National Institutes of Health Career Development Awards for Cardiovascular Physician-Scientists: Recent Trends and Strategies for Success.
Nurturing the development of cardiovascular physician-scientist investigators is critical for sustained progress in cardiovascular science and improving human health. The transition from an inexperienced trainee to an independent physician-scientist is a multifaceted process requiring a sustained commitment from the trainee, mentors, and institution. A cornerstone of this training process is a career development (K) award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These awards generally require 75% of the awardee's professional effort devoted to research aims and diverse career development activities carried out in a mentored environment over a 5-year period. We report on recent success rates for obtaining NIH K awards, provide strategies for preparing a successful application and navigating the early career period for aspiring cardiovascular investigators, and offer cardiovascular division leadership perspectives regarding K awards in the current era. Our objective is to offer practical advice that will equip trainees considering an investigator path for success.
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
Brian R
BR
Lindman
Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine-Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, Texas.
Carl W
CW
Tong
Office of Research Training and Career Development, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
Drew E
DE
Carlson
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.|John Cochran VA Medical Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
C William
CW
Balke
University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Elizabeth A
EA
Jackson
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee.
Meena S
MS
Madhur
MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute, Washington DC.
Ana
A
Barac
Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.
Marwah
M
Abdalla
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee.
Evan L
EL
Brittain
Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Nihar
N
Desai
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
Andrew M
AM
Kates
National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado.
Andrew M
AM
Freeman
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
Douglas L
DL
Mann
D001363:Awards and Prizes; D035843:Biomedical Research; D002309:Cardiology; D002322:Career Mobility; D006801:Humans; D008611:Mentors; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D010820:Physicians / Q000191:economics; D012108:Research Personnel; D014481:United States
awards and prizes; biomedical research; early-career investigators; fellowships and scholarships; grants; mentors