CTSC KL2 Program Frequently Asked Questions | UC Davis CTSC

Appointed scholars are required to apply for individual mentored K awards (e.g., K07, K08, K22, K23) and independent awards (R01, R03, R21); if successfully funded, the KL2 appointment would be terminated.

Mentored K award recipients are encouraged to obtain funding from NIH or other Federal sources either as a PI on a competing research grant award or cooperative agreement, or as project leader on a competing multi-project award.  In the first year of their appointment, a KL2 scholar may commit effort but may not receive any other federally-funded salary support. However, in the final two years of their KL2 appointment, a KL2 scholar may reduce effort on the K award to a minimum of 6 person-months and may hold concurrent support from their K award and a competing PHS research grant on which they are the PD/PI or component lead. To be eligible for salary support from peer-reviewed research awards from any Federal agency:

• The KL2 scholar must be one of the named PIs on a competing NIH research grant application (R01, R03, R15, R21, R34, or equivalent application from another Federal agency) or a sub-project director on a competing multi-component research or center grant or cooperative agreement application (P01, P50, U01, etc. or an equivalent application from another Federal agency).
• The KL2 scholar award must be active when the competing research grant application is submitted.
• The KL2 scholar must be in their final two years before the reduction in effort to 6 person-months (50% full-time professional effort) is permitted.

The following expenses are allowable: (a) tuition and fees related to career development; (b) research expenses, such as supplies, equipment and technical personnel; (c) up to $2,500 for scholar travel to scientific meetings and research training workshops, and (d) statistical services. Please be advised that the research supplies budget must be administered under the current NIH directive with respect to clinical trial research. Your application must include a budget which will require approval prior to the start of your KL2 appointment. The approved budget can only be used to offset research costs that do not directly support clinical trials.

A junior faculty appointment, as outlined in the Academic Personnel Manual Section 310, is required at the time of application. “In progress” appointments are not accepted.

Five years

This protected time is for multidisciplinary clinical and translational research with training and mentoring activities.

In general, 75% of the scholars’ full-time professional effort must be devoted to the program. However, certain surgical specialties may request approval for less than 75% if justified, but no less than 50% protected time for this program is allowed. Justification will require documentation that more than a 25% clinical commitment is required in order to avoid loss of competence or credentialing in specified clinical skills. Any applicant who is interested in applying while committing less than 75% effort for the academic aspects of the project should discuss their interests with the program director prior to applying.

The scholar’s non-supported effort must be devoted to activities related to the development of a successful clinical and translational research career. Typically these activities include clinical, administrative, and/or teaching efforts. Divisions/departments must not require extra duties or responsibilities that reduce the scholar’s protected time and interfere with the purpose of the KL2 award. An audit may be conducted to ensure compliance.

Yes, this is allowed as long as your paid effort is outside of the 75% KL2-supported effort.

Yes, however, these research projects should all be aligned with your overall research theme, objectives, and specific aims. Since you will need to account for all of your time, you will want to address this in your application.