NEI Institutional Mentored Physician Scientist Award (K12 Clinical Trial Optional)
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-06-08. Official notice and agency instructions control.
If your institution trains clinician-scientists in vision research and can mentor independent researchers, this multi-year institutional grant supports their careers and clinical research infrastructure.
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What this is
The NEI (National Eye Institute) K12 award funds institutions to create mentored research career development programs for clinically trained vision scientists. Scholars can propose to lead their own clinical trial, participate in an ancillary clinical trial, or gain research experience in a trial led by another investigator—provided the trial is minimal-risk as defined by NIH. This is a career-development grant aimed at building the pipeline of independent clinician-investigators in vision science research.
Who can apply
Institutions of higher education (public or private), nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, state/local governments, Native American tribal governments, small businesses, and for-profit organizations may apply. Individual researchers cannot apply directly; your institution must sponsor the application and provide mentoring infrastructure.
Eligible applicant types
- Special district governments
- Private institutions of higher education
- State governments
- County governments
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Small businesses
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- City or township governments
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
- Independent school districts
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Full description — from the agency
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 the 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.
Topics: vision research · clinician-scientist career development · institutional mentorship · clinical trial research · eye research funding · NIH K12 award
Public-source funding discovery only. This summary is generated from public agency data and may be incomplete or stale. NonDilute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Official notices and agency instructions control. NonDilute does not determine eligibility, provide grant-writing advice, or guarantee funding.