UCLA CTSI K12 Translational Science Award 2027 Request for Applications (RFA)
Deadlines & Opportunities
UCLA CTSI K12 Translational Science Award 2027
2027 awards are contingent on the renewal of the UCLA CTSI
NEW! A Simpler Application Format!
(No Pre-Application — No Candidate Information & Goals for Career Development — 6-page Research Plan)
Application Component Dates
- Zoom Information Sessions
- Application Deadline: November 2, 2026
- Invitations for Interviews: First week of January 2027
- Selected Candidate Interviews (required for invited applicants): January 2027
- Award Notifications: February 2027
- Funding Period (subject to change based on CTSI renewal): June 1, 2027 through May 31, 2029
The UCLA CTSI K12 Translational Science Award provides 2 years of support for early-stage investigators from UCLA, Cedars-Sinai, Charles R. Drew University, Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA, and Caltech to conduct mentored, interdisciplinary and translational science.
K12 Eligibility
- Possess a research or health-related doctoral-level degree (e.g. PhD, MD)
- Have a full-time junior faculty appointment at one of the five UCLA CTSI partnered institutions (UCLA [includes VA Greater Los Angeles], Cedars-Sinai, Charles R. Drew University, Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA, and Caltech) as of June 1, 2027.
- Eligible faculty titles generally include but are not limited to: Instructor, Clinical Instructor, Assistant Professor, Assistant Researcher, Assistant Project Scientist. If you have questions about your faculty title, please contact CTSIWD@mednet.ucla.edu.
- Postdoctoral fellows may apply but if invited to submit the full application, they must provide an Institutional Letter of Support that confirms their faculty appointment by June 1, 2027.
- Be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or permanent resident by June 1, 2027. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible.
- Commit 75% of professional effort (9 calendar months) to the K12 program for the full two years. Those in procedural/surgical specialties may request a lower level of effort, but in no case lower than 50%, with the level of CTSI K12 salary support being reduced proportionately. To request a lower level of effort, please complete this form and upload with your K12 application. Approval is at the discretion of the NIH.
- Candidates with any of the following are NOT ELGIBILE:
- Candidates with a pending (i.e. under review) application for any other PHS mentored career development award (e.g., K01, K08, K22, K23, K99/R00) or Veterans Affairs (VA) Career Development Award (CDA) at the time of K12 appointment on June 1, 2027. Scholars will be encouraged to submit NIH K or VA CDA applications during Year 2 of their K12 training.
- Candidates who are or have been a PI or MPI on an NIH R01 or equivalent non-PHS peer-reviewed grant that exceeds $100,000 in direct costs per year.
- Candidates who are or have been a project leader on a sub-project of Program Project (P01) or Center Grant (P50).
- Candidates may have had support on a non-federal grant, a NRSA grant (F or T) or have been PI of an NIH small grant (R03 or R21). Candidates may have had previous support on another K12 award, but the CTSI K12 cannot extend total K support beyond five years.
NIH Policies for K12 awards
- The Scholar is expected to complete two full years of K12 training.
- The Scholar is not eligible for reappointment to Year 2 of K12 training if an NIH K application or VA CDA was submitted during Year 1 and has a “pending” status (i.e. under review). Rather, Scholars are encouraged to submit NIH K or VA CDA applications during Year 2 of their K12 training.
K12 Award Overview
2027 K12 awards are contingent on the renewal of the UCLA CTSI. UCLA CTSI K12 Scholars receive two years of support. The following table lists the maximum allowable amounts per year (subject to change).
Max Amount
- Scholar salary (75% effort): $90,000
- Scholar fringe benefits: $29,700
- Research expenses (UCLA applicants must include TIF), Career development/tuition (excludes scientific memberships), statistical services: $19,000
- Travel for scientific conferences: $2,000
- MAXIMUM DIRECT COSTS/YEAR: $140,700
K12 Application
Deadline: November 2, 2026 by 5:00 PM
Submission link: https://bit.ly/K12App2027
Application components include:
- CTSI K12 candidate’s NIH Common Form Biographical Sketch (new format as of May 2026)
- CTSI K12 candidate’s NIH Common Form Current and Pending (Other) Support (new format as of May 2026)
- Specific Aims (1 page maximum)
- Research Plan (6 pages maximum) that addresses the following sections: Significance, Innovation and Approach
- Primary Mentor’s NIH Common Form Biographical Sketch (new format as of May 2026)
- Letter of Support from Primary Mentor (2 pages maximum) that describes the mentoring team, available resources, and the plan to support the candidate in completing the proposed research and training
- Institutional Letter of Support from Department Chair/Division Chief (1 page maximum) that describes commitment of research time for candidate and mentor(s)
- Bibliography & References Cited
K12 Candidate Interviews
Selected candidates will be invited for an interview with the K12 Selection Committee in January 2027 (exact date, time and location are TBD). Candidates will be notified by the first week of January 2027 if selected for an interview.
Questions??? Contact the K12 Program at CTSIWD@mednet.ucla.edu.
