A mentored research career development program for junior faculty

The KL2 program is currently not accepting applications. Please check back for future updates about the program.

The Duke CTSA KL2 Program provides training and research opportunities for junior investigators that will equip them to:

  • Participate in and ultimately lead transdisciplinary research teams that both transcend traditional scientific silos and embrace diverse stakeholder input

  • Facilitate advancement of discoveries to their next translational phase

  • Represent a more diverse workforce to meet evolving translational science priorities

  • 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 KL2 scholars, and by extensive interactions with Duke’s CTSA cores. We expect our scholars to complete the KL2 program equipped and inspired to become successful, independent investigators, making contributions across the entire spectrum of clinical and translational research.

Each year, we will select up to three Duke CTSA KL2 Scholars. Each scholar will be awarded 75% total protected effort for 3 years, up to $20,000/year for research expenses, and up to $2,500/year for travel to professional meetings.

The KL2 program provides support for 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 KL2 grant, so all research projects must be based in the United States.

Aims of the Duke CTSA KL2

Provide junior faculty scholars with fundamental transdisciplinary research skills required for successful translational research careers.

  • The KL2 program will support a 3-year mentored career development award for up to 3 junior faculty/year.  Through targeted mentorship, a core curriculum, career development activities, and conduct of clinical and translational research, scholars will develop the skills and experience required, for successful long-term research careers.

Prepare junior faculty scholars to successfully employ fundamental team science approaches to enable innovation and impact.

  • Transdisciplinary team science is the conduct of research by teams of individuals from different disciplines and with different responsibilities, who together generate new knowledge, tools, and training; establish effective partnerships and collaborations; and leverage team strengths to achieve individual and shared goals. This approach significantly increases impact of research and the ability to lead transdisiciplinary teams is essential to the success of investigators. KL2 scholars will acquire skills to incorporate team science principles and practice into their own research programs.

Promote a highly diverse translational research workforce.

  • We are committed to increasing diversity in the research workforce.  Therefore, we have set as a goal that at least 50% of KL2 scholars will be from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups (UREGs).  Additionally, all scholars will participate in the CTSA- sponsored Health Disparities Research Curriculum (HDRC) to learn skills necessary to conduct research to reduce or eliminate health disparities.

Contact

Laura Svetkey, MD
Program Director
laura.svetkey@dm.duke.edu

Kimberly Johnson, MD
Program Director
kimberly.s.johnson@dm.duke.edu

Rasheed Gbadegesin, MBBS, MD
Program Director
Rasheed.gbadegesin@duke.edu

Stephanie Molner, MSW
CTSA Education Administrative Coordinator
stephanie.molner@duke.edu