Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PA 20 199

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 20 199

The Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (K25) is an NIH career development grant designed to bring strong quantitative and engineering researchers into health-related research areas that align with NIH priorities. Its core aim is to support productive professionals who already have solid training and experience in fields like mathematics, statistics, economics, computer science, imaging science, informatics, physics, chemistry, and engineering, but whose prior work has not been primarily centered on health and disease questions. The program is meant to help these investigators pivot into biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research by pairing them with experienced mentors and giving them structured time to build domain knowledge, develop new collaborations, and produce research that connects their quantitative expertise to important health problems.

A major feature of the K25 is the emphasis on mentored development and "protected time" for supervised study and research. In practice, that means the award is intended to carve out a dedicated period where the recipient can focus heavily on training and research activities under mentorship, rather than being pulled primarily into unrelated duties. The expectation is that the investigator will use this time to gain fluency in NIH-relevant biomedical topics, adapt or extend quantitative methods for health applications, and build a foundation for an independent research career that integrates quantitative science with biomedical or health research needs.

This specific Funding Opportunity Announcement, titled "Parent K25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed" (PA-20-199), has a clear boundary around clinical trials. Applicants are not allowed to propose leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial as the primary investigator within this application. However, the FOA does allow applicants to include research experience connected to a clinical trial as long as the trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor. In other words, you can learn within a clinical trial environment and contribute analytically or methodologically, but you cannot be the person directing the trial. If an applicant wants to lead a clinical trial or ancillary clinical trial as part of their K25 plan, NIH directs them to apply under the companion FOA intended for that purpose rather than this one.

Eligibility for applicant organizations is broad and spans many sectors, reflecting NIH's interest in supporting career development across different institutional settings. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts, as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Tribal entities are included, such as federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations. The opportunity is also open to nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and other eligible entities. NIH also highlights additional categories of eligible organizations such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the FOA places important limits on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. That said, "foreign components" as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, meaning a U.S.-based applicant organization may still be able to include certain international elements in the project if they meet NIH's definition and requirements for foreign components.

Administratively, this opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health as a discretionary grant under the broad federal activity category of Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services. It is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (including 93.121, 93.173, 93.233, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.855, 93.865, 93.866), reflecting the fact that NIH institutes and centers across different mission areas may participate in or support awards under this parent announcement. The FOA was created on 2020-05-07, and the original closing date listed is 2024-05-07. The provided source data does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, so applicants typically need to consult the full FOA and NIH institute-specific guidance for budget structures, salary and research support limits, and any institute preferences relevant to their research area.

Overall, PA-20-199 is best understood as a mentored career-transition mechanism for quantitatively trained researchers who want to redirect their skillset toward health and disease research without taking on the responsibility of leading a clinical trial. It supports a structured, mentor-guided period where the awardee can blend quantitative methods with biomedical questions, generate publishable work, and position themselves for longer-term NIH-supported research independence.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.173, 93.233, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.855, 93.865, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-05-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-07. (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.

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