Sources of Funding for Academic Surgeon Career Development

James L. Mohler, M.D.Chair and Professor

Gary Smith, Ph.D.Distinguished Professor

Department of Urologic OncologyProstate Cancer Research ProgramRoswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY

Leo Giambarresi, Ph.D.Program ManagerProstate Cancer Research Program, CDMRP

POTENTIAL SOURCES OFFUNDING

• National Institutes of Health (NIH)• Department of Defense (CDMRP)• Other PHS divisions CDC, AHRQ, NSF• VA• Foundations• Pharmaceutical companies

NIH OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERY CAREER LEVEL

GRADUATE/MEDICAL SCHOOL

POSTDOCTORAL TRANSITION TENURED

Types of NIH Grant Awards

• NIH Grants – Office of Extramural Research– http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm

• Grant Mechanisms – National Research Service Awards (F_; T_)

• Pre-and post-doctoral fellowships– Career Development Awards (K_)– Research Grant Programs (R_)– Small Business Development

• SBIR (R41) – Small Business Innovation Res• STTR (R43) – Small Business Tech Transfer

National Research Service Awards (NRSA)

• Established by the NRSA Act of 1974– Individual Fellowships (F31, F32, F33)– Institutional Training Grants (T32, T35)

• Only NIH award that goes to an individual• 5 years support for grad/med students• 3 years support for post-doctoral fellows• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident• Pay back provisions

NRSA Grant Application

• Scholastic Performance• Research Experience / Training Plan• Personal Data Form• Biographical Sketch• Facilities and Commitment• Criteria for evaluation:

– candidate – training plan – success of training program

Individual NRSA Grants

• F31 – Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Predoctoral Fellowship– support for research training leading to a Ph.D. (or the

equivalent research degree) or a combined M.D./Ph.D. (or other combined professional research doctoral degrees) in the biomedical or behavioral sciences

• F32 – Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Postdoctoral Fellowship– support for postdoctoral research training to

individuals to broaden their scientific background and extend their potential for research in specified health related areas

Institutional NRSA Grants

• T32 – NRSA Institutional Training Grants– support training opportunities at the predoctoral or

postdoctoral level at qualified institutions– Program Director is responsible for selecting the

trainees and administering the program

• T36 - Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) – support to increase the number of well-trained

minority scientists in biomedical disciplines and strengthen the research and teaching capabilities of minority institutions

NIH Career Development Programs

• Purposes include to provide:– mentored development of research careers– transitions of career emphasis– protected time for research by clinicians– support for outstanding scientists with a

sustained level of high productivity• 13 different mechanisms:

– Match with the stage of career– Mentored, Mid-career, Senior– Can be interactive with other NIH Awards– Different availabilities/eligibilities at each

institute

Mentored Research Grants• K01 – Mentored Research Scientist Development Award

– provide research scientists with a sponsored research experience that will help the applicant gain expertise in a new research area or demonstrably enhance the applicant’s scientific career

– Replaced July 2, 2006 by the NIH Pathway to Independence

• K22 – Career Transition Award– support newly trained investigators (basic or clinical) to develop

their independent research skills through a two phase program. • initial period involves an intramural appointment at the NIH• final period of support is conducted at an extramural

institution.• research in Cancer Prevention & Control

NIH Pathway to Independence Award K99/R00

• Postdoctoral scientists receive both mentored & independent research support from the same award– 1-2 year mentored phase (K99)– independent phase, occurs in years 3-5 (R00)

• Goal: to facilitate awardee – secure an assistant professorship (or equivalent)– establish an independent research program– apply for an investigator-initiated grant

Consider the review criteria

• The candidate: your background and potential to develop into an independent researcher

• Research plan: its scientific merit, significance, feasibility & relationship to your career plans

• Training/career development plan: its components & how well it fits the research plan

• The sponsor: his/her track record as both a researcher and mentor

• Institutional environment & commitment to the training/career development of the candidate

Identifying a Sponsor/Mentor:

• With a track record of successful training and research

• With a commitment to you & your career goals• He/she need not be your research advisor• More than one is OK! • Should have $$

Institutional Commitment:

• To your time• To your professional development• To your research efforts• Protected time• Protected time• Protected time• Protected time

Mentored Clinical Grants• K08 – Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award

– Support the development of outstanding clinical research scientists– Provide specialized study for clinically trained professionals who

are committed to a career in research and have the potential to develop into independent research scientists

• K12 – Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Program Award– Support newly trained clinicians appointed by an institution for

development of independent research skills and experience in a fundamental science within the framework of an interdisciplinary research and development program.

• K23 – Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award– support for the career development of investigators who focus their

research endeavors on patient-oriented research– provides support for a period of supervised study and research for

clinically trained professionals

Other Award Mechanisms• R15 – Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA)

– support small-scale research projects conducted by faculty in domestic institutions that primarily award baccalaureate degrees

• S06 – Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS)– provide funds to strengthen the biomedical research and

research training capability of ethnic minority institutions, thus creating a more favorable environment for increasing the involvement of minority faculty and students in biomedical research

• K07 – Academic Career Award– support:

• junior candidates who are interested in developing academic and research expertise in a specific area

• senior individuals with acknowledged scientific expertise and leadership skills who are interested in improving the curricula and enhancing research capability within an academic institution

Career DevelopmentTransition from Post-Doc to Faculty

• K99/R00 Pathway to Independence• K08 M.D. proposing basic research in a laboratory

environment• K12 M.D. proposing basic research in an

interdisciplinary environment• K23 M.D. proposing clinical research• K24 Mid-career mentor for physician scientists

More Funding Information

• You can sign on to list serves

– NIH Funding: http://nih.gov/grants/oer.htm – DOD Funding: http://cdmrp.army.mil/

Award Mechanisms: From Traineeships to Established Independent Investigator Awards

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Idea Development

Postdoctoral PhD

Physician Research

New Investigator

Synergistic Idea Development

Laboratory-Clinical Transition – Stage I

Training Early Career Established

Pre-Doctoral

Clinical Trial

Postdoctoral MD

Example: Prostate Cancer Training Award

• Intent: Provide prostate cancer research training opportunities to individuals in the early stages of their careers

• Key Features:

– Supports Ph.D. or M.D. predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees

– Emphasis on Trainee, Mentor and Training Program

• Peer Review Criteria: Written for both Ph.D. and M.D. applicants• Funding Summary:

CategoryMaximum Funding

(direct costs)Maximum Duration

Predoctoral Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. Applicants $92,500 3 years

Postdoctoral Ph.D. Applicants $115,000 2 years

Postdoctoral M.D. Applicants $60,000 - $120,000 1-2 years

Physician Research Training Award

• Intent: Recruit and prepare physicians for careers in research through a mentored training experience

• Key award features:– Requires 3-5 y commitment– Mentor must have an established research program in

cancer research

– Minimum 50% effort

– $130K direct costs per year for 3-5 years

• Eligibility:

– Physicians in the last year of graduate medical education or fellowship, or within 3 years of appointment as an Assistant Professor or equivalent

New Investigator Awards• Intent: To support innovative ideas and new technologies

from investigators in the early stages of their careers• Key Award Features:

– Innovation critical– Preliminary data not required– Must enlist collaborator(s) with relevant experience

• Eligibility:– Independent investigator with access to research

facilities– Must be within 6 years of fellowship or postdoctoral

position– Must not have received non-mentored extramural

research funding >$100K (direct) in aggregate• Funding: $225K direct costs for 3 years

Idea Development Awards

• Intent: To encourage innovative approaches to prostate cancer research from established investigators in prostate cancer and those from other fields who want to move into prostate cancer

• Key Award Features: – Innovation critical– Preliminary data relevant to prostate cancer

required• Eligibility:

– Independent investigator with access to research facilities

– Must be ≥ Assistant Professor (or equivalent)• Funding: $375K direct over 3 years

Clinical Trial Awards• Intent: Support rapid initiation and efficient execution of

novel Phase I, II or I/II clinical trials• Key award features:

– Focus should be on new interventions– Preclinical efficacy must be established already

– A study coordinator is required

– IND or IDE application must be submitted before the proposal receipt date

• Eligibility:– Independent investigator with access to research

facilities– Must be at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or

equivalent)• Funding: $750K direct costs over 3 years

DoD-Supported Career Development Sequence

• Physician Research Award or Postdoc Award

• New Investigator Award• Idea Development Award or

Clinical Trial Award