Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 211
The Mid-Career Enhancement Awards to Integrate Basic Behavioral, Biomedical, and/or Social Scientific Processes (K18 No Independent Clinical Trials) is an NIH-funded career development grant opportunity under the OppNet (Basic Behavioral and Social Science Opportunity Network) umbrella. It is designed for established, independent investigators who are already at a mid-career faculty rank or equivalent level and who want to deliberately pivot or broaden their research program by gaining new competencies outside their existing expertise. The central aim is integration: helping experienced researchers add rigorous training and hands-on experience in basic psychological processes, sociological processes, and/or relevant biomedical pathways so they can pursue more fully interdisciplinary, mechanistic research going forward.
This K18 supports a structured career enhancement plan that blends targeted research training and career development activities with a small-scale research project. The expectation is that the award will provide the investigator with practical, research-ready skills that can be used to launch or strengthen an independent line of inquiry that connects multiple levels of analysis. In particular, the opportunity emphasizes projects and training experiences that help investigators better study the interrelationships among behavioral and social processes and biological systems, including (as relevant to the proposed work) endocrine, epigenetic, immune, inflammatory, neurological, and other biomedical mechanisms, alongside psychological and social mechanisms. The overall focus is on building the scientific toolkit needed to study how these processes interact, rather than staying confined to a single disciplinary lens.
A key constraint is embedded in the title: "No Independent Clinical Trials." In practice, that means applicants should not propose an independent clinical trial as the main research activity under this award mechanism. The emphasis is on research career enhancement and competency-building, paired with a modest research component that fits the K18’s intent and NIH policy for this specific funding announcement. Applicants who want to run an independent clinical trial would generally need to look for a different mechanism or a clinical-trial-allowed version of a career development award.
Eligibility is broad at the organizational level, reflecting NIH’s standard approach to institutional eligibility across many funding announcements. Eligible applicant organizations include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, and special district), federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit entities (other than small businesses), and small businesses, as well as other categories described in the full announcement. The opportunity also explicitly highlights a range of institution types and community-oriented entities that may apply, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
The funding opportunity includes important limits regarding foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic (non-U.S.) institutions are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components may be allowed when they meet NIH’s definition and requirements in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S.-based applicant organization can sometimes include a foreign component if it is well-justified and compliant with NIH policy.
Administratively, the opportunity is a discretionary grant program offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with Funding Opportunity Number PAR-20-211. The activity aligns with education/training and health-related categories and is associated with CFDA numbers 93.121, 93.213, 93.398, and 93.846. The original closing date listed for the opportunity was 2023-03-17, and the source information does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided fields, which typically means applicants need to consult the full NIH notice and related budget guidance for the most current limits, expectations, and application cycles.
In practical terms, this program is best suited for a mid-career investigator who has a strong track record in one domain (for example, behavioral science, social science, or a biomedical discipline) and wants structured support to gain new, complementary expertise and produce preliminary work that credibly positions them to compete for future, larger independent research awards that truly integrate behavioral, social, and biological mechanisms.Apply for PAR 20 211
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, employment, labor and training, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mid-Career Enhancement Awards to Integrate Basic Behavioral, Biomedical, and/or Social Scientific Processes (K18 No Independent Clinical Trials)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.213, 93.398, 93.846.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-06-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-03-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Mid-Career Enhancement Awards to Integrate Basic Behavioral, Biomedical, and/or Social Scientific Processes (K18 No Independent Clinical Trials)?
This opportunity is an NIH-funded career development grant under the OppNet (Basic Behavioral and Social Science Opportunity Network) umbrella. It supports established, independent, mid-career investigators who want to deliberately pivot or broaden their research program by gaining new competencies outside their current expertise, with a central emphasis on integrating behavioral, social, and biomedical scientific processes.
What is the main goal of this K18 program?
The main goal is to help experienced researchers build the training, hands-on experience, and practical research-ready skills needed to pursue more fully interdisciplinary, mechanistic research. The emphasis is on integration across multiple levels of analysis rather than staying confined to a single discipline.
Who is this award designed for?
It is designed for established, independent investigators who are already at a mid-career faculty rank (or an equivalent level) and who want structured support to broaden their expertise beyond their existing domain.
What does "mid-career" imply in this context?
Based on the provided description, it refers to investigators who are already established and independent, and who hold a mid-career faculty rank or equivalent. The program is positioned for investigators who already have a strong track record and are ready to expand into new areas.
What kinds of activities does the K18 support?
The K18 supports a structured career enhancement plan that blends targeted research training and career development activities with a small-scale research project. The intent is to provide practical competencies that can be used to launch or strengthen an independent research direction that integrates multiple scientific processes.
Does the program include funding for a research project?
Yes. The program pairs career enhancement and competency-building with a modest (small-scale) research component that fits the K18 intent and applicable NIH policy for this specific funding announcement.
What scientific areas are emphasized?
The opportunity emphasizes integration of basic psychological processes, sociological processes, and/or relevant biomedical pathways. It particularly encourages work that improves an investigator's ability to study interrelationships among behavioral and social processes and biological systems.
Which biomedical mechanisms are specifically mentioned as relevant examples?
The description lists endocrine, epigenetic, immune, inflammatory, neurological, and other biomedical mechanisms as examples that may be relevant, alongside psychological and social mechanisms, depending on the proposed work.
What does "integration" mean for this award?
Integration means building the scientific toolkit to study how behavioral and social processes interact with biological systems (and vice versa), enabling more interdisciplinary and mechanistic research rather than research that remains within a single disciplinary lens.
What does "No Independent Clinical Trials" mean?
Applicants should not propose an independent clinical trial as the main research activity under this award mechanism. The program emphasizes research career enhancement and competency-building, with a modest research component that aligns with the K18 intent and NIH policy for this funding announcement.
If an investigator wants to run an independent clinical trial, is this the right mechanism?
No. The provided information indicates that investigators who want to run an independent clinical trial would generally need to seek a different mechanism or a clinical-trial-allowed version of a career development award.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-20-211.
Which NIH network or umbrella is this program associated with?
It is under OppNet, the Basic Behavioral and Social Science Opportunity Network.
What type of grant program is this administratively?
It is described as a discretionary grant program offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What categories does this activity align with?
The activity aligns with education/training and health-related categories, based on the provided description.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA numbers 93.121, 93.213, 93.398, and 93.846.
What organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicant organizations include a wide range of entity types, including state, county, city/township, and special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit entities (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other categories described in the full announcement.
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based entities mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly highlights institution types and community-oriented entities such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Can a non-U.S. (foreign) organization apply as the primary applicant?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic institutions are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
Are foreign components allowed at all under this opportunity?
Potentially yes. The information provided indicates that a U.S.-based applicant organization may be able to include a foreign component when it meets NIH's definition and requirements in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, and when it is well-justified and compliant with NIH policy.
Does the provided information list an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The provided source information does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the fields shown, which typically indicates that applicants should consult the full NIH funding announcement and related NIH budget guidance for current limits and expectations.
What is the closing date shown in the provided information?
The original closing date listed is 2023-03-17.
Is this program meant to help investigators compete for future funding?
Yes. The practical intent described is to help a mid-career investigator gain complementary expertise and produce preliminary work that positions them to compete for future, larger independent research awards that integrate behavioral, social, and biological mechanisms.
What kind of investigator profile is a good fit for this program?
The program is described as best suited for a mid-career investigator with a strong track record in one domain (for example, behavioral science, social science, or a biomedical discipline) who wants structured support to gain new, complementary expertise and strengthen an interdisciplinary, mechanistic research direction.
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