Career Development Programs in Diabetes Research for Endocrinologists (K12 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA DK 17 026

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 17 026

Career Development Programs in Diabetes Research for Endocrinologists (K12 Clinical Trial Optional) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) designed to strengthen the pipeline of physician-scientists focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D). The main goal is to build a diverse, highly trained workforce of adult and pediatric endocrinologists who can grow into national research leaders and contribute to the country’s biomedical and behavioral research priorities related to T1D. Since T1D is an autoimmune disease affecting both children and adults, the program is structured to support training environments that can prepare endocrinologists to pursue careers spanning basic science, translational work, and patient-oriented clinical research.

The mechanism used is an institutional K12 award, meaning the grant is made to an eligible institution rather than directly to an individual. The institution then selects and appoints “Scholars” (trainees) who will receive mentored career development support through the program. In practice, this type of award is meant to create a well-organized, high-quality career development program with strong mentorship, structured research training, and protected time for early-career endocrinologists to build the skills, publication record, and preliminary data needed to become independent investigators in T1D research.

A notable feature of this announcement is its “Clinical Trial Optional” design. Scholars appointed under the K12 may propose to be the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial, or they may propose an ancillary study linked to an existing clinical trial, or they may participate in and gain experience from a clinical trial led by another investigator. At the same time, the opportunity does not require a clinical trial: scholars can also propose fundamental laboratory research or other human subjects research that does not meet the definition of a clinical trial. This flexibility allows programs to tailor scholar projects to the best scientific question and the scholar’s career needs, whether that is mechanistic bench research, translational studies, or hands-on clinical trial leadership experience.

Eligible applicants include a broad range of U.S.-based organizations and institutions capable of running a physician-scientist training program. This includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and other Native American tribal organizations. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, certain tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible, reinforcing that the training program and supported activities are intended to be based in the United States and its territories.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is a discretionary grant in the NIH health research domain (CFDA 93.847) and is identified as Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DK-17-026. The source information lists an original closing date of December 6, 2018, indicating it was a time-limited solicitation with a defined submission window. The core purpose remains clear throughout: to enable institutions to create strong mentored research and career development pathways for endocrinologists so they can transition into independent, impactful research careers focused on type 1 diabetes, including (but not limited to) clinical trials.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Career Development Programs in Diabetes Research for Endocrinologists (K12 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-02-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-12-06. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), 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, Others.

Apply for RFA DK 17 026

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