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Grant

NIH Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)

Mentored NIH career development mechanism supporting patient-oriented investigators as they transition toward research independence.

JJ Ben-Joseph
JJ Ben-Joseph
💰 Funding Institute-specific salary and research development support, commonly structured for up to 5 years
📅 Deadline Jun 12, 2026
📍 Location United States
🏛️ Source National Institutes of Health
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Status Update (February 2026)

NIH standard due dates for new K-series applications are February 12, June 12, and October 12. The next upcoming standard K-series date after February 2026 is June 12, 2026.

NIH also announced that for applications due on or after May 25, 2026, dedicated AIDS due dates are being removed.

What K23 Is Designed For

K23 supports mentored career development in patient-oriented research. It is aimed at transitioning investigators from mentored training to independent funding, not simply funding a standalone project.

Strong K23 applications show clear development milestones, operational mentorship, and institutional commitment to protected effort.

Current Parent K23 Tracks

NIH parent announcements currently include:

  • PA-24-185 (Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  • PA-24-184 (Independent Clinical Trial Required)
  • PA-24-186 (Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)

Selecting the correct trial-status track is essential.

Current parent K23 notices (including PA-24-185) show expiration in May 2027 after NIH notice extensions. Applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization on each cycle date.

Practical Requirements You Should Plan Around

  • project period may not exceed 5 years under parent K23 terms
  • reference letters are required (typically 3 to 5)
  • career-development and research plans are scored separately and together
  • institute-specific participation and budget rules vary

Treat IC-specific guidance as binding for your target submission.

How to Apply

  1. Choose the correct active K23 NOFO.
  2. Confirm IC fit and policy details with NIH program staff early.
  3. Build integrated candidate, mentor, and patient-oriented research plans.
  4. Lock protected-time and institutional support language before final submission.
  5. Submit through Grants.gov/eRA Commons by the active cycle date.

Common Weaknesses

  • Wrong NOFO for trial status.
  • Career plan goals that are not measurable.
  • Mentor team roles unclear or duplicative.
  • Weak institutional commitment narrative.
  • Late submissions with unresolved reference-letter issues.

Review-Readiness Tip

Map each career objective to one mentor owner, one activity, and one evidence output. This turns generic development language into a reviewer-verifiable plan.

Patient-Oriented Design Check

Before submission, verify that study population, recruitment pathway, data collection plan, and ethical oversight are all explicit and feasible for a mentored timeline. Reviewers downgrade K23 applications when patient-oriented claims are strong in concept but operational details are underdeveloped.

Interview and Program-Staff Preparation

Prepare a concise one-page fit summary before speaking with NIH program staff: research question, patient population, trial status, mentor team, and intended institute fit. Clear framing improves feedback quality and helps you choose the correct parent announcement pathway earlier.

Due-Date Transition Reminder

NIH policy notice NOT-OD-26-029 removes dedicated AIDS due dates for applications due on or after May 25, 2026. If your team historically planned around AIDS receipt dates, update your timeline and verify the active due-date pathway in the selected NOFO before final routing.

Official Sources