The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is offering the Career Transition Award for Intramural Clinician-Scientists (K22), designed to support the professional development of neurologists and neurosurgeons working within the NINDS intramural program. This funding opportunity aims to assist these clinician-scientists in transitioning to independent, research-focused faculty positions at academic institutions. The K22 award provides financial and career development resources to enable participants to pursue neuroscience research while also engaging in clinical activities. Notably, this program does not support projects where the applicant leads a clinical trial; however, they may gain experience working on clinical trials led by a mentor or co-mentor.

The K22 award supports two phases of research and career development. The first, intramural phase, spans up to two years, during which awardees will conduct research at the NIH. The second, extramural phase, spans a minimum of three years, requiring recipients to secure a faculty position at a U.S.-based academic institution that can provide necessary research support and mentorship. To transition from the intramural to the extramural phase, awardees must obtain a position that allows for significant time dedicated to research: 75% of full-time effort for neurologists and 50% for neurosurgeons. The extramural institution must offer sufficient resources and mentoring to ensure the candidate's successful development toward independent research funding, such as an NIH R01 grant.

Eligibility is restricted to NINDS intramural neurologists and neurosurgeons who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and who are within four years of completing residency or clinical fellowship. Candidates must have a clear trajectory toward research independence and a solid research plan aligned with NINDS’s mission. Applicants must submit their applications through NIH’s ASSIST system or other approved electronic submission methods. Multiple submissions are allowed provided that each application is scientifically distinct.

Funding under the K22 includes salary support, capped at $125,000 per year during the extramural phase, and research development costs, capped at $50,000 per year. These funds aim to cover expenses directly related to the awardee’s career and research development but exclude salary support for mentors or administrative staff. The award duration is up to five years, contingent upon the recipient’s progress toward becoming an independent investigator, with the final year of funding requiring the submission of an NIH R01 or similar application.

Applicants are evaluated based on several factors, including the strength of their research plan, career development trajectory, and the quality of mentorship. Reviewers will assess the candidate’s potential for transitioning to an independent research career, the significance of the research problem being addressed, and the adequacy of institutional support for career development. Additionally, reviewers will consider the research environment at both the NIH intramural and the extramural institutions.