The Duke CTSA K12 provides training and research opportunities for junior investigators from Duke and NCCU that will equip them to: 

• Participate in and ultimately lead transdisciplinary research teams that transcend traditional scientific silos and promote trustworthy engagement with communities. 
• Facilitate advancement of discoveries to their next translational phase. 
• Leverage partnerships locally, regionally, and nationally to enhance the impact of their discoveries. 

These overall goals will be achieved through both group and individually tailored activities for Duke’s CTSA K12 scholars, and by extensive interactions with the Duke CTSA.  We expect our scholars to complete the K12 program equipped and inspired to become successful, independent investigators, making contributions across the entire spectrum of clinical and translational research. 

In this application round, we will select up to four Scholars for three years of support. Each scholar will be awarded 75% total protected effort (50% for procedural-based specialties), up to $20,000/year for research expenses, and up to $2,000/year for travel to professional meetings.  Funding will start July, 2026. 

The K12 program provides support for up to three years of consecutive funding for each scholar, consisting of consecutive 12-month appointments. Benefits are contingent upon available funds. 

Please note: NIH/NCATS will not support international work on the K12 grant, so all research projects must be based in the United States. 

K12 Important Dates 

Monday, September 22, 2025: Application Opens 
Friday, December 5, 2025: Required Letter of Intent (LOI) Due 
Monday, February 2, 2026: Application DUE 
July 1, 2026: Awardees Start 

K12 Application Preparation Program (KAPP) 

KAPP assists investigators with preparing their applications for the K12. 

Applications for KAPP are due October 15, 2025.  For more information: 

Aims of the Duke CTSA K12 

AIM 1: Provide junior faculty scholars with research resources and fundamental transdisciplinary research knowledge and skills. 

Research-intensive early-stage faculty from Duke and NCCU will receive up to three years of 75% effort support (50% for proceduralists), research funds, mentoring, career development activities, and training in translational science, team science, and principles of AI. 

AIM 2: Promote development of a translational research workforce. 

The K12 will select scholars from a range of disciplines, research topics, and areas of focus across the translational spectrum from both Duke and NCCU.  We will provide applicants with resources to prepare strong applications through a tailored application preparation program (KAPP). 

AIM 3: Prepare junior faculty scholars to employ principles and strategies to promote trustworthiness in all aspects of their research. 

K12 scholars will participate in a population health curriculum provided collaboratively by the CTSA’s Workforce Development (WD) Module and Community Engagement Module. The curriculum will provide training to equip all scholars, regardless of research focus, to employ research processes that maximize benefits and minimize harm for all populations. 

AIM 4: Promote success with next level funding. 

In the second year of their award, K12 scholars will participate in a program (KAPPNext) that will provide scholars with concept review, a workshop series that coaches scholars on each component of the next-step application (ex: external K award, R-level award), and pre-submission internal review.