Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Awards (IRACDA) (K12 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 22 212

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 22 212

The Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Awards (IRACDA) program is an NIH-funded institutional training and career development opportunity (K12 mechanism) designed to prepare postdoctoral scholars for long-term academic careers that combine strong biomedical research with meaningful teaching and mentoring. At its core, IRACDA funds a structured, mentored postdoctoral experience housed at a research-intensive institution, while also requiring that the scholar gain hands-on teaching and mentoring experience at a partner institution that is teaching-intensive and serves a diverse student population. The program is built around the idea that future faculty members are more effective and more competitive when they can demonstrate both rigorous research training and real instructional experience, especially in environments that educate students who have been historically underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce.

A defining requirement of IRACDA is the partnership model. An applicant institution cannot run an IRACDA program in isolation; it must establish and maintain an active collaboration between (1) a research-intensive institution where the primary research training and mentoring occur, and (2) a teaching-intensive partner institution with a historical mission or a demonstrated commitment to educating students from underrepresented groups. In practical terms, this means the program must be organized so that scholars spend substantial time developing as researchers under established investigators while also contributing in a substantive way to education at the partner site, such as teaching courses or modules, mentoring students, helping develop curricula, or providing research exposure opportunities. The partnership is meant to be mutually beneficial rather than symbolic: the research-intensive institution produces well-rounded academic scientists, and the teaching-intensive institution gains access to research-trained early-career educators and mentors who can enrich student experiences and broaden pathways into biomedical research.

The primary goal of the FOA is workforce development: building a diverse pool of highly trained biomedical scientists who are ready to pursue independent academic careers that integrate research and teaching. The program is not only about training individuals to publish papers; it is explicitly structured to help scholars gain the broader toolkit needed for faculty roles, including communication skills, classroom and mentorship experience, and an understanding of how to support student success in diverse educational settings. A related, secondary goal is institutional impact at the teaching-intensive partner sites. By bringing in IRACDA scholars as instructors, mentors, and role models, partner institutions can strengthen science education offerings, expand research-oriented learning, and, where feasible, create or enhance research opportunities for faculty and students. The exchange can also introduce up-to-date research techniques, approaches, and technologies into the teaching environment, which can be especially valuable for institutions with fewer research infrastructure resources.

This specific IRACDA announcement is labeled “Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed.” That means scholars appointed to the program cannot be the person who leads an independent clinical trial as the trial’s primary driver. However, the FOA does allow scholars to gain experience in clinical trial research when the trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor. In other words, the training can include clinical trial-related work as long as the scholar is not the independent clinical trial leader, which keeps the focus on mentored career development and appropriate oversight.

From an eligibility standpoint, the opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health under Funding Opportunity Number PAR-22-212, categorized as a discretionary grant in the health area (CFDA 93.859). Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and other qualifying organizations. The FOA explicitly highlights that a range of institutions that serve underrepresented communities may apply or be involved, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). Importantly, foreign (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible under this announcement. The original closing date listed for the opportunity is 2024-10-03.

Overall, IRACDA is best understood as a bridge between two academic worlds that are often separated: high-intensity research training and high-impact undergraduate-focused education. It is meant to produce postdoctoral scientists who can compete for faculty positions and thrive once hired, because they can demonstrate both research excellence and real teaching and mentoring credibility. At the same time, it is structured to strengthen partner institutions by expanding access to research-minded educators and by creating more visible, supportive pathways for students from underrepresented backgrounds to enter and persist in biomedical research careers.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Awards (IRACDA) (K12 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.859.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-07-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-10-03. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for PAR 22 212

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