Career Transition Award for NINDS Intramural Clinician-Scientists (K22 Clinical Trial Required) | PAR 21 327

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 327

The Career Transition Award for NINDS Intramural Clinician-Scientists (K22 Clinical Trial Required), funding opportunity number PAR-21-327, is an NIH grant program run through the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Its main purpose is to help outstanding early-career basic or clinical investigators move from mentored development into true research independence using a structured, two-phase transition model. The award is especially tailored for NINDS intramural neurologist-scientists and neurosurgeon-scientists who are preparing to leave the NIH intramural environment and step into independent academic faculty roles at outside (extramural) institutions, while still maintaining an active clinical practice consistent with the clinician-scientist career path.

The program is designed around two connected stages. The first stage occurs while the candidate holds an intramural appointment at NIH, where they continue to strengthen their research capabilities, build a portfolio of expertise, and position themselves for independence. The second stage provides support once the awardee transitions to an extramural institution, typically a university or academic medical center, where the goal is to establish an independent research program alongside clinical responsibilities. In practice, the K22 mechanism is meant to bridge a critical career gap: it supports the move from a highly resourced federal research setting into a stable faculty appointment where the investigator is expected to compete successfully for independent funding and develop a sustained research trajectory.

This specific K22 notice also signals that a clinical trial component is required, which is important because NIH uses distinct rules and review expectations for projects that involve clinical trials. Applicants should expect that the research plan must include clinical trial elements as defined by NIH policy, and that the application will be evaluated with clinical trial readiness, design rigor, and feasibility in mind, in addition to the usual expectations for scientific impact, investigator potential, and training-to-independence transition.

Eligibility for applicant organizations is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based entities that commonly apply for NIH awards. Listed eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities. The opportunity also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, there are clear restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. In addition, foreign components, as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed under this announcement. In other words, the award is intended to be entirely U.S.-based in terms of the applicant organization and project components.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant under the NIH umbrella, categorized in the health funding area and associated with CFDA number 93.853. The opportunity was created on 2021-09-10, and the original closing date listed is 2024-11-12. The summary information provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, which usually means applicants need to rely on the full funding opportunity announcement and NIH institute guidance for budget structure, allowable costs, and likely paylines or award volumes.

Overall, the NINDS Intramural Clinician-Scientist K22 is best understood as a career-bridging mechanism: it aims to retain and advance high-potential clinician-scientists by giving them a structured runway to leave the NIH intramural program and become independent academic faculty with both a credible, fundable research agenda and an ongoing clinical role, with the added expectation that the supported research will include a clinical trial component.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Career Transition Award for NINDS Intramural Clinician-Scientists (K22 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.853.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-09-10.
• 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 21 327

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