Development Award for Minority Scholars in 
Neuroscience" (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-02-106.html), and 
3) Re-Entry Into the Neurological Sciences Program (see: 
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/postdoc.htm#k01).

K02: This program normally follows a K08 award and supports the 
continued career development of independent clinician-scientists for an 
additional 5 years so that they can be more successful in obtaining an 
R01 or equivalent grant.  The award provides both Salary and Research 
costs for the first 3 years, and continued salary support for years 4 
and 5, contingent on receipt of an R01 or equivalent award.  NINDS 
considers an R01-equivalent grant to be an independent, peer-reviewed, 
multi-year award with the K02 awardee as PI, and the total award must 
be for a minimum of $75,000 per year for 3 years or $100,000 per year 
for 2 years.  Any exceptions must be approved by NINDS Program staff 
prior to an application.

K08 and K23: The K08 and K23 are mentored awards, but the NINDS 
encourages applicant institutions to demonstrate strong commitment 
toward the academic independence of candidates for these 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 
and resources will be considered as a review and programmatic 
criterion.  In particular, institutions are urged to address the 
following commitments to the candidate independent of the outcome of 
the career development award application: 1) Type of institutional 
appointment, 2) Sufficiency of funds available to carry out the 
proposed research, 3) Sufficiency of dedicated space for the candidate, 
and 4) Other resources available to the candidate.

K22: Applicants must follow the instructions specified in the following 
program announcement: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-
files/PAR-00-122.html.

K24 and K25: These programs follow separate NIH-wide policies.  Please 
refer to each program announcement for information on specific 
guidelines and procedures.

Salary and Research Costs:

The allowable salary and research costs at NINDS for the K01, K02, K08, 
K22, K23 career award mechanisms are as follows:

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

o Maximum allowable salary is $85,000 per year.
o Maximum allowable research costs is $50,000 per year.
o Maximum allowable total direct costs for the 3-year extramural phase 
of the K22 awards is $150,000, 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.  However, 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 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

NINDS 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: [email protected]
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