K12/Catalyst Medical Research Investigator Training

The K12/Catalyst Medical Research Investigator Training (CMeRIT) award (formerly KL2/CMeRIT) provides two years of salary support at 75% (for K12 awards) or 50% (for CMERIT awards) of the awardee’s institutional salary base, up to the K12 NIH salary cap. Educational programs within Harvard Catalyst will be tuition-free. Funding for awardees begins October 1, 2023. There are no indirect costs associated with the CMERIT awards, and 8% for the K12 awards.

The K12/CMeRIT program provides advanced training in clinical and translational research to senior fellows and junior faculty from all health professions, including medicine, dentistry, and nursing. Awardees will pursue a mentored research project in their area of expertise, and it is expected that the research performed within the K12/CMeRIT program will provide the basis for an independent NIH award (e.g., K23, K08, or R01).

The K12 program will help scholars to advance their C/T research, overseen by a primary mentor and co-mentor, and further enhanced by a dedicated Mentorship Advisory Committee. Each awardee will work with their mentor to develop and execute a work plan for their research project. Mentors must be accomplished investigators in clinical and translational research and have a track record of success in training new investigators and fostering their success as independent researchers. The Mentorship Advisory Committee will connect each awardee with a group of experienced clinicians and researchers to provide additional resources in the fields of genetics, biostatistics, biomarkers, and imaging.

Training will include the use of courses and programs, such as those found in Learn Research and the new monthly Translate Together curriculum. These courses and programs will cover the broad translational spectrum and will focus on developing innovative solutions that improve human health. The program will also include individualized career development programs, leadership training, visibility through participation in the national CTSA Visiting Scholar Program, and mentor/mentee training, to ensure the success of each scholar as a translational scientist as envisioned by NCATS.

The K12/CMeRIT program requires a significant time commitment and dedication, including approximately 4-6 hours per month on K12 educational activities. Awardees are expected to meet these requirements if selected for funding.

We are committed to increasing diversity in the research workforce. Therefore, we strongly encourage applicants from underrepresented minorities in medicine (URiM) backgrounds.

We encourage applicants from all health disciplines who meet the following criteria:

• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident holding a green card by the application deadline of May 26, 2023 (those with visa status are not eligible to apply).
• Must hold a full-time position at one or more Harvard-affiliated institutions at the time the award commences (October 1, 2023).
• Must hold a research or health professional doctoral degree.
• Must be in the first three years of their first faculty appointment or fellows who are on the cusp of their first faculty position (within 6-12 months).
• Must be able to commit 75% of professional effort to the program, except for surgeons, who may be eligible to commit as little as 50% of time.
• Must ensure that the remaining salary support (not provided by Harvard Catalyst) will come from a non-federal source.
• Must not be or have been a principal investigator on an NIH R01, or a project leader on a subproject of a Program Project (P01), Center (P50, P60, U54), mentored career development grant (K23, K08, K01, etc.), or equivalent non-PHS peer-reviewed research grants that are more than $100,000 in direct costs per year.
• At the time this application is submitted and under review (from June 19 to the end of July) must not have a current application for another mentored K award (e.g., K23, K08) submitted, or under review. For further clarification, please see the NIH website.
• Must be pursuing a career path in C/T research.
• Must propose a C/T research project.

Two years. Specifically, from October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2025.

RFA Announcement: March 9, 2023

Applications Due: May 26, 2023

Endorsements Due: June 16, 2023

Review Process Due: June 19-Late July 2023

Funding Decisions Announced: Early to Mid-August, 2023

Funding Start Date: October 1, 2023

The K12/CMeRIT application is available online. The application includes the following components:

1. Applicant Information
2. NIH Biosketch
3. Statement (Letter) of Intent
4. Research Proposal
5. Endorsement Information
6. Division Chief/Department Chair Letter
7. Primary Mentor Letter
8. Secondary Mentor Letter (Optional)

Applicants will be asked to provide the following information:

• Full Name
• Project Title
• Email Address
• Degree(s)
• Research Interests
• Position / Rank
• Citizenship Status
• Demographic Information
• Primary Institution and Department
• Work Contact Information

Applicants will be asked to provide a Biographical Sketch (also referred to as a biosketch) utilizing the most recent NIH format. Download the biosketch template [Word].

Please save a PDF copy of your completed file as follows: Biosketch_LastName.

You will be asked to upload your completed file as part of your online application. Please have the completed file ready when you begin the application process.

Applicants will be asked to submit a Statement (or Letter) of Intent (SOI), signed by the applicant’s institutional official.

Please work with your department’s grants manager, or administrative official, to submit the application materials for an internal review. After your internal review is completed (please plan accordingly and allow sufficient time for this process to take place), you will be provided with the signed form.

Save a PDF copy of the completed SOI form as follows: Statement of Intent_LastName.

You will be asked to upload the file as part of your online application. Please have the completed file ready when you begin the application process.

Applicants will be asked to provide the information detailed in Sections A through H below and should download and utilize the template document “Research Proposal.”

Section A: Describe the general area of research in which you are interested and your reasons for choosing this area. Responses limited to 400 words.

Section B: Provide a summary of your previous research experience (projects). Particularly useful would be a summary of a completed project that has been submitted for publication or has been published. Responses limited to 400 words.

Section C: Provide a summary of your previous formal educational activities. If you have participated in a degree program in addition to or instead of an MD degree, please provide a brief description of the program’s objectives. If you have taken previous formal course work relevant to clinical and translational research, provide a brief description of each course. Responses limited to 200 words.

Section D: Describe the proposed educational component of your research program and how it will enhance your research project. Responses limited to 200 words.

Section E: Please provide a general outline of the project(s) in which you will participate during the tenure of your involvement in the K12/CMeRIT Program. Please provide as much detail as possible, including hypothesis, specific aims, background, methods, statistics, and potential pitfalls. If you do not have a specific project, describe in general what your project(s) might be. Responses limited to 1,250 words. Up to a total of four tables/figures may be included.

Section F: What were the reasons for your mentor selection(s)? Responses limited to 150 words.

Section G: Describe your short-term and long-term career goals. Responses limited to 200 words.

Section H: Please include a brief statement on the clinical translational significance. Responses limited to 100 words.

Please be sure to adhere to the word count for each of the Research Proposal sections. Circumventing the word limit by using lengthy figure legends and similar maneuvers is highly discouraged.

Lastly, please save a PDF copy of your completed file as follows: Research Proposal_LastName.

You will be asked to upload this file as part of your online application. Please have the completed file ready when you begin the application process.

Applicants will be asked to provide the following information as part of the online application:

Division Chief / Department Chair

• Name
• Email Address
• Primary institution
• Department/Division

Primary Mentor

• Name
• Email Address
• Primary institution
• Department/Division

Secondary Mentor (Optional)

• Name
• Email Address
• Primary institution
• Department/Division

Once you submit your application, the individuals listed in the “Endorsement Information” section of the online application will automatically receive an e-mail with instructions on how to submit their letters of support / recommendation. Please ensure that the contact information you provide is correct and current.

Please also be sure to inform your endorsers after you have submitted your application so that they know to expect an e-mail from the program and are prepared to submit their letters in a timely manner. These letters must be received by 6:00pm ET on June 16, 2023. Please note that endorsers will not have access to your application materials.

Reviewers will assess whether the letters of support express commitment to the planned academic career program and the likelihood that the program will meet the candidate’s career goals. Additional information with respect to reviewer criteria for these letters is included in the following sections.

The Division Chief / Department Chair identified in the “Endorsement Information” section of the application will be asked to submit a signed letter of support on institutional letterhead and in PDF format. This letter should guarantee 50-75% of protected time through the duration of the K12/CMeRIT award for the applicant to pursue the education and research goals of the program.

Application reviewers will be looking for the following:

1. Is there clear commitment of the sponsoring institution to ensure that 50-75% of the candidate’s full-time professional effort will be devoted directly to the research and career development activities described in the application, with the remaining percent effort being devoted to an appropriate balance of research, teaching, administrative, and clinical responsibilities?
2. Is the institutional commitment to the career development of the candidate appropriately strong?
3. Is there an adequate level of assurance from the institution that the candidate will be an integral part of the K12 educational program, if the application is successful?

The Primary Mentor identified in the “Endorsement Information” section of the application will be asked to submit a signed letter of recommendation on institutional letterhead and in PDF format. This letter must ensure that the remaining salary support (not provided by Harvard Catalyst) will come from a non-federal source through the duration of the K12/CMeRIT award.

Application reviewers will be looking for the following:

1. Is there clear commitment of the Primary Mentor to ensure that the remaining salary support (not provided by Harvard Catalyst) will come from a non-federal source through the duration of theK12/CMeRIT award
2. Are there adequate plans for monitoring and evaluating the candidate’s research and career development progress?
3. Are the Primary Mentor’s research qualifications in the area of the proposed research appropriate?
4. Does the Primary Mentor adequately address the candidate’s potential and their strengths?

If desired, applicants may include a letter from a Secondary Mentor. If so, the Secondary Mentor identified in the “Endorsement Information” section of the application will be asked to submit a signed letter of recommendation on institutional letterhead and in PDF format. The review criteria for this letter are the same as those for the Primary Mentor.

Completed applications must be submitted by 6:00pm ET on Friday, May 26, 2023. Endorsement materials, which include letters from Division Chiefs / Department Chairs as well as Primary / Secondary Mentors, must be submitted by 6:00pm ET on Friday, June 16, 2023.

If you require any assistance or accommodations with your application preparation and submission, please e-mail KL2Application@catalyst.harvard.edu and the team will be glad to assist you.

Completed applications submitted by 6:00pm ET on May 26, 2023 with all required endorsements submitted by 6:00pm ET on June 16, 2023, will be assigned reviewers.

The review process will occur from mid-June through the end of July. Funding decisions will be issued in the early to middle part of August 2023.

Please note that there will be no interviews for this application cycle.

All applicants will be notified of funding decisions via email, which will be the primary mode of communication.

Salary caps are determined by the NIH. The cap for this award is 160K.

No budget outline is required.

Graphics and citations are not counted against the application’s overall word count. We do ask, however, that you consider the reviewers’ time when writing your application. Please keep all graphics, citations, etc. to a minimum. Circumventing the word limit by using lengthy figure legends and similar maneuvers is highly discouraged.

The K12/CMeRIT Award is a junior investigator grant. The three-year faculty appointment limit provides a cut-off point for eligibility to be funded.

The three-year limit will include appointments at all previous and current institutions. Should you be on “the edge” of your third faculty year, you are more than welcome to apply. However, if the third year of your first faculty appointment ends prior to the application deadline of May 26, 2023, the Review Committee reserves the right to refuse consideration of your application.