NEI Institutional Mentored Physician Scientist Award (K12 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 21 073

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 073

The NEI Institutional Mentored Physician Scientist Award (K12 Clinical Trial Optional), funding opportunity number PAR-21-073, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) institutional career development grant designed to help organizations build structured, mentored research training programs for clinically trained vision scientists. The central goal is to produce more independent clinician-scientists in ophthalmology and vision research by giving early-career physicians and other clinically trained investigators protected time, strong mentorship, and a coherent career development plan within an institutionally run program. NEI is emphasizing the need for a larger and better-prepared clinical research workforce that can translate fast-moving advances in areas like ocular genetics, new therapeutics, bioengineering approaches, and bio-behavioral science into improved patient care and faster progress across the field.

This FOA supports the creation of an institutional program (rather than a single individual award) where an eligible applicant organization recruits and appoints Scholars under the K12 mechanism. In practice, the institution proposes the overall program structure: how Scholars will be selected, the mentoring team model, the research environment and resources, the didactic and professional development elements, and the way progress will be monitored so that Scholars move toward research independence. The emphasis is on creativity and innovation in program design, with the expectation that the program will produce clinicians who are not only capable of participating in clinical research, but who can lead rigorous, contemporary, multidisciplinary research programs of their own.

A key feature of this announcement is the "Clinical Trial Optional" aspect. Scholars supported through the K12 may gain clinical trial experience in ways that fit a mentored development trajectory, such as proposing an ancillary study to an existing clinical trial or obtaining hands-on research experience within a trial that is led by another investigator. However, NEI places firm boundaries on the kinds of clinical trials that can be included under this FOA. If an application involves human subjects research that meets the NIH definition of a clinical trial, it must also meet NIH requirements for either a mechanistic clinical trial or a minimal risk clinical trial. Mechanistic trials focus on understanding biological or behavioral processes, disease pathophysiology, or mechanisms of action of an intervention. Minimal risk trials are limited to studies where the likelihood and severity of potential harm or discomfort are no greater than what people ordinarily encounter in daily life or during routine physical or psychological exams or tests. Any proposed program that includes a clinical trial that is neither mechanistic nor minimal risk, or that exceeds the minimal risk threshold, is not eligible for support under this FOA. Because these distinctions can be nuanced, applicants are strongly encouraged to consult NEI program staff before submitting an application that includes human subjects research to confirm alignment with NEI expectations and NIH clinical trial policy.

Eligibility is broad for domestic applicants and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental units, such as state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits) other than institutions of higher education; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, as well as other Native American tribal organizations. The FOA also explicitly highlights inclusion of a range of institution types and community-rooted organizations that may apply if otherwise eligible, including 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), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible agencies of the federal government, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible under this announcement.

Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant under the NIH, within the health funding activity area, with CFDA number 93.867. The original closing date listed for the opportunity was 2023-06-09, and the funding opportunity was created on 2020-12-01. While the excerpted source data does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards, the program’s intent is clear: NEI is investing in institutionally anchored mentored development pipelines that can reliably train and launch the next generation of clinician-scientists in vision research, while keeping any included clinical trial activity within mechanistic or minimal risk boundaries consistent with NIH policy.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NEI Institutional Mentored Physician Scientist Award (K12 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-12-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-06-09. (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 21 073

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