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.Apply for PA 20 199
- 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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Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (K25) (PA-20-199) FAQs
What is the K25 Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award?
The Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (K25) is an NIH career development grant intended to bring strong quantitative and engineering researchers into health-related research areas aligned with NIH priorities. It is designed as a mentored, structured transition mechanism into biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research.
What is the main goal of this K25 opportunity?
The core goal is to support productive professionals who already have solid quantitative training and experience, but whose prior work has not been primarily centered on health and disease questions. The award supports a pivot into health-related research by providing mentored development time to build domain knowledge, develop collaborations, and produce research connecting quantitative expertise to important health problems.
Who is this K25 meant for (by background/discipline)?
This K25 targets investigators with strong training and experience in quantitative or engineering fields such as mathematics, statistics, economics, computer science, imaging science, informatics, physics, chemistry, and engineering, especially where their prior research focus has not been primarily about health or disease.
Is this award intended for people already fully established in health and disease research?
Based on the description provided, the K25 is framed as a career-transition award for quantitatively trained researchers whose earlier work has not been primarily centered on health and disease questions. Its emphasis is on helping investigators pivot into NIH-relevant biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research areas.
What does "mentored development" mean in this program?
The K25 emphasizes mentored development by pairing the awardee with experienced mentors (including mentor and/or co-mentor roles) and supporting supervised study and research activities. The idea is that mentorship guides the recipient while they gain fluency in biomedical topics and adapt their quantitative methods for health applications.
What is meant by "protected time" under the K25?
"Protected time" refers to a dedicated period the award is intended to create so the recipient can focus heavily on training and mentored research, rather than being pulled primarily into unrelated duties. During this time, the expectation is that the investigator builds biomedical domain knowledge, develops collaborations, and produces research outputs linking quantitative methods to health problems.
What Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is described here?
The FOA is titled "Parent K25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed" and is identified as PA-20-199.
Are independent clinical trials allowed under PA-20-199?
No. Under PA-20-199, 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.
Can my K25 research include any clinical trial-related experience?
Yes, clinical trial-related research experience can be included as long as the clinical trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor. In that case, the applicant can learn within a clinical trial environment and contribute analytically or methodologically, but cannot be the person directing the trial.
If I want to lead a clinical trial as part of my K25 plan, what should I do?
NIH indicates that applicants who want to lead a clinical trial or ancillary clinical trial as part of their K25 plan should apply under the companion FOA intended for that purpose rather than PA-20-199.
What kinds of research activities does this K25 support?
Based on the description, supported activities center on mentored study and research that help the awardee (1) gain fluency in NIH-relevant biomedical topics, (2) adapt or extend quantitative methods for health applications, (3) build collaborations in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research, and (4) generate publishable work that positions them for an independent career integrating quantitative science with health research needs.
What is the overall career outcome this award is trying to enable?
The intended outcome is a foundation for an independent research career that integrates quantitative expertise with biomedical or health research needs, supported by structured mentorship and focused development time.
Who can apply as an organization (eligible applicant organizations)?
Eligibility for applicant organizations is broad and includes many U.S. organizational types. Examples listed include:
- 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
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations
- Nonprofits (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3))
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
- Other eligible entities
- Eligible federal agencies
- Regional organizations
- U.S. territories or possessions
Are minority-serving and community-based institutions specifically included as eligible organizations?
Yes. The description highlights additional categories 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). It also notes faith-based or community-based organizations.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply as the applicant organization?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations under this FOA.
Can a non-domestic component of a U.S. organization apply?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply as applicant organizations.
Are any international activities allowed at all under this opportunity?
Yes, "foreign components" are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. This means a U.S.-based applicant organization may be able to include certain international elements in the project if they meet NIH's definition and requirements for foreign components.
Which federal agency offers this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What type of federal support is this?
It is offered as a discretionary grant and is associated with the broad federal activity category of Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services.
Are there specific CFDA numbers associated with this FOA?
Yes. The opportunity 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.
Why are there multiple CFDA numbers tied to this K25?
The presence of multiple CFDA numbers reflects that NIH institutes and centers across different mission areas may participate in or support awards under this parent announcement.
When was PA-20-199 created?
The FOA was created on 2020-05-07.
What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is 2024-05-07.
Does the provided information specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The provided source data does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
Where should applicants look for budget structures, salary limits, and research support limits?
Because the provided information does not include award ceilings or counts, 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.
What is the simplest way to describe PA-20-199?
PA-20-199 is 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.
What kinds of contributions might a quantitative researcher make in a clinical trial environment under this FOA?
The description indicates that applicants may contribute analytically or methodologically within a clinical trial environment, as long as the trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor and the applicant is not directing the trial.
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