Mid-Career Investigator Awards

Independent Scientist Award (K02)
Provides support for newly independent scientists who can demonstrate the need for a period of intensive research focus to enhance their research careers and expand their potential to make significant contributions to their fields. Eligibility: doctoral degree and peer-reviewed, independent research support at the time of award. Renewal Applications are not allowed. Funding Announcement.


Mid-Career Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24)
Provides clinical scientists support to conduct patient-oriented research and to mentor clinical investigators by relieving them of patient care and administrative responsibilities. This is a 5-year award that requires 3 to 6 person-months of effort (equivalent to 25–50 percent effort), and provides additional funds for incidental expenses. Funding Announcement.


NIDA Small Grants Program (R03)
Intended for newer, less experienced investigators; investigators at institutions without well-developed research traditions and resources; and more experienced investigators conducting exploratory studies that either represent a significant change in research direction or test new methods or techniques. Provides research support up to a maximum of $50,000 per year in direct costs for up to 2 years. Funding Announcement.


I/START—Imaging-Science Track Award for Research Transition (R03)
Facilitates the entry of new investigators to the area of brain imaging/clinical neurobiology research, allowing for the design and collection of “proof of concept” brain imaging data for use in transitioning to more extensive research proposals. This mechanism has a 1-year maximum of $150,000 in direct costs. Funding Announcement.


A/START—AIDS-Science Track Award for Research Transition (R03)
Facilitates the entry of newly independent and early career investigators to the area of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS research. Provides support for two years, with a maximum of $100,000 per year in direct costs. Investigators funded under this mechanism are expected to use their data to develop R01 grant applications on the intersection of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS. Funding Announcement.


Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant
The Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant supports an innovative project that represents a change in research direction for an early stage investigator (ESI) and for which no preliminary data exist. These are R01 Grants for Early Stage Investigators. Funding Announcement and Funding Announcement (Clinical Trial Not Allowed).


Exploratory/Developmental Grant Applications (R21)
Designed to test innovative or conceptually creative, scientifically sound ideas and to enable exploration of the feasibility of the research question or approach. Data demonstrating feasibility are desirable. Novel and creative approaches are essential. Provides up to 2 years of funding and a maximum of $275,000 in direct costs (both years combined). Funding Announcement.


Regular Research Grant (R01)
An independent grant mechanism used for many of the research grant opportunities available at NIDA. Grantees can support mentored research training opportunities on their R01 grants. Funding Announcement.


NIDA, NIMH, and NINDS Research Opportunities for New and "At-Risk" Investigators to Promote Workforce Diversity (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
This program is intended to support New and At-Risk Investigators from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the health-related sciences proposing research within the mission of the participating NIH Institutes. An investigator is considered a New Investigator (NI) if he/she has not competed successfully for substantial, NIH independent funding from NIH. An investigator is considered an At-Risk Investigator if he/she has had prior support as a Principal Investigator on a substantial independent research award and, unless successful in securing a substantial research grant award in the current fiscal year, will have no substantial research grant funding in the following fiscal year. See the funding opportunity, PAR-22-181 and FAQs page to learn more about eligibility, the required Institutional Eligibility Letter, and other important aspects of this new opportunity. NIDA intends to commit up to $5 million per fiscal year. Contact Dr. Albert Avila (aavila@nida.nih.gov) if you have any questions.