NINDS Postdoctoral Mentored Career Development Award (K01 No Independent Clinical Trial Allowed)

The NINDS Postdoctoral Mentored Career Development Award, or K01, does not allow the conduction of independent clinical trials. This award is designed to elevate talented, mentored postdoctoral researchers by helping them put together an impactful research project, working hand in hand with a comprehensive career development plan. This combination is aimed at enabling them to establish an independent research program in the future.

This award encourages candidates to apply during their second to fourth year of their cumulative mentored postdoctoral research experience. Its support can extend up to the first six years of such experience. The focus is on the early development of a well-thought-out career development plan and a meaningful research project, hence applications are particularly encouraged early on in their postdoctoral journey.

The ultimate goal is for the candidate to kickstart an independent research career by the end of the K01 award period, armed with a solid, influential research project and the necessary expertise to become a leader in their field.

This funding opportunity does not support applicants proposing research that involves leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary study to a clinical trial. However, applicants can propose to gain research experience in a clinical trial directed by a mentor or co-mentor.