HEAL Initiative: National K12 Clinical Pain Career Development Program (K12 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

This FOA will support early career clinical pain scientists development as a means to enhance the clinical pain research workforce. Under this award, promising early-career clinician-scientists will have access to high-quality mentorship that will promote their successful transition to independent research careers in academic settings. Clinicians in their last year of residency/fellowship/post-doctoral training, or in their first year of an independent faculty position, can apply to the awarded HCPDP national program for support, which is intended to begin during their first or second faculty year. The program will primarily support clinicians who leave their training institution for a faculty position at another institution. Under some circumstances a candidate who remains at their residency institution for their faculty position may be supported. The awarded HCPDP national program will provide the selected scholars with the experience, research support, and protected time for research and funding necessary to initiate a sustainable research program. In addition, the awarded HCPDP national program will create a National Advisory Committee (NAC) whereby scholars will have the opportunity to interact with both experienced pain researchers and pain patients. The FOA will develop a national network of mentors and scholars.