NCI Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08 Clinical Trial Required) | PAR 24 319

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 24 319

The NCI Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08 Clinical Trial Required) is an NIH grant opportunity (PAR-24-319; CFDA 93.398) run by the National Cancer Institute to help clinically trained investigators build strong, independent research careers in cancer-related science. The core goal is career development: it provides funding and, importantly, protected time so a clinician with a doctoral clinical degree can spend several years in an intensive, closely supervised research and training experience. The program is meant to move awardees from mentored training into a position where they are ready to lead their own funded research programs that address major health needs, particularly in cancer.

This K08 is centered on developing clinical scientists in basic biomedical, behavioral, or translational cancer research, and it explicitly includes work focused on cancer health disparities. A defining feature is that it is part of NCI's CURE framework and is specifically aimed at advancing the careers of individuals from backgrounds that are nationally underrepresented in health-related science. In practical terms, the award is designed to strengthen research skills, publication track record, grant-writing readiness, and scientific independence through a structured mentored plan, with the expectation that recipients will be well-positioned to successfully compete for subsequent NIH research project grants such as an R03, R21, or R01.

As a "Clinical Trial Required" K08, applicants should expect that the proposed career development research plan must include a clinical trial component as defined by NIH policy. That requirement shapes both the training plan and the mentorship environment, since the candidate typically needs access to the clinical research infrastructure, regulatory support, and experienced clinical trial mentorship needed to conduct the trial responsibly and successfully.

The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the Education and Health funding activity area. A wide range of applicant organizations may apply, including public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments), independent school districts, special district governments, public housing/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The notice also highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, foreign entities are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed.

Key administrative details included in the listing are an original closing date of January 7, 2028, and a creation date of December 6, 2024. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source text, which is common for NIH career development announcements where budget structure is often governed by institute-specific salary and research development support limits described in the full funding announcement. Overall, the program is best understood as a structured bridge for underrepresented clinician-scientists in cancer research, giving them mentored training, time, and resources to transition into independent, competitively funded investigators capable of leading impactful cancer research programs, including studies that address disparities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NCI Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.398.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2028-01-07.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, 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, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 24 319

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