This FOA solicits applications for the Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program for the purpose of supporting the research activities during the early stage careers of independent clinical researchers.
The program offers the opportunity for a unique bridge between the NIH intramural and extramural research communities and contains two phases. In the first phase, Lasker scholars will receive appointments for up to 5-7 years as tenure-track investigators within the NIH Intramural Research Program with independent research budgets. In the second phase, successful scholars will be eligible to apply for up to 5 years of NIH support for their research at an extramural research facility; or, the scholar can be considered to remain as an investigator within the intramural program.
Program Description
This program will address the clinical research mission of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and will lead to better treatments for disease and to improvements in human health. The NIH funds research and research training at extramural institutions, as well as within the NIH Intramural Research Program (IRP) to address this goal. However, these efforts can be hindered by barriers to clinical and translational research. Such barriers include limited research time for clinical investigators, increases in the length of time to independent careers, and access to hospital facilities and patient enrollments.
In an effort to address those barriers, the NIH has created the Lasker Clinical Research Scholars (Lasker Scholars) program that will offer applicants the opportunity to compete for a unique combination of intramural and extramural resources for clinical research. The program will support a small number of exceptional clinical researchers in the early stages of their careers to promote their development to fully independent scientists. The program combines a period of research experience as a tenure-track Principal Investigator in the IRP with an opportunity for additional years of independent financial support, either within the IRP or at an extramural research institution.
The program honors the contributions of Mary and Albert Lasker to the NIH and to the overall biomedical community.
The Lasker Scholars program aims to support successful candidates in two phases. Applicants will respond to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for an initial period of support through a position in the NIH IRP. Selected scholars who successfully complete the initial phase will be able to either remain within the IRP or apply for extramural grant funding in the second phase. The first phase will support scholars in the IRP for up to 5 years, with the possibility of an extension for an additional 2 years. Successful applicants for the Lasker Scholars Program will be appointed as independent tenure-track investigators within an NIH Institute or Center, a process that includes being hired as a full time employee at the NIH and completing the procedures required of new Federal government employees. As Federal employees, Lasker Scholars will be subject to certain regulations and policies that will govern their relationships with outside organizations. Nonetheless, in some cases, Lasker Scholars may be able to maintain relationships with their previous institution. The IRP will provide space, research expenses, full salary, and Federal employee benefits. Scholars will develop independent research activities over the course of their stay in the IRP, and will be formally reviewed by a panel of senior extramural investigators every 2-4 years to evaluate their research progress. More information about the IRP can be found at http://irp.nih.gov/
Upon successfully completing the initial IRP phase of the program, the Lasker Scholar will be eligible for two options in the second phase:
Option 1. Remain in the IRP with continued intramural funding and progression to tenured senior investigator status, if consistent with formal reviews and assessments. Retention in the IRP will be dependent on the development of a mutual agreement between the Scholar and the IRP. Tenure at the NIH requires evaluation and approval by the NIH Deputy Director for Intramural Research.
Option 2. Scholars who successfully complete at least five years in the first phase of the program will be eligible to apply for an extramural research grant in the second phase of the program as an independent researcher. Lasker Scholars can compete for a grant that can provide direct costs of up to $500,000/year (plus applicable Facilities and Administration (F&A) costs) for up to 5 years at an extramural institution. Scholars who choose to leave the Lasker program before completing 5 years of research in the IRP will not be eligible to compete for the Lasker Scholars Grant but will be eligible to compete for other extramural NIH research grants as announced in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts.
The NIH recognizes a unique and compelling need to promote diversity in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical and social sciences research workforce. The NIH expects all of its efforts to diversify the workforce to lead to the recruitment of the most talented researchers; to improve the quality of the education and training for all researchers; to balance and broaden national perspectives in setting research priorities; to improve the ability to recruit subjects from diverse backgrounds into clinical research protocols; and to improve the Nation's capacity to address and eliminate health disparities. The NIH encourages applications from researchers from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical research, including underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and persons with disabilities. NIH also encourages applications from women for participation in all NIH-funded research opportunities.
Letter of Intent Due Date(s)
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May 24, 2013
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Application Due Date(s)
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June 24, 2013
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