Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 17 023
The Pediatric Scientist Development Program (K12), Funding Opportunity Number RFA-HD-17-023, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity designed to build and sustain a national, multi-institutional career development pipeline for pediatric physician-scientists. Unlike many K12 institutional career development awards that are centered within a single university or medical center, this program is structured as a nationwide network that connects promising pediatricians with a broad pool of high-performing research mentors. The core idea is to strengthen the transition from clinical training into independent, research-focused academic careers by offering coordinated mentoring, career development structure, and access to a larger community of scholars than a single site can typically provide.
The program recipient is expected to take on an organizing and leadership role for the national PSDP network. A key responsibility is to identify pediatricians who have completed their clinical training and show strong potential for research careers, then match those candidates (often called scholars) with established mentors who have demonstrated research productivity and a track record of successful mentorship. In practical terms, the award supports a structured system for recruiting and selecting candidates, pairing them with mentors who fit their research interests and career goals, and ensuring the mentoring relationship is strong, well-guided, and outcome-oriented. This design aims to produce pediatric researchers who can compete successfully for independent funding and faculty positions, ultimately increasing the number and quality of pediatric investigators in academic medicine.
Another major expectation of the program is the creation and implementation of clear guidelines for mentoring and career development. That includes developing standards and best practices that can be applied across the network, promoting consistency in training quality, and supporting scholars as they move toward research independence. The emphasis is on career development activities that directly support long-term success, such as structured mentorship, research planning, professional development, and milestones that help scholars progress from mentored projects to independent research programs. The overall outcome NIH is seeking is a measurable increase in scholars who successfully transition into independent research careers in academic settings.
Eligibility for applicants is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governments. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments, public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities) other than institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and other eligible entities. The opportunity also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, NIH places clear limits on foreign involvement: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity falls under CFDA number 93.865 and is categorized within the broad area of Health, Income Security and Social Services. The listed award ceiling is $1,400,000. The original closing date provided in the source data was December 28, 2016, and the funding opportunity was created on October 21, 2016. Overall, the grant is best understood as support for a coordinating national program that develops pediatric physician-scientists through intentional mentor matching, network-based training resources, and standardized career development practices aimed at producing independent academic researchers.Apply for RFA HD 17 023
- The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pediatric Scientist Development Program (K12)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2016-10-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-12-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,400,000.00 in funding.
- 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)
What is the Pediatric Scientist Development Program (K12)?
The Pediatric Scientist Development Program (PSDP) (K12) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity intended to build and sustain a national, multi-institutional career development pipeline for pediatric physician-scientists. It is designed to help pediatricians move from clinical training into independent, research-focused academic careers through coordinated mentoring and structured career development.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) is RFA-HD-17-023.
How is this K12 program different from many other K12 institutional career development awards?
Unlike many K12 awards that are centered within a single university or medical center, this program is structured as a nationwide network. The network connects promising pediatricians with a broad pool of high-performing research mentors across multiple institutions, providing access to a larger mentoring and scholar community than a single site typically can.
What is the main goal of the PSDP network?
The main goal is to strengthen the transition from clinical training to independent, research-focused academic careers in pediatrics. The program aims to increase the number and quality of pediatric investigators in academic medicine by producing scholars who can successfully compete for independent funding and faculty positions.
Who is expected to receive and run the award?
The program recipient is expected to take on an organizing and leadership role for the national PSDP network. This includes building and managing the structure used to recruit candidates, match them with mentors, and implement consistent mentoring and career development guidelines across the network.
What are the key responsibilities of the award recipient?
Key responsibilities include identifying pediatricians who have completed clinical training and show strong potential for research careers, matching them with established mentors, and ensuring the mentoring relationship is strong, well-guided, and outcome-oriented. The recipient is also expected to create and implement guidelines and standards for mentoring and career development across the network.
Who are the program participants that get matched with mentors?
The program focuses on pediatricians who have completed their clinical training and demonstrate strong potential to pursue research-focused academic careers. These participants are often referred to as scholars.
What type of mentors does the program emphasize?
The program emphasizes established mentors who have demonstrated research productivity and a track record of successful mentorship. The intent is to pair scholars with mentors who fit their research interests and career goals.
What does "mentor matching" mean in this program?
Mentor matching refers to the structured process of pairing selected pediatrician scholars with established research mentors whose expertise aligns with the scholars research interests and professional goals. The network approach expands the available mentor pool beyond what a single institution can offer.
What kinds of career development expectations are included?
The opportunity emphasizes clear guidelines for mentoring and career development, including standards and best practices applied across the network. Career development activities highlighted include structured mentorship, research planning, professional development, and milestones that support progression from mentored research projects to independent research programs.
What outcomes is NIH seeking from this program?
NIH is seeking a measurable increase in scholars who successfully transition into independent research careers in academic settings, including the ability to compete successfully for independent funding and secure faculty positions.
Is this funding intended for a single institution or multiple institutions?
This opportunity is intended to support a national, multi-institutional network rather than a program centered within one university or medical center.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 93.865.
What broad category does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is categorized within the broad area of Health, Income Security and Social Services.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed?
The listed award ceiling is $1,400,000.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The funding opportunity was created on October 21, 2016.
What was the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date provided in the source information is December 28, 2016.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes a wide range of U.S.-based organizations and governments, including state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities) other than institutions of higher education; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities.
Are specific institution types explicitly highlighted as eligible?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). It also notes faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Are foreign organizations allowed to apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply.
Can a U.S. organization apply if the work is carried out by a non-U.S. component?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Are foreign components allowed under NIH policy for this opportunity?
No. Foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed under this opportunity.
What is this grant primarily supporting?
This grant is best understood as support for coordinating a national program that develops pediatric physician-scientists through intentional mentor matching, network-based training resources, and standardized career development practices, with the goal of producing independent academic researchers.
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