Mock Study Section Review
What Is It?
This is an opportunity to receive feedback on an NIH K grant application in advance of institutional submission deadlines. The study section is made up of senior faculty who have experience in early-career development. Within 24 hours of the study section meeting, you’ll receive a video recording of the reviewer discussion about your application.
Who Should Submit a Survey of Intent?
We will choose investigators who are preparing an NIH K Grant application for the February 12, 2026 deadline.
Note: Space is limited for this session. We will ask mentors of applicants to join the study section as a volunteer reviewer for one application. If we have more applications than available spots, we will consider the mentor’s willingness to act as a reviewer.
Timeline
NIH Deadline
- Final submission: February 12, 2026
Harvard Catalyst Mock K Study Section Dates
- Survey of intent deadline: November 11, 2025 by 5:00pm
- K application materials submission deadline (for selected applicants): January 6, 2026 by 5:00pm
- MSS meeting: January 20, 2026
Institutional Deadline
- One to two weeks before NIH deadline.
- Check with your institution for exact deadline dates.
Instructions for Applicants
Complete the survey of intent by 5:00pm on November 11, 2025.
- Do not start the survey until you are ready to upload your Specific Aims page.
- Applicants will be notified of their selection status by noon on November 21, 2025.
Selected participants will:
Submit completed application materials (listed below) as a single file (MS Word document)
- Specific Aims – single page
- Research Strategy
- Career Development section
- NIH Biosketches of Key Personnel
We will send you a link for uploading your completed PDF file, which must be completed by 5:00 PM on January 6, 2026. Your application will not qualify for the Mock Study Section Review if your submission is incomplete, not compiled into a single file (MS Word doc), or submitted late.
Resources
K Grant Writer’s Corner: Guidance on the key component of the K Grant process.
Conquering the K webpage: Watch videos from HMS faculty discussing strategies for effectively constructing your specific aims, research strategy, and career development plan (Harvard Key login required).
K Grant Library: Read grant examples from successful K Grant awardees (Harvard Key login required).
NIH K Grant Specific Aims Consultations: Apply to have the specific aims section of your grant reviewed by Harvard faculty who have successfully received NIH grant funding. Free for Harvard affiliates.
Biostatistics Consultations: Guidance and advice at all stages of the research process, from study design and statistical analysis plans, to the interpretation and dissemination of study results from Harvard-affiliated biostatisticians. Free for Harvard affiliates.
Questions
Contact Cheryl Vaughan (cheryl_vaughan@hms.harvard.edu).