The Vanderbilt Oregon Collaborative Scholar Training in Addiction Research (COSTAR) K12 Education Program is accepting applications for a mentored career development award funded by NIH/NIDA. Faculty at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) are eligible to apply.
This opportunity supports the research training and career development of researchers that focuses on substance use/disorders with an emphasis on vulnerable populations (e.g., people with HIV) for up to four years.
The scholar is expected to apply for an independent career development award such as a K01, K07, K08, K22, K23, K25, or VA CDA, or an independent grant such as an R01. K12 scholars, their mentors, and their department chairs must guarantee that at least 75% effort is spent in research and training.
RFA Released | December 2024 |
Optional Survey of Intent Due | January 31, 2025 |
Application Deadline | February 28, 2025 |
Awardees Notified | April 2025 |
Anticipated Start Date | July 1, 2025 |
Applicants must meet all the following requirements:
- U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident. Individuals with temporary or student visas are not eligible.
- Hold a clinical doctorate (e.g. MD/DO) or a research doctorate (PhD) and have primary faculty appointment at OHSU or VUMC as an Instructor level or equivalent at the time of K12 appointment. Clinicians must have completed specialty or subspecialty training by the time of the award.
- No prior funding as principal investigator on an NIH research grant, including an R01 or any K series grant; or PI of a subproject of a program project grant (P01), center grant (P50, P60, U54); or other equivalent grant awards. Candidates are eligible if they have been supported by an NRSA grant (F or T) or an NIH small grant (R03 or R21).
- K12 applicants may not simultaneously submit or have pending an application for any other PHS mentored career development award (e.g. K07, K08, K22, or K23) that duplicates the provisions of the K12 program.
Please contact Emily Wells (emily.s.wells@vumc.org) or Sarann Bielavitz (bielavit@ohsu.edu) if you have a pending award and are interested in applying for the K12.
The following resources are provided to each scholar selected:
- 75% of the scholar's salary (not to exceed $100,000) per year for up to four years with satisfactory progress. It is expected that the scholar’s department will provide additional salary support if the scholar’s overall salary exceeds $100,000.
Total salary (K12 plus departmental support) cannot exceed the NIH salary cap. The remaining 25% effort can be divided among other activities, including clinical work, teaching, and administration. Please consult with COSTAR K12 program staff if there are questions. - A firm commitment of 75% effort protected time for research and career development per year for up to 4 years, guaranteed by the K12 scholar, their mentors, and their department chair.
- Up to $45,000 per year in research and travel funds, prorated for partial year appointments fitting with COSTAR’s project period. No-cost extensions are not allowed.
- Participation in regular K12 meetings is required. The primary objective is to build a collaborative learning community directed by the K12 scholars and to illuminate successes and challenges related to research and career development through peer-mentoring.
- Courses or conferences must be paid from research and travel funds.
- Participation in COSTAR-supported networking and mentoring activities such as offered by the COSTAR Scholars Program.
- The second year of funding is contingent on satisfactory progress toward the scholar's individual benchmarks and career goals, continued support from the scholar's mentors and department, and participation in career development activities. Extensions of support or leaves of absence are possible under exceptional circumstances.
Application Process
Full Application
Applications are due February 28, 2025 by 11:59 p.m. PT. Mentors and department chairs may submit letters of reference independently by emailing to Emily Wells (emily.s.wells@vumc.org) or Sarann Bielavitz (Bielavit@ohsu.edu) or include with materials submitted by applicant.
A complete application consists of the following materials:
A. Abstract
no more than 300 words; not included in page limits. This should include both a brief description of the proposed project and your training plan.
B. Applicant's Statement
3 pages maximum; follow format specifications listed below. This should contain the following components:
- Research experience. Discuss previous and current participation in research, providing examples of opportunities to engage in research (basic or clinical) and your role in these projects. Discuss any research training that you have received through workshops or formal course work.
- Career goals. Discuss long-term career and research goals including plans to incorporate clinical practice (if applicable) with your career. Address the area of research in which you plan to focus, including the type of research you plan to conduct, the clinical problems your research will address, and the potential impact your research will have on public health or clinical practice.
- Career development plans. Explain any additional training needed to achieve research career goals. Identify specific areas where and how this training will augment knowledge or skill deficiencies.
- Mentor Roles. Describe the roles each mentor will play. Be specific; cite examples from your proposed training or research plan whenever possible.
- Preparation for federal funding. Explain how conducting the research project proposed in this application will prepare you to compete successfully for an NIH grant (or equivalent) and provide a plan to achieve this funding. Discuss a plan for how you will continue your career development and research if a funding gap should occur between your K12 and next step extramural funding.
- Contribution of K12 participation to career. Explain how you will benefit from the COSTAR K12 program and how it will contribute to your career in clinical and translational research.
C. A research proposal
3 pages maximum, follow format specifications listed below. This should contain the following components. You should work closely with your mentors on writing the research plan.
- Specific aims (no more than 1 page)
- Background and significance
- Prior work by the investigator (if applicable)
- Design and methods (include the approach to statistical analysis, power estimates, etc.)
- Human subject considerations (not counted in the 3-page limit)
- Literature cited (not counted in the 3-page limit) This proposal should be succinct and should not exceed 3 pages, exclusive of human subjects consideration and references. Please follow NIH formatting requirements (Standard 11-point Arial font and one-half inch margins). Refer to PHS 398 guidelines for other formatting questions. Figures and tables will be counted in the 3-page limit.
D. Budget
Provide an itemized budget for the year one allocated $45,000 for research support and a brief justification. Please do NOT include your salary on this form. Please reference PHS 398 template for the budget details. If applicable, it is expected that your mentor’s research program will supplement your research funds.
- Examples of allowable uses for K12 funds include: lab supplies, software, minor equipment, technical personnel to supplement those provided by the mentor, and conference fees and travel.
- Examples of disallowed expenses include: books, general office supplies, lab or office equipment and student activity fees.
E. Letter in support from proposed lead mentor
Optional additional letters: Up to 2 letters in support will be accepted from secondary mentors. The letter(s) should address the following components.
- Plan to support applicant for the duration of the training period.
- Plan to support project financially if it exceeds the funds provided through this career development award.
- Indicate support available from the department/division for the applicant’s research and specifically detail the space, number and kind of staff, clinical and lab resources, and funding available to the applicant.
- Discuss the mentor's experience with research mentoring in the past and outline research support.
F. Letter in support from department chair or division head
This should address the following components.
- Long-term and short-term commitment to the applicant, including support for the scholar post-K12.
- Delineate any clinical, administrative, teaching, and other university commitments for the applicant.
- Describe the role that is expected of applicant as a leader in multidisciplinary clinical and translational research after completing the career development award.
- Indicate any support from the department/division for applicant’s research, specifically commenting on cost sharing of salary above the cap of $100,000, the amount of space, number and kind of staff, clinical and lab resources, and dollars available to the scholar.
- Discuss how a commitment to support at least 75% effort protected time will be accomplished.
G. A biosketch (NIH format) of lead mentor and any other proposed mentor(s)
H. Applicant’s biosketch (NIH format)
I. Applicant’s proposal history (word or PDF) Please summarize the applicant’s proposal and grant submission history as PI, including pending and unfunded awards. List the following for each proposal:
- Title of proposal, Applicant’s Role, Agency/Foundation (ex: NIH/NHLBI or AHA), Award Type, Funded? (yes/no/pending)
Expectations of COSTAR K12 Scholars
The benchmark of success for each COSTAR K12 scholar is a career development award or independent funding by the end of the four-year funding period.
In keeping with this, scholars will be expected to:
- Submit an independent award proposal such as an NIH K or R01 during their appointment. Support for this includes a mock review session.
- Co-lead the weekly K12 Work in Progress meetings with fellow K12 cohort to engage in peer-mentorship, including presenting their own work at least quarterly
- Publish 4 papers
- K12 scholars will participate in COSTAR Scholar activities, including a Design Studio to present their next-step research proposal to a group of experienced investigators for feedback at the initiation of their research and at application for subsequent support
- Pursue a curriculum of training tailored to the individual’s career development needs. Applicants may propose didactic training plan that includes courses relevant to their research
- Scholars must complete eight hours of formal training in the responsible conduct of research (RCR) as required by NIH
- Participate in quarterly reports on progress towards benchmark goals and to meet together with mentors and program directors twice yearly to review benchmarks
- K12 scholars are to submit annual progress reports to COSTAR for NIH-required reporting, describing project accomplishments and patient-level data enrollment table if human subjects research. K12 scholars are required to update COSTAR on publications, grants and awards for 15 years after the appointment ends per NIH policy
- K12 grant acknowledgement should be included on all publications that result from COSTAR support (funding and/or research services)
Expectations of Mentors
Developing a successful clinical research career requires a strong relationship with a mentor team. Each scholar applicant must propose at minimum a lead mentor and at least one other mentor from a different discipline.
Typically, this includes a mentor in the focused area of research that the scholar proposes, as well as a mentor for specific research methods as appropriate, such as a basic scientist, biostatistician, clinical trialist, epidemiologist, pharmacologist, or health services researcher. An eligible lead mentor must have a substantial track record of research funding and should have independent research support to help cover costs of the proposed research project in excess of the allowable costs of the K12.
If awarded, the selection committee may suggest individuals to augment this mentor team. Mentors may be internal or external to applicant’s primary institution, but applicants will need an internal mentor to be the IRB PI (see eligibility requirements) – the K12 program can help identify this mentor if needed. The mentor team, along with COSTAR program directors Dr. Tindle, Dr. Korthuis, and Dr. Freiberg will provide guidance to the scholar to assure that research and career development is moving satisfactorily on the path to publications and grant proposals.
Mentors will provide advice about career direction, national networking, and academic promotion. They will also help to assure that 75% of the Scholar's total work week is protected from clinical and administrative duties and fully available for training and research. Co-mentors will be responsible for working with the primary mentor on these responsibilities and will provide guidance in one or more complementary areas of expertise. Mentors are expected to meet together with scholar and K12 program director twice yearly to review progress toward the scholar’s benchmarks. In addition, mentors are required to submit annual progress reports to COSTAR for NIH-required reporting.