2025 CATS Affiliate Scholar Award RFA
Application portal opens January 23!
Request for Applications Heading link
The CATS Affiliate Scholar Program is intended to accelerate the career progression of scientists who have demonstrated a commitment to clinical and/or translational research. This institutionally supported program provides a vigorous mentoring and career development program for clinical and translational scholars in disciplines and professions such as medicine, dentistry, engineering, social work, nursing, and pharmacy.
Ideal candidates are junior faculty who will have completed the majority of their formal research training and now require protected time to develop a specific research project that will lead to external funding.
Application Timeline Heading link
December 2, 2025: RFA Released
January 23, 2025: Submission portal opens for full applications and letters of recommendation
January 29, 2025, 12:00 – 1:00pm: CATS Affiliates Program: RFA Info Session
February 28, 2025, 5pm CST: RFA deadline via CCTS Awards system only
June 1, 2025: Anticipated award start date
2025 RFA FAQs Heading link
Answer:
The CATS Affiliate program is a two-year career development program for junior faculty looking to strengthen their clinical and translational sciences work. This program provides the same mentoring and career development training opportunities as the standard K program. The only difference between the programs is funding and protected time. CATS Affiliates are funding by their departments for $10,000 per year and 50% protected time.
Answer:
No. Due to the funding cycle, we are not able to fund K Scholars in the upcoming cycle. We look forward to supporting junior faculty through our CATS Affiliate program.
Answer:
The eligibility requirements for the CATS Affiliate program are the same as for the K program:
- Junior faculty (assistant professor and below) holding a research and/or health-professional doctoral degree or its equivalent and prior research training, e.g., the MS CTS (through the CCTS), a PhD, MD, or equivalent *Postdoctoral fellows are not eligible*
- Applicants must be United States citizens, non-citizen nationals, or individuals lawfully admitted for permanent residence who hold an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-151 or I-551, or some other verification of legal admission as a permanent resident). Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible.
- Those who have served as former or current principal investigators on any NIH research project grant (other than NIH Small Grants (R03) or Exploratory/ Developmental (R21) grants or their equivalents), or on any equivalent non-PHS peer-reviewed research grants that are over $100,000 direct costs per year, or as project leaders on sub-projects of program project (P01) or center grants (e.g. a P50 grant) are NOT eligible.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Scholars Program Goals Heading link
The CATS Scholars Program is intended to accelerate career progression of scientists who have demonstrated a commitment to clinical or translational research. The CATS Scholars Program allows Scholars a period of time to work with mentors who will provide appropriate guidance in developing individualized curricula and career plans to help them become national leaders in interdisciplinary clinical and translational research. Mentors are expected to provide guidance in all aspects of clinical and translational research including developing a research project, competitively garnering external support, developing and managing a research team, and working with interdisciplinary teams/centers.
UIC is dedicated to increasing the participation of individuals currently underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences. This includes underrepresented racial, ethnic, social, cultural, economic, or educational backgrounds that may have inhibited an individual’s ability to pursue a career in health-related research up to this point. UIC acknowledges that diversifying the student and faculty bodies improves the quality of the training and educational environment. Ideal candidates will have completed the majority of their formal research training and require protected time to develop a specific research project that will lead to an external grant proposal by the end of their first year of the program.
Curriculum Overview Heading link
In consultation with the CATS Scholars Program Co-Directors, Dr. Shane Phillips and Dr. Niranjan Karnik, scholars will develop a detailed individual career development plan and establish a mentoring group that includes the primary mentor. The career development plan, which will be reviewed regularly, will serve as a guide to ensure that the scholar will develop the skills and knowledge required to succeed in a career in clinical and translational research. A specific curriculum, which may include formal and informal coursework and workshops, will be developed and customized for each scholar.
All scholars will engage in mentored research, and applicants must propose a specific research plan. Research experience may be gained in a range of settings, depending on whether the research is clinical or community-based. Externships and experiences outside of UIC are also encouraged as relevant to the career development of the scholar and may be proposed at the time of the application. Candidates must propose a research plan that specifies the research questions, study approach, the expected outcomes of the research (e.g., publications, preliminary data, etc.), and timeline.
Scholars will be assisted in gaining all of the skills needed to secure external funding and are expected to make progress towards an application for extramural funding such as a K award, (e.g., K08 or K23), R03, R21, R01, or participation on a Center or Program Project grant. Ideally, by the end of one year, scholars will generate and submit a research proposal to the NIH or another competitive extramural funding agency.
The Scholar will be encouraged to meet with mentors regularly, e.g., on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to assure that they receive ongoing career guidance. Scholars will also be expected to participate in CATS Scholars monthly career development workshops and in other relevant workshops as offered by the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) and other organizations. All scholars complete an annual self-review of progress and meet annually with the CATS Scholars Executive Committee to review progress.
Qualifications for Application Heading link
Applicants must have a research and/or health-professional doctoral degree or its equivalent. It is expected that candidates will have had prior research training, e.g., the MS CTS (through the CCTS), a PhD, or equivalent. Applicants must be United States citizens, non-citizen nationals, or individuals lawfully admitted for permanent residence that possess an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-151 or I- 551, or some other verification of legal admission as a permanent resident). Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible. Former or current principal investigators on any NIH research project grant (this does not include NIH Small Grants (R03) or Exploratory/ Developmental (R21) grants or their equivalents) or equivalent non-PHS peer-reviewed research grants that are over
$100,000 direct costs per year, or project leaders on sub-projects of program project (P01) or center grants (e.g. a P50 grant) are NOT eligible. Candidates who have a currently pending NIH K series application (e.g. K99, K08, K23, etc) are NOT eligible.
IMPORTANT: Please review the NIH policies relevant to this program.
Selection Criteria Heading link
Criteria for Selection
All applications will be reviewed using the following criteria:
Candidate
- Does the candidate have the potential to develop as an independent and productive researcher?
- Is the candidate’s academic, clinical, and (if relevant) research record of high quality?
- Is there evidence of the candidate’s commitment to meeting the program objectives to become an independent investigator in research?
- Do the letters of reference address the above review criteria, and do they demonstrate evidence that the candidate has a high potential for becoming an independent investigator?
Personal Statement/Career Development Plan
- Are the candidate’s career goals in line with the CATS program?
- What is the likelihood that the participation in the CATS program will contribute substantially to the development of the candidate and lead to scientific independence?
- Are the qualifications of the potential mentors appropriate?
Research Plan
- Are the proposed research question, design, and methodology of significant scientific and technical merit?
- Is the research plan relevant to the candidate’s research career objectives?
- Is the plan for developing/enhancing the candidate’s research skills appropriate and adequate?
- If applicable, are there adequate plans for data and safety monitoring of clinical trials?
Departmental/College Commitment to the Candidate
- Is there clear commitment of the department and college to ensure that a minimum of 9 person-months (75% of the candidate’s full-time professional effort) will be devoted directly to the research and career development activities described in the application?
- Is there assurance that the department intends for the candidate to be an integral part of its research program?
