Minimize the Time Between K and R Grants with Structured Support

If you hold a federal career development grant, one of the most vulnerable times in your research career will be the transition between K and R grants. According to one analysis, about 20 percent of K01/08/23 holders convert to R01 awards within five years; within seven years, about 33 percent convert successfully.

One of the biggest challenges in navigating this transition is managing the many competing priorities. By providing timelines, guardrails, and milestones, we can help keep you on track to success.

CARTI has launched a K-to-R program that leverages current and new programming to help current and future K award holders successfully achieve this transition in as little time as possible. The program has four elements:

Mentor-Guided Feedback and Milestone Monitoring

• This element leans on CARTI's Centralized Mentoring Program and engages the mentor and mentee in regular meetings to ensure research progress and address any obstacles in a timely fashion. Milestones and deadlines will be monitored.

Best Practices for Executing a K Award and Transitioning to Independence

• This element includes K Club and CARTI's research skills seminars. Participants are expected to attend a minimum number of seminars and K Club meetings to learn best practices and apply learning to career progression.

R01 Preparation

• K award holders will be expected to participate in an R01 planning meeting with their mentoring team by the end of year 2, and work with the team to evaluate preliminary data to develop solid specific aims for an R01 application.
• The mentorship team will be tapped to:
  • identify any learning or other gaps
  • identify relevant experts/mentors to help the mentee address and bridge gaps
  • identify an appropriate study section to target
  • help ensure the mentee is supported as s/he prepares to write their first R01 application
• Following the R01 planning meeting and addressing any gaps, the mentee will participate in CARTI's R01 Grant Writing class and continue to leverage the mentorship team for feedback on successive drafts. 
• Upon completion of the R01 class, if the grant application requires additional work, the mentee is expected to participate in grant writing SWAGs to maintain writing momentum.
• As the grant application approaches completion, the mentee will participate in a studio review of the application at least two months prior to the NIH submission deadline.

Post-R01 submission support

• Centralized mentoring will continue post-submission to ensure the applicant is prepared to address reviewer comments and resubmit.