Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 20 198
The Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (K25), listed as PA 20-198, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) career development grant designed to bring experienced quantitative scientists and engineers into NIH-relevant biomedical, behavioral, and health-related research. Its core aim is to support productive professionals whose prior work has not been primarily centered on health and disease, and to help them pivot their established quantitative expertise toward research questions that matter to human health. In practical terms, the program is meant for people trained in fields like mathematics, statistics, economics, computer science, imaging science, informatics, physics, chemistry, and engineering who can contribute advanced analytic or technical approaches to health research but need structured mentored time and training to fully integrate into NIH’s research ecosystem.
A key feature of the K25 is the emphasis on mentored career development. The award is structured to provide “protected time,” meaning dedicated effort that is set aside specifically for supervised study, skills development, and mentored research rather than being consumed by unrelated duties. The expectation is that the applicant will work closely with one or more mentors and follow a deliberate career development plan that builds biomedical or clinical research fluency while applying quantitative methods to NIH-relevant problems. Because this specific parent opportunity is labeled “Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required,” it signals that the supported research is expected to include basic experimental work involving human participants (as NIH defines those studies), rather than being limited to purely theoretical, animal-only, or exclusively secondary analyses. Applicants typically need to align their proposed research and training activities to this human-focused experimental requirement.
The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant program and falls within broad public-purpose areas including education and health. It is associated with multiple CFDA (Assistance Listing) numbers: 93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.273, 93.279, 93.865, and 93.866, reflecting that NIH institutes and centers across different mission areas can potentially support K25 applicants when the proposed work matches their priorities. The notice lists an original closing date of 2024-05-07, and while no award ceiling or expected number of awards is specified in the provided data, applicants generally should interpret that as meaning budgets and award counts may vary by NIH institute, the applicant’s career stage and needs, and annual appropriations.
Eligibility is broad at the organizational level and includes many common U.S.-based applicant types such as public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, independent school districts, special district governments, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations that are not federally recognized, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (when not classified as institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories that NIH often encourages to apply, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, there are clear geographic limitations: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, “foreign components” as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, which generally means a U.S. applicant organization may include certain international elements within an otherwise domestic application when justified and permitted under NIH policy.
Overall, this K25 opportunity is best understood as a bridge award for quantitatively trained researchers who already have strong technical credentials but need a structured, mentored pathway into health and disease research, including hands-on experience with human-focused experimental studies. The award’s value is in buying time for training, mentorship, and NIH-relevant research productivity, so that recipients can reposition their careers toward sustained, independent contributions at the intersection of quantitative science and human health.Apply for PA 20 198
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.273, 93.279, 93.865, 93.866.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-05-07.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-07. (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): Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (K25) - PA-20-198
What is the Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (K25), PA-20-198?
The Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (K25), identified as PA-20-198, is an NIH career development grant intended to help experienced quantitative scientists and engineers transition into NIH-relevant biomedical, behavioral, and health-related research.
What is the main goal of this K25 opportunity?
The core goal is to support productive professionals whose previous work has not been primarily focused on health and disease, and help them pivot their established quantitative expertise toward research questions that matter to human health.
Who is this award designed for?
This program is meant for experienced quantitative researchers and engineers who can bring advanced analytic or technical approaches to health research, but who need structured mentored time and training to fully integrate into NIH's research ecosystem.
What kinds of backgrounds are a good fit for the K25?
The opportunity explicitly points to fields such as mathematics, statistics, economics, computer science, imaging science, informatics, physics, chemistry, and engineering as examples of quantitative backgrounds that may align well with the K25's intent.
What does "mentored career development" mean in the context of the K25?
The K25 emphasizes mentored career development, meaning the applicant is expected to work closely with one or more mentors and follow a deliberate career development plan that builds biomedical or clinical research fluency while applying quantitative methods to NIH-relevant problems.
What is meant by "protected time" under this award?
"Protected time" refers to dedicated effort reserved specifically for supervised study, skills development, and mentored research, rather than being consumed by unrelated professional duties.
Does this specific K25 parent opportunity require research with human participants?
Yes. This parent opportunity is labeled "Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required," which signals that the supported research is expected to include basic experimental work involving human participants (as NIH defines those studies).
What does "Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required" imply about the project scope?
It implies that the supported work should not be limited to purely theoretical research, animal-only research, or exclusively secondary analyses. Applicants typically need to align proposed research and training activities with NIH's human-focused experimental requirement.
What type of grant program is this?
The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant program and falls within broad public-purpose areas including education and health.
Which NIH funding listings (CFDA/Assistance Listing numbers) are associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is associated with multiple Assistance Listing numbers: 93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.273, 93.279, 93.865, and 93.866. This reflects that multiple NIH institutes and centers across different mission areas may potentially support K25 applicants when the proposed work matches their priorities.
Is there a specified award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided information?
No. The provided information does not specify an award ceiling or an expected number of awards. This generally suggests that budgets and award counts may vary by NIH institute, applicant needs, career stage, and annual appropriations.
What is the closing date listed for this opportunity?
The notice lists an original closing date of 2024-05-07.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, independent school districts, special district governments, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations that are not federally recognized, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (when not classified as institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses.
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The announcement explicitly highlights additional eligible categories NIH often encourages to apply, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, TCCUs, faith-based or community-based organizations, and regional organizations.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly listed among eligible applicant categories.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible federal agencies are explicitly included among eligible applicant categories.
Can a non-U.S. organization apply directly?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply.
Can the non-U.S. component of a U.S. organization apply?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
Are any international elements allowed in an application?
Yes. "Foreign components," as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. In practical terms, that means a U.S. applicant organization may include certain international elements within an otherwise domestic application when justified and permitted under NIH policy.
How should applicants think about alignment with NIH priorities?
The information indicates that multiple NIH institutes and centers may support K25 applicants when the proposed work matches their priorities, so applicants generally need to align the research and training plan with NIH-relevant biomedical, behavioral, and health-related research goals.
What is the overall purpose of the K25 for a quantitative professional?
Overall, the K25 functions as a bridge award for quantitatively trained researchers who already have strong technical credentials but need a structured, mentored pathway into health and disease research, including hands-on experience with human-focused experimental studies.
What is the practical value of the K25 award structure?
The value is in buying time for training, mentorship, and NIH-relevant research productivity so that recipients can reposition their careers toward sustained, independent contributions at the intersection of quantitative science and human health.
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