Mitchell Wong, MD PhDDirector, KL2 Program

UCLA CTSI KL2 Translational Science Award

Award Overview

• Career development support for junior faculty within the UCLA CTSI Consortium

• Interdisciplinary, translational science (basic, clinical and HSR)

• Similar in structure to K08/K23 award

Support

• Annual award, renewable for up to 3-years

• Support– $75k salary plus benefits– $25k research support– $4k for tuition or coursework– $2k for travel– $1500 for statistical support in addition to in-kind

support from DOM Stats

Eligibility

• Doctoral level research degree or professional degree (with advanced research training)

• Faculty level title as of July 1, 2014 at a UCLA CTSI Institution

• Commit 75% of effort to translational research and aims of the KL2 (50% minimum for some specialties like surgery)

• U.S. Citizen or non-citizen national, permanent U.S. resident

Eligibility (Prior/Pending Grant)

• May have had a small grant (R03, R21)• May have had prior K12 funding (total K funding cannot

exceed 5 years)• Cannot have:

– Prior or current PI of a NIH R01 or equivalent non-PHS reviewed research grant (direct costs>$100k per year)

– Prior or current PI of a K08/K23 award– Prior or current PI of a VA Career Development or R01

Equivalent grant– PI of a pending K award application, pending R award in similar

area– Current co-investigator funding on an R01/Project grant

Future Funding for KL2

• KL2 Awardees may apply for K08/K23 or VA CDAs– Must relinquish KL2 if awardee receives NIH/VA CDA– Total CDA funding (KL2 + individual CDA) cannot exceed 5

years.

• KL2 Awardees may apply for R01, Program grants– Must maintain 75% effort on KL2 in year 1– May decrease to 50% effort in last 2 years of K support

Selection Criteria

1. Proposed research- Quality, innovation, significance, feasibility, promise for future funding, relevance to interdisciplinary, translational research

2. Candidate- Training, productivity, promise3. Mentor- Track record in mentorship and research,

commitment to candidate4. Educational Plan- Well described and planned, fit with

research plan, provides candidate with new skill set5. (Environment)- Commitment from institution,

department/division, availability of support and resources to conduct research and educational plan

Application Components

• Letter of intent- Name, mentor, title, biosketch, specific aims (to help KL2 selection committee identify appropriate reviewers)

• Application (6 pages)- Research, Education and Career Plan

• Mentor’s Letter (2 pages)

• Institutional Letter (2 pages) from department chair or division chief

• Letters of support (2 max)

• Candidate’s CV and other support page

• Mentor’s Biosketch

• Budget and budget justification

• References

• Data and Safety Monitoring Plan (when applicable)

• Appendices allowable (e.g. letter of support for use of equipment or data)

Timeline

• Letter of intent deadline early February 2014• Application deadline late February 2014• Awardees will be notified in late April 2014• Grant start date July 1, 2014• Research funds will not be released until IRB

approval received

Common Pitfalls

• Inadequate education plan that does not tie in to research plan

• Lack of clear commitment from division/department

• Not in a faculty position by 7/1/2014

Common Questions

• Is start date flexible? No

• Can postdoctoral fellows apply? Yes, if they have a faculty appointment no later than 7/1/2014

• Does the mentor need to be at a UCLA CTSI Institution? No, but distance mentoring is difficult so if the primary mentor is not local, that may raise concern.

• Does the project have to involve direct patient contact? No.

• Ok to have a VA CDA? No.

• Can an applicant have a J1 Visa? No.

• I don’t have my junior faculty appointment yet? Need an appointment by 7/1/2014. If in process, have the chief or chair indicate in their letter the commitment to your faculty appointment by 7/1/2014.