NHLBI Research Career Development Programs in T4 Implementation Research (K12) | RFA HL 17 016

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the NHLBI Research Career Development Programs in T4 Implementation Research (K12) opportunity?

This opportunity (RFA-HL-17-016) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) institutional career development grant (K12) from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). It is designed to support institutions in building structured, mentored programs that train researchers to move proven health interventions into everyday practice.

What is the main goal of this K12 program?

The central goal is to build a strong pipeline of researchers who can address the real-world challenges of dissemination and implementation, including how evidence-based interventions are adopted, scaled, and sustained across health systems and communities. The focus is on practical, broad impact rather than early-stage discovery.

What does "T4 implementation research" mean in this announcement?

The program emphasizes late-stage translation (often referred to as T4 research). In this context, T4 focuses on implementing and sustaining evidence-based interventions in real-world settings to improve routine care and population health outcomes, especially at scale.

Which health areas does the program focus on?

The program is specifically focused on heart, lung, blood, and sleep (HLBS) diseases and conditions. Proposed training and research experiences are expected to be directly relevant to HLBS-related problems.

Is this funding intended for individual scholars or institutions?

This is an institutional award (K12). The funded institution is expected to run an organized career development program and appoint supported scholars into that program for mentored training and research.

What is the theme or emphasis of the FOA?

A major theme is "bridging research and practice." Applications should propose career development programming that helps scholars learn how to implement interventions in real-world settings, understand barriers and facilitators to uptake, evaluate implementation strategies, and measure outcomes meaningful to health systems and communities.

What kinds of skills are scholars expected to develop?

Scholars are expected to develop skills in dissemination and implementation research, including learning to evaluate implementation strategies, measure outcomes relevant to health systems and communities, and generate evidence that improves routine care and population health for HLBS conditions.

What is the expected outcome for scholars supported by this K12?

The expectation is that scholars will build the skills, track record, and professional positioning needed to become independent investigators, compete successfully for independent funding, and lead their own implementation-focused research programs.

How long can a scholar be supported under the program?

The FOA anticipates supporting individual scholars for up to three years, typically through consecutive 12-month appointments. The exact duration may be tailored to the scholar's needs and the program's structure.

What degrees must scholars have to be appointed to the program?

Scholars appointed to the program must hold either a research doctoral degree or a health-professional doctoral degree. This reflects the intent to train both PhD-level researchers and clinician-scientists.

How much effort must scholars commit to the program?

Each scholar must devote at least 9 person-months (75% full-time professional effort) to the combined activities of dissemination and implementation research in HLBS areas and the structured career development activities provided by the program.

Why is the 75% effort requirement important?

The effort requirement is meant to ensure protected time and sufficient intensity for scholars to make meaningful progress toward research independence while participating in structured training and mentored research.

What types of organizations are eligible to apply for the institutional award?

Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizations and governmental units. Examples listed include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and various tribal entities.

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. The eligible applicant types include federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations.

Does the FOA encourage applications from specific institution types or community-connected organizations?

Yes. The announcement highlights interest in applications from a wide range of mission-driven and community-connected institutions and organizations, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) institutions eligible to apply?

No. Non-U.S. (foreign) institutions are not eligible to apply for this opportunity.

Can a U.S. organization include a non-U.S. component or foreign component in the application?

No. The FOA states that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible and foreign components are not allowed under NIH policy for this opportunity.

What does the FOA expect an institution to provide in its K12 program?

A competitive proposal is expected to describe an organized training environment with strong mentorship, a clear curriculum or training plan tailored to T4 implementation research, hands-on research experiences, access to real-world practice settings, and a plan for selecting, supporting, and evaluating scholars over multi-year appointments.

What counts as a "real-world practice setting" in the context of this program?

The FOA examples include health systems, community organizations, public health programs, or other delivery environments where implementation research can be conducted in routine practice.

Does the program focus only on conducting research, or also on career development?

Both. The program is meant to provide mentored research experiences as well as structured career development activities that help scholars progress toward independence and future funding competitiveness.

What type of grant is this categorized as?

The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant within NIH's health funding area.

Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?

The summary information associates the opportunity with multiple CFDA numbers: 93.233, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, and 93.840.

When was this opportunity originally posted and when did it originally close?

The original posting date was June 29, 2016, and the original closing date was October 13, 2016.

Does the provided summary state an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?

No. The summary information provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.

What overall impact is NHLBI seeking through this K12 program?

NHLBI is seeking to develop cohorts of well-trained investigators who can lead and sustain research programs that improve the adoption, delivery, and long-term impact of evidence-based interventions for heart, lung, blood, and sleep health in the places where people actually receive care and services.