NEI Institutional Mentored Physician Scientist Award (K12 Clinical Trial Optional)

The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to encourage institutions to propose creative and innovative institutional research career development programs which will prepare clinically trained vision scientists for independent research careers.  This NOFO is intended to expand and strengthen the community of clinician investigators engaged in vision research.  

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) allows appointment of Scholars proposing to serve as the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial; or proposing a separate ancillary clinical trial; or proposing to gain research experience in a clinical trial led by another investigator, as part of their research and career development program. For this career development program scholars are limited to clinical trials that are minimal risk.

The existing clinical trial must be a NIH-defined clinical trial that fulfills the NIH requirement for minimal risk trial. A minimal risk trial is one in which the probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research are not greater in and of themselves than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or during the performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests. Applicants are strongly advised to consult with NEI program staff prior to submitting an application with human subjects to determine the appropriate funding opportunity.

For the purposes of this announcement, institutions are highly encouraged to recruit prospective PIs/PDs, mentors, and scholars from diverse backgrounds, including individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and  individuals with disabilities as described in the  NOT-OD-22-019  in all of its programs.