1. K Awards: Writing the Career Award Development Plan
ICTS K Grant Workshop
Ann Marie McCarthy, PhD, RN, FAAN
Associate Dean for Research
College of Nursing

2. Outline Brief comments on Planning for a K Award Writing a K Award
Emphasis on Career Development Plan
Critiquing a K and the Critique Process
Mistakes to Avoid
Questions?

3. Mentor? Which K Award? Which Institute?
Planning for a K Award
Mentor?
Which K Award?
Which Institute?

4. NIH Grants Training Research F Series: Fellowships
Mechanism
Training
F Series: Fellowships
K Series Career Development
T Series Institutional Training
Research
R Series Research Projects
P Series Research Centers

5. Career Stages of Funding Programs

6. Decide Which K Award
Career Development Awards (CDA) for early stage investigators
Look at the parent PA for each K (clinical trial or not)
Common K’s for postdocs & junior faculty
K01, K08, K23, K99
Example: K23

7. Types of CDAs
K01: Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award: Postdoc or early career, research, research training and experience.
K08: Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award: Clinician scientist, to develop into independent investigator.
K23: Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award: Clinically trained professionals, patient-oriented research.
K99R00: Pathway to Independence Award: Postdocs, mentored research experience (K99) followed by independent research (R00) during the R00 phase.

8. K Awards
Eligibility: Eligibility for the K01, K08 and K23, limited to no more than 6 years of postdoctoral experience
Clinical training, i.e. internship, residency, and/or fellowship, is not considered postdoctoral experience unless there is a research component of ≥ 50% effort in any year.
Support: Time commitment
75% full time effort (50% for some).
Amount of research support varies, $25,000-$50,000 (varies per institute)

9. No two NIH institutes support the same mechanisms
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) - F30, F31, F34, F35, K01, K02, K08, K12, K23, K24, K25, P01, P20, P30, P50, R03, R13, R15, R24, R25, R34, R36, S15, T32, T34, T35, U01, U09, U10
National Institute for Nursing Research (NINR) - F31, F32, F33, K01, K22, K23, K24, K99/R00, P01, P20, P30, P50, R01, R03, R18, R21, S15, T32, U01, U10, U18

10. 2017 K Award Success Rate n* % K01 645 31.5 K02 18 55.5 K07 59 14.5 n* %
K01
645
31.5
K02 18
55.5
K07 59
14.5
K08
447
43.6
K12 69
46.4
K18 4
K22
237
18.6
K23
641
34.0
K24 86
39.5
K25 51
23.5
K43 42
28.6
K76 10
50.0
K99
1005
23.4
KL2
100.0
Total 
3334
30.6
* n = number of submissions

11. Template Career Development Plan Three sections Other Components
Writing a K Award
Template
Career Development Plan
Three sections
Other Components

12. Writing a K Award Get help! Mentor, staff, program officer
Plan early! Time line. Due dates (DSP)
Read the specific call/RFA
Look at completed K Awards
Know all of the sections
Work on all sections (not just research project)
You write it, therefore your “voice”, not mentors
Template

13. Main Sections of a K Award
Pages
Project Summary
30 lines
Project Narrative
3 sentences
Resources & Budget
Introduction if Resubmission 1
Candidate Information and Goals for Career Development and Research Strategy
12 for both combined
Specific Aims
Training in Responsible Conduct of Research
Plans and Statements of Mentor & Co-Mentor 6
Letters of Support from Collaborators, Consultants
Description of institutional Support
Institutional Commitment to Candidate’s Development
Biographical Sketches 5

14. Candidate Information and Goals for Career Development
Develop a career development training plan
that is uniquely suited to you
Given your previous training and research experience, propose a mix of didactic training and hands-on research experience that addresses the gaps or deficiencies in your knowledge or skills.
Exploit the training opportunities available.
The training plan should be as carefully thought out as the Research Plan
out and presented as the research plan.

15. Candidate Information and Goals for Career Development
A. Candidates Background
B. Candidates Career Goals and Objectives
C. Candidates Plan for Career Development/ Training Activities during Award Period

16. Candidate’s Background
Briefly describe your education, training and any Fellowships
Describe past scientific history, including research experiences
Indicate how the award fits into past and future research career development
Show evidence of collaborating with others

17. If there are consistent themes or issues that have guided previous work, these should be described
If your work has changed direction, explain why
Make your commitment to an independent research career clear
May include grants, publications, awards to fully describe background (even though in bio)
Note: typically 1-2 pages

18. Candidates Career Goals and Objectives
Describe your long-term career goals
Describe your short-term goals specific to this training grant (3-4 short term goals are typical)
Describe how the career development award will enable you to develop and/or expand your research career
Align career development goals with research plan.
Include plans for subsequent grant support
May include a timeline

19. Candidates Plan for Career Development/Training Activities during Award Period
Describe skills and knowledge you will acquire
Describe specific structured activities that are part of the plan, including courses (including course numbers), workshops, conferences
Describe other experiences, including lab experiences
Explain how activities relate to proposed research and career development
Suggestion: Link activities to short term goals, a Table is helpful

20. Indicate the percentage of time to be dedicated to each activity by year
Example: Table X. Summary of Benchmark Training Activity and Time Involvement
Training Activity
Year 1
Year2
Year 3
Year 4
Formal Coursework
30%
35%
20% 5%
Informal Training
25%
Mentor, Advisory committee meetings
15%
Manuscript Development/Presentations
R series Proposal Development
-----

21. Sections of a K Award Primary Sections Pages Project Summary 30 lines
Project Narrative
3 sentences
Resources & Budget
Introduction if Resubmission 1
Candidate Information and Goals for Career Development and Research Strategy
12 for both combined
Specific Aims
Training in Responsible Conduct of Research
Plans and Statements of Mentor & Co-Mentor 6
Letters of Support from Collaborators, Consultants
Description of institutional Support
Institutional Commitment to Candidate’s Development
Biographical Sketches 5

22. Other Components Resources: be specific & link to your application
Responsible Conduct of Research: address 5 key points, format, subject matter, faculty participation, duration, frequency (Template)
Mentors Statements: describes mentoring, past and for the K, and how often will meet. Should be similar to Candidates section.
Letters of Support: Provide title, if consultant, role in your training, how and when meeting
Institutional Commitment: needs supervisor to state that you will be provided 75% time for this K Award

23. Biosketch: intro, 2 paragraphs, general and specific to this application, headline other area of research
Human Subjects: provide details, don’t include information here that belongs in Research Plan
Budget: Work with your departments business officer
Additional Review Criteria: (Considered in the Impact Score) Animal Welfare, Human Subjects Protections, Biohazards
Additional Review Considerations: (Does not affect impact score) Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research, Budget, Select Agents, Resource Sharing
Reference Letters: 3-5 letters

24. Critique form Areas critiqued Critique process
Critiquing a K Award
Critique form
Areas critiqued
Critique process

25. Critique Form/Areas 1. Candidate
2. Career Development Plan/Career Goals & Objectives/Plan to Provide Mentoring
3. Research Plan
4. Mentor(s), Co-mentor(s), Consultant(s), Collaborator(s). 
5. Environment and Institutional Commitment to the Candidate

26. Candidate
What sections of the application are reviewed for this section?
Candidate Information and Career Development
Biosketch
Questions Considered in Strengths/ Weaknesses
Does the candidate have the potential to develop as an independent and productive researcher?
Are the candidate's prior training and research experience appropriate for this award?

27. Is the candidate’s academic, clinical (if relevant), and research record of high quality?
Is there evidence of the candidate’s commitment to meeting the program objectives to become an independent investigator in patient-oriented research?
Do the letters of reference address the above review criteria, and do they provide evidence that the candidate has a high potential for becoming an independent investigator?

28. Career Development Plan/Career Goals & Objectives
What sections of the application are reviewed for this section?
Candidate Information and Career Development
Questions Considered in Strengths/ Weaknesses
What is the likelihood that the plan will contribute substantially to the scientific development of the candidate and lead to scientific independence?

29. Are the content, scope, phasing, and duration of the career development plan appropriate when considered in the context of prior training/research experience and the stated training and research objectives for achieving research independence?
Are there adequate plans for evaluating the candidate's research and career development progress?

30. Research Plan
What sections of the application are reviewed for this section?
Specific Aims
Research Strategy
Candidate Information and Career Development
Questions Considered in Strengths/ Weaknesses
Are the proposed research question, design, and methodology of significant scientific and technical merit?
development plan?

31. Is the research plan relevant to the candidate’s research career objectives?
Is the research plan appropriate to the candidate's stage of research development and as a vehicle for developing the research skills described in the career development plan?

32. Mentor(s), Co-mentor(s), Consultant(s), Collaborator(s
What sections of the application are reviewed for this section?
Candidate Information
Mentors’ Statements
Biosketches
Questions Considered in Strengths/ Weaknesses
Are the mentor's research qualifications in the area of the proposed research appropriate?

33. Do(es) the mentor(s) adequately address the candidate’s potential and his/her strengths and areas needing improvement?
Is there adequate description of the quality and extent of the mentor’s proposed role in providing guidance and advice to the candidate? Is the mentor’s description of the elements of the research career development activities, including formal course work adequate?
Note: Size of team, often 1-2 mentors, ~ 3 consultants, local vs national

34. Is there evidence of the mentor’s, consultant’s and/or collaborator’s previous experience in mentoring the development of independent investigators?
Is there evidence of the mentor’s current research productivity and peer-reviewed support?
Is active/pending support for the proposed research project appropriate and adequate?
Are there adequate plans for monitoring and evaluating the career development awardee’s progress toward independence?

35. Environment and Institutional Commitment to the Candidate
What sections of the application are reviewed for this section?
Institutional Commitment to Candidate’s Development
Questions Considered in Strengths/ Weaknesses
Is there clear commitment of the sponsoring institution to ensure that the required minimum of the candidate’s effort will be devoted directly to the research described in the application, with the remaining percent effort being devoted to an appropriate balance of research, teaching, administrative, and clinical responsibilities? (eg 75%)

36. Is the institutional commitment to the career development of the candidate appropriately strong?
Are the research facilities, resources and training opportunities, including faculty capable of productive collaboration with the candidate, adequate and appropriate?
Is the environment for scientific and professional development of the candidate of high quality?
Is there assurance that the institution intends the candidate to be an integral part of its research program as an independent investigator?

37. Mistakes to Avoid Grammar and spelling errors Lack of
Link between training and research project
Link between letters and bios and this study
A consultant in a key area
Schedule of meetings with mentor and team

38. Mistakes to Avoid (cont)
Lack of
Clear statement of need for training
Clear explanation of why each member of the team is included
Clear support from mentor, lab, University etc.
Clear description of long term goal and what the next step is, including an R grant

39. Thank you
Any Questions??