Notice of Intent to Publish a Request for Applications for Neurosurgeon Research Career Development Program (NRCDP) (K12)

Notice Number: NOT-NS-11-019

Release Date: July 29, 2011

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) intends to promote a new initiative by publishing a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit applications for a Neurosurgeon Research Career Development Program (NRCDP). The goal of the program will to expand the cadre of neurosurgeon-researchers who will combine their clinical and research expertise to conduct research into neurological disorders that neurosurgeons are uniquely qualified to conduct.

This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. 

The FOA is expected to be published in Fall 2011 with an expected receipt date in November 2011.

This FOA will utilize the K12 activity code. This K12 will be housed at the PD/PI's institution, but will support a national program, overseen by the PD/PI and a national advisory committee. A maximum of one national K12 program will be supported.

Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

This Notice encourages investigators with appropriate expertise and stature to begin to consider applying for this new FOA. Potential PD/PIs should be nationally acknowledged leaders in the neurosurgery community, should have a history of active, funded research, and should have a track record in successfully training clinician-scientists. For the application process, PD/PIs will have to recruit approximately 9 members for the national advisory committee, all of whom should be acknowledged leaders in their communities. The advisory committee should consist primarily of neurosurgeon-researchers, but should also include leading researchers from other communities, such as neurology, other clinical communities relevant to neurosurgical research and PhD neuroscientists with an understanding of disease-related research.

The goals of the NRCDP program are to provide support for a period of mentored training following residency, to build networking and collaborative infrastructure, and to facilitate the transition of neurosurgeons from mentored to independent research positions. The NRCDP will provide neurosurgeons with the experience, research support and funding necessary to initiate a vigorous, sustainable research program. The K12 program will provide support for mentored training of neurosurgeon-researchers who have moved to a new institution following residency, beginning in their first year in a faculty position. Training will occur at the scholar's home institution, which may be anywhere in the U.S.. A scholar may be supported at the institution that sponsors the K12, but the sponsoring institution is not intended to be a unique training location. Training will occur in two phases, a two year phase in which the scholar is financially supported by this K12 award and a three year phase in which the scholar is supported by an individual NIH K award or other source of funding. This entire 5 year period will be overseen by the NRCDP, and will include a yearly meeting for those supported by NRCDP scholars and other junior neurosurgeon investigators, which will focus on career development, grant writing and networking.

Investigators interested in applying in response to this FOA are encouraged to contact Dr. Stephen Korn, Director of the NINDS Office of Training, Career Development and Workforce Diversity.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOT BEING SOLICITED AT THIS TIME.

Please direct all inquiries to:

Stephen Korn, Ph.D.
Director
Office of Training, Career Development and Workforce Diversity
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 2153 
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Phone: 301- 496-4188
Email: korns@ninds.nih.gov
Website: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/areas/training_and_career_development/index.htm