NCI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity (K01 Clinical Trial Required) | PAR 21 296

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 296

The NCI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity (K01 Clinical Trial Required), funding opportunity number PAR-21-296, is a National Institutes of Health grant program from the National Cancer Institute that aims to strengthen and diversify the cancer research workforce. The main goal is to bring more diversity of thought into NCI-funded cancer research by supporting scientists from diverse backgrounds, including individuals from groups that have been shown to be nationally underrepresented in the biomedical, behavioral, social, and clinical sciences. In practice, this opportunity is meant to help early-career investigators build a strong, independent research trajectory in cancer-related fields while receiving structured mentorship and the time and resources needed to develop as research leaders.

A central feature of this K01 is protected time for career development, meaning the award is structured to buy out a substantial portion of the recipient's effort so they can focus intensively on research training and scholarly growth rather than being pulled primarily into other duties. The FOA provides both salary support and research support over a sustained period, with the expectation that this combination enables the awardee to produce publications, strengthen methodological skills, expand their professional network, and generate the preliminary data and track record needed for future independent funding. The award is explicitly mentorship-driven: applicants are expected to work under the guidance of an experienced mentor as they progress through a coherent career development plan tied to a focused research project.

What distinguishes this specific announcement is the clinical trial requirement. It is designed for applicants who will serve as the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or a separate ancillary study connected to an existing clinical trial. In other words, the applicant is not just participating in someone else's trial for experience; they are proposing to lead a clinical study themselves (or lead a clearly independent ancillary component) as a core part of both the research plan and the career development plan. If an applicant is not planning to lead an independent clinical trial, or if they intend mainly to gain experience on a trial led by another investigator, they are directed to apply instead to the companion FOA that fits non-independent-trial circumstances. This distinction matters because the expectations, review considerations, and proposed activities are aligned with the responsibilities and scientific leadership required when the applicant is the one driving the clinical trial.

The opportunity falls under the discretionary grant category and is associated with the funding activity category of education and health, reflecting its dual emphasis on research and investigator development. The CFDA number listed is 93.398. While the notice text provided does not specify an award ceiling or the number of expected awards, it does identify an original closing date of 2024-11-12 and a creation date of 2021-08-31, indicating it is a continuing program announcement with defined submission windows.

Eligibility for applicant organizations is broad and includes many common NIH-eligible institution types. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and certain public housing authorities or Indian housing authorities. It also includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations, as well as nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible organization types and community- and mission-focused institutions, such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible federal government agencies; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility framing supports the diversity mission by allowing applicants to be based in many different institutional settings, including those that traditionally train and support underrepresented scientists and those embedded in communities heavily impacted by cancer disparities.

Overall, this FOA is best understood as a mentored, career-building mechanism that pairs a structured development plan with real leadership experience in clinical research. It is intended for candidates who are ready to step into the role of directing an independent clinical trial (or an independent feasibility or ancillary study), while still benefiting from close mentorship and dedicated time to grow into a competitive, independently funded cancer researcher.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NCI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity (K01 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.398.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-08-31.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-12. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 21 296

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