Research Requirements
Research proposal development
The KL2 Mentored Career Development Program is built upon a mentored clinical research experience. During your first few months in the program, you will work with your mentors to develop and refine your research proposal.
Your proposal, which is due on Oct. 1 of the year you begin your program, must address how your project relates to human disease and how it will advance knowledge in clinical research, using the definition set forth by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the Public Health Service Grant (PHS 398) instructions (see page III-26).
Your research proposal should be assembled according to PHS 398 guidelines for a R01 application and include:
- Your biographical sketch
- A research plan, which should address significance, approach, innovation, investigator and environment, as well as the adequacy of the research with respect to inclusion of both genders, minorities and other special populations as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research
- A budget
As participation in a variety of research projects is advantageous, you may also take part in ongoing research projects conducted by your mentors, as long as this contributes to your career development. This may be especially appropriate in the first year of your training as you develop your own research proposal.
Involvement in other research projects must not detract from the formulation or conduct of your own research projects or the successful completion of the didactic curriculum (if applicable). This proposed experience should be a part of the initial application to the program and must be approved by the CTSA Postdoctoral Programs Committee as part of the acceptance procedure.
Research proposal review process
Your proposal will be reviewed by the CTSA Postdoctoral Programs Committee, which will be supplemented by ad hoc reviewers as needed to ensure that it receives expert review.
The committee conducts reviews in the same way as the NIH Center for Scientific Review, with the assignment of primary and secondary reviewers who summarize and present to the full group. These proposal review criteria are used.
Proposals may require revision in accordance with CTSA Postdoctoral Programs Committee comments before final approval is granted. Such approval must be obtained by Jan. 1.
Changes to approved research proposal
If during the course of the research process you and your mentor determine that significant changes need to be made to the approved proposal, specify those changes in a letter addressed to the chair of the CTSA Postdoctoral Programs Committee and send it to:
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