K12 Mentored
Career Development Program 

Applicants must:

I. Academic & Appointment

• Possess a research or health-related doctoral degree.
• Pursue a career path and proposed program in human translational research. All topics are considered, including digital health.
• Have a full-time (100%) appointment at Stanford University and demonstrate a long-term commitment from the sponsoring Division or Department.
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident by the award start date (those with visa status are not eligible to apply).

II. Effort Commitment

• Commit 75% of professional effort to the program (surgeons/proceduralists may commit 50%).

o   The remaining 25% (or 50% for surgeons/proceduralists) may be divided among other research, clinical, and teaching activities if these activities are consistent with the proposed goals of the K12 Program.

o   The K12 program provides support for two years of consecutive funding for each scholar.

III. Prior/Current Funding Restrictions

• Not simultaneously submit or have a pending application for any other Public Health Service (PHS) mentored career development award (e.g., K07, K08, K22, K23, F99/K00) that duplicates the provisions of the K12 program.
• Not be or have been a principal investigator on an NIH R01 or equivalent non-PHS peer-reviewed grant that exceeds $100,000 in direct costs per year.
• Not be or have been a project leader on a sub-project of Program Project (P01) or Center Grant (P50).
• Note: Candidates are likely too senior for the K12 award if they are already in the process of applying for an independent mentored career development grant, Program Project Grants/Center Grants, or equivalent independent funding.

I. Research & Regulatory Approvals

• For projects involving human subjects and/or vertebrate animal research, obtain both:

o   IRB and/or IACUC approval; and

o   NCATS prior approval.

II. Training & Development

• Complete a course on the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training during the two years of funding.

o   See NIH's requirement for Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) for more information on this policy.

o   The Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics provides a one-day training, The Responsible Conduct of Research (MED 255), that will fulfill this requirement. For questions, contact med255rcr@stanford.edu.

• Participate in at least 10 career development workshops.

• Attend at least one Route to Getting Grants (R2G2) seminar.

III. Attendance & Participation

• Attend at least 80% of K12 Scholar Seminars (minimum of 10 per quarter)

o   Seminars are held weekly on Fridays from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM.

• Attend the annual K12 Summer Bootcamps:

o   Clinical and Translational Research (CTR) Bootcamp – Four 2-hour sessions

o   Mock Study Section – Two 2-hour sessions

• Attend the Association for Clinical and Translational Science Annual Meeting and present their scientific work.

IV. Reporting & Review

• Provide semi-annual updates on research and career development progress.
• Complete annual reports for the K12 Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) submitted to NCATS.
• Complete an annual report and present it to the K12 Advisory Board Committees.

o   The second year of funding is contingent upon a successful Committee review.

• Complete K12 annual RPPR requests for 15 years after completion of the K12 Scholars Program.

V. Program Outcomes

• Publications: Submit three or more original multidisciplinary peer-reviewed publications, at least two of which these as first or last author.
• Funding Submission: By the end of the training program, be prepared to submit for extramural research funding (NIH, AHRQ, PCORI, or foundation/industry awards) for additional career development or independent research grants.

I. Research Guidance & Support

• Provide research support and guidance focused on preparing the Scholar for an independent research career.
• This must include a planned series of meetings and activities, in addition to frequent discussion and ad hoc guidance as needed.

II. Annual Review & Training

• Meet annually with the K12 Scholar and K12 Leadership Team to collectively review and evaluate the Scholar’s overall career and training goals and activities.
• Participate in K12 mentor training once each year.

Genomic Data Sharing (GDS): In accordance with the NIH GDS Policy, the Scholar must submit a GDS plan for review and approval if the research will generate:

• Large-scale human or non-human genomic data; or
• Small-scale genomic data that NIH, or the funding Institutes or Centers (ICs), determines should be shared because of the state of the science, programmatic priorities, utility, and/or value of the data for the research community.

NCATS Prior Approval is required for all scholars who conduct research involving human subjects and/or vertebrate animal research.

Review: Scholars should review the NCATS Prior Approval Checklist to prepare the necessary documents.

Timing: The NCATS Prior Approval process requires that all regulatory approvals be in place before the study may begin, and may take 30 days or more.

Resources: For more information, visit the NCATS website.

If your research involves human subjects, you must provide the documentation listed below (see the NCATS Prior Approval Checklist for details):

• Completed NCATS Human Subjects Research Addendum Form.
• An IRB approval letter that includes the NIH K12 grant number and the risk level.
• IRB-approved research protocol (Note: an eProtocol application is not considered a research protocol).
• IRB-approved informed consent documents, including the verbal consent transcript, assent, and parental permissions documents, or documentation of an IRB waiver, if applicable.
• Line Item Budget and Detailed Budget Justification for the specific aspects of the proposed study supported by NCATS funds (templates provided).
• Summary of the parent study, if applicable.
• NIH Biosketches for the K12 Scholar, Research Mentor, and all Key Personnel involved in the study.
• Institutional letter attesting to the completion of Human Subjects Protection Training (e.g., CITI Training Record - Group 7: IRB BioMed/GCP Research) by the K12 Scholar, Research Mentor, and study Key Personnel.

If your research involves vertebrate animals, you must provide the documentation listed below (see the NCATS Prior Approval Checklist for details):

• Completed NCATS Vertebrate Animals Checklist and Vertebrate Animal Section (VAS).
• Research/scientific protocol.
• IACUC approval letter that includes the NIH K12 grant number.
• NIH Biosketches for the K12 Scholar and Research Mentor.

The Stanford Center for Clinical and Translational Research and Education (Spectrum) is dedicated to supporting qualified applicants who can complete the program. Applications are encouraged from all eligible individuals. Accommodations will be made to assist any individuals with disabilities so that those persons who are qualified applicants can complete the program.

All attachments must be written in a 10-point font size with half-inch margins on all sides. Word and page limits are strictly enforced. Applications that do not comply with these requirements will not be considered for review.

Important Notes:

• Do not include appendices in the proposal.
• Applications that do not comply with the requirements will not be considered for review.
• Research funding will not be dispersed without clearance of any applicable APLAC, IRB, or IRB-exemption requirements, including NCATS prior approval.
• If the research does not involve animals or human subjects, award recipients must submit a Human Subjects Research (HSR) Determination Form and provide the non-HSR determination as confirmation.

1. COVER SHEET

Limit: 1 page

Required Elements:

1. Applicant Name, Degree(s), Academic Title, Department, and Division (if applicable)
2. Proposed Primary Research Mentor Name, Academic Title, Department, and Division (if applicable)
3. Title of K12 Research Project
4. Two aims: Research aim and Translational Science aim, addressing at least one of the two Translational Science Principles below. The other five principles are highly encouraged but optional.

•     Produce Generalizable Solutions for Common and Persistent Challenges
•     Enhance the Efficiency and Speed of Translational Research

2. CANDIDATE PERSONAL STATEMENT

Limit: 800 words

Required Elements: Address all of the required sections below, explaining your commitment to a translational research career.

1. Education and career experience to date.
2. Short- and long-term career goals.
3. Specific reasons for applying to the K12 program.
4. How the K12 program will further your professional objectives.
5. A description of your commitment to a translational research career.

3. EDUCATION AND MENTORING PLAN

Limit: 400 words

Required Elements: This attachment should detail your planned development and mentorship activities.

1. A description of all planned didactic activities (e.g., coursework, specialized training).
2. The nature and frequency of interactions with your primary research mentor.
3. How will this plan specifically enhance and support your research project?

4. RESEARCH PLAN

Limit: 1,600 words (for all sections, excluding References)

Required Elements: Applicants must use the following numbered titles as section headings in their submitted PDF:

1.  Structured Abstract: Include your K12 research project title, background, overall research question(s), study design, methods, outcome measures, potential implications of work, and innovation.
2. Specific Aims (Research and Translational Science aims)
3. Background / Significance
4. Preliminary Data and Feasibility Assessment: If relevant, provide preliminary data. If the project is in the early stages of development, describe your strategy to assess feasibility and address the management of any high-risk aspects of the proposed work.
5. Approach / Methods: Include key measurements, primary outcome measures, and a detailed analytic plan.
6. Nature of Originality / Innovation
7. Potential Implications / Contribution of Work
8. Research Timeline, with Key Progress Benchmarks
9. References (not included in the 1,600-word limit).

1. NIH UNIFIED STRATEGY ALIGNMENT

Review
Consult the official document, Advancing NIH’s Mission Through a Unified Strategy, on the NIH website before making your selections.

Alignment Selection
Select all NIH Priorities that your K12 research project will directly address or align with:

• Priority 1: Training Future Biomedical Scientists
• Priority 2: Replication and Reproducibility
• Priority 3: Real-World Data Platform
• Priority 4: Artificial Intelligence
• Priority 5: Nutrition
• Priority 6: Furthering our understanding of autism
• Priority 7: Alternative Testing Models
• Priority 8: Promoting research focused on scientifically valid, measurable health outcomes
• Priority 9: Shifting to solution-oriented approaches in health disparities research
• Priority 10: Improving oversight of NIH funds going to foreign research institutions
• Priority 11: Ensuring evidence-based health care for children and teenagers identifying as transgender
• Priority 12: Implementing advances in HIV/AIDS research

NIH Alignment Statement

• Limit: Half-page
• Required Elements: Provide a statement explaining how your K12 research project is strategically aligned with the selected NIH Priorities.

2. NCATS STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT

Review
Consult the Overview of the NCATS Strategic Plan webpage for detailed context on how NCATS aims to advance translational science.

For the full list of Objectives under each Goal, please consult the Google Doc: NCATS Goals & Objectives.

Alignment Selection
Select all Goals that your project directly addresses or aligns with:

• Goal 1: Advance Development of and Access to More Treatments, Particularly for Diseases With Unmet Needs
• Goal 2: Empower Everyone to Contribute to and Benefit From Translational Science
• Goal 3: Accelerate Translational Science by Breaking Barriers and Boosting Efficiency
• Goal 4: Leverage Crosscutting Strategies to Enhance Translational Science
• Goal 5: Champion Effective Stewardship of Translational Science Through Transparency, Integrity, and Accountability

NCATS Alignment Statement

• Limit: Half-page
• Required Elements: Provide a separate statement explaining how your K12 research project advances or contributes to the selected NCATS Strategic Plan Priorities.

1. BIOSKETCHES & CV

Biosketch Template:
Instructions and non-fellowship template can be found here: NIH Biosketch

Limit:

• Applicant’s NIH Biosketch: 5-page limit
• Mentor’s NIH Biosketch: 5-page limit
• Applicant’s Curriculum Vitae: No page limit

2. APPLICANT'S OTHER SUPPORT

Limit: No page limit

Template: Instructions and template can be found here: NIH Other Support

Definition: Includes all financial resources (non-Federal, commercial, or institutional) available in direct support of an individual's research endeavors.

Ineligibility Reminder: Applicants meeting the following criteria are considered too senior and are ineligible:

• Being or having been a PI on an NIH R01 or equivalent non-PHS grant over $100,000 in direct costs per year, or a project leader on a sub-project of Program Project (P01) or Center Grants (P50).
• Simultaneously submitting or having a pending application for any other PHS mentored career development award (e.g., K07, K08, K22, K23, F99/K00) that duplicates the provisions of the K12 program.

REQUIRED LETTERS

1. Signed Letter of Recommendation from the proposed primary research mentor: This letter must describe the mentor’s anticipated interactions with the scholar, the research environment, their qualifications to serve in this role, and must include a list of mentees within the last 3 years, with their current positions.
2. Two Additional Letters of Recommendation from colleagues with whom the candidate has worked. (Note: One of these letters may be from the proposed primary mentor if the mentor is also a colleague who has worked with the applicant prior to the K12 project.)
3. Signed Letter of Support from the Department Chair or Division Chief: This letter must include a firm guarantee of 75% protected time (or 50% for surgeons/proceduralists) to pursue the educational and research goals of the K12 program. This letter must also specifically attest that the scholar is able to accept K12 funds toward the entire protected effort and does not hold any concomitant federal support.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

1. Deadline: All Letters of Support must be submitted to the K12/Pilots Program Manager by February 28, 2026.
2. Applicant Action for Pending Letters: If a letter is pending at the time of your application submission, you must upload a single-page PDF to the application portal stating: "I confirm all Letters of Support will be submitted to the  K12/Pilots Program Manager by February 28, 2026."
3. Your application will be considered pending until all required letters are received.

Applications are reviewed and ranked, and candidates will be interviewed, by the K12 Selection Committee.

Interviews
The three rounds of interviews will begin around March to April and involve the following:

• K12 Program Directors (2 interviewers total)
• K12 Council of Mentors (1 interviewer)
• KL2/K12 Alumni or Community-Engaged Research Mentor (1 interviewer)

Awards
Awards will be announced at the end of April.

Funding Note
The final number of scholars funded in each cycle is dependent on the availability of funds.

The Selection Committee evaluates applications based on the following criteria:

Candidate's History
Prior accomplishments and stated commitment to pursuing a career in clinical and/or translational research.

Research Project
Quality, relevance, and likelihood of success of the proposed research project.

Training & Mentorship
Quality and appropriateness of the didactic training plans, career development activities, and the commitment and expertise of mentors.

Institutional Commitment
Commitment of the home department to the scholar.

Eligibility
All applicants must be eligible to receive NIH support (i.e., U.S. citizen or hold a permanent resident card).

The K12 award provides the following annual support:

SALARY SUPPORT

• Non-Surgeons/Non-Proceduralists (75% Effort):Up to $120,000 for75% of total professional effort.
• Surgeons/Proceduralists (50% Effort): Up to $106,050 for 50% of total professional effort.
• Note: The Scholar's department or division must cover any salary above the NIH salary cap.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

• Research: Up to $20,000 per year to support research project-related costs.
• Travel: Up to $2,000 per year for travel in support of the objectives of the award.