ICTR Internal KL2 FAQs

The purpose of the ICTR KL2 is to provide support for clinical and translational research training and career development of persons in relevant disciplines and professions from the six professional schools on the UMB campus (Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Social Work).

The KL2 awardees will have structured, core didactic coursework; training in the design, conduct, and analysis of clinical research in team settings (protocol development, preparation of IRB applications, clinical research/trial management, patient accrual, data collection, analysis and manuscript writing); conduct of a research project under the supervision of mentors and; engagement in a related career development activities and seminars that include an introduction to innovative methodologic approaches to translational science and regular research-in-progress presentations.

No.

ICTR KL2 awardees will receive support for up to three years of ongoing support is contingent upon the Scholar making adequate progress in the program and completing program requirements.

The KL2 awards in general have a shorter duration (3 years) than the NIH individual K awards (K23, K08, etc). The CTSA KL2 award is funded by the NIH CTSA, while the ICTR KL2 Awards are funded by the individual participating UMB Schools.  

Yes, if you applied for the CTSA KL2 Award and did not receive the award, we will automatically consider your application for the Internal KL2 Award. You will be given the opportunity to write a cover letter stating how you are planning to address the critiqued points in your CTSA KL2 application. 

In order to be eligible for consideration for the University of Maryland Baltimore Clinical Research Scholars Program, applicants must meet each of the following criteria:

• Research or health-professional doctoral degree or equivalent, including but not limited to MD, MBBS, DO, DDS, PhD, PharmD, OD, PsyD, DPH; Epidemiologists, behavioral scientists and nurses with clinically relevant doctoral degrees are eligible as well.
• A full-time junior faculty up to Assistant Professor for less than 5 years (total), from the University of Maryland Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry or Social Work by the date of receipt of the award. Postdoctoral clinical fellows with a pending faculty appointment are eligible to apply. The faculty appointment cannot be dependent upon receipt of the KL2 award.
• At least 75% protected time available for research and training for the next three years. With justification, this can be reduced to 50% for those that are in surgery or surgical subspecialties. Justification will require documentation that more than a 25% clinical commitment is required in order to avoid loss of competence or credentialing in special clinical skills.
• A commitment to a career focused on clinical investigation.
• A commitment to additional training, which may include:
  • MS in an area of clinical research (e.g. Public Health, Informatics, Clinical Epidemiology, Clinical Investigation, Biostatistics, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, or Health Science)
  • Proposal for coursework/training relevant to Scholar needs
• Identification of and support from at least one, but ideally an interdisciplinary team of active UMB and potentially, external faculty mentor(s), established and successful in clinical investigation.
• United States citizenship, permanent resident, or non-citizen national status (persons born in outlying possessions of the United States, limited to American Samoa, Swain’s Island, or the unincorporated United States Minor Outlying Islands) at the time the application is submitted. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible. Proof of residency may be required.
• Have NOT served as Principal Investigator on an NIH R01, sub-project of P-series program project award or U-series research grant or been recipient of any NIH K-series award (this does not include NIH Small Grants (R03) or Exploratory/Developmental (R21) grants or their equivalents).
• Must NOT have an active NIH K-series award application pending. Specifically, this means that K23 applicants may not simultaneously apply for the KL2. However, once appointed, KL2 Scholars may apply for K23 support – and are encouraged to do so.
• For additional research projects, the effort not directly committed to the K award (commonly up to 25%), KL2 award recipients may devote effort, with compensation, from Federal or non-Federal research projects as principal investigator, or in another role (e.g., co-Investigator), as long the specific aims of the other supporting grant(s) differ from those of the K award.

The UMB ICTR is committed to increasing the participation of women and individuals from ethnic or racial groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. Such groups include American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African-American, Hispanic or Latino, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Applications from women and minority candidates are encouraged. In addition, accommodations will be made to assist any individuals with disabilities so those persons who are qualified applicants can complete the program.

Yes

No, postdoctoral clinical fellows with a pending faculty appointment are also eligible to apply, however, the faculty appointment cannot be dependent upon receipt of the ICTR KL2 award.

Yes! We expect the ICTR KL2 awardee to submit a K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award or equivalent NIH K award application by the end of the second year.

If the aims of the R21 and KL2 are the same, you are eligible to apply for the KL2. If you receive both the KL2 and the R21, you will have to choose between the two awards. However, if the aims of the 2 awards are different and you devote the minimum required effort to the KL2 (typically 75%), then you may receive both the R21 and KL2. Per the new NIH guidelines below, for effort beyond the minimum required for the K award (typically 75%), K scholars may now devote up to 25% effort and receive salary support on a federal project as a Co-Investigator or other role on the project, including PI, as long as the specific aims of the other support grant(s) differ from their K award. 

Per the guidance, “...the remaining effort (up to 25%) can be devoted to additional research, teaching, clinical work, or other efforts complementary to career development of the K awardee...As long the specific aims of the other supporting grant(s) differ from those of the K award.”

Applicants cannot have a VA Career Development Award at the time of the KL2 application but can apply for one as a KL2 Scholar. If awarded a VA Career Development Award, the Scholar will transition off the ICTR KL2 program.

Individuals who are United States citizens, permanent residents, or have non-citizen national status (persons born in outlying possessions of the United States, limited to American Samoa, Swain’s Island, or the unincorporated United States Minor Outlying Islands) at the time the application is submitted are eligible to apply. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible. Proof of residency may be required.

Our goal is to select candidates who, with proper career development and clinical and/or translational research training, have potential to become independently funded, successful and ethical clinical investigators. A committee of faculty from the UMB Schools and a diversity advocate will review applications, interview candidates and select awardees. Interviews will be conducted and awards will be announced in July. Decisions will be based on the strength of the application materials submitted, the overall potential of the applicant and the track record of the mentor(s).

No, UMB ICTR KL2 awards are specific to UMB and cannot be transferred.

UMB Master’s Degree and Certificate Programs include those listed in this PDF:

We will accept applications until 5 p.m. EST on June 7^th, 2019. A committee of UMB faculty will review the applications and invite selected candidates to interview in early to mid-July 2019 and then the committee will select awardees. Applicants will be notified of results in mid-July. The anticipated start date for the award is August 1^st, 2019. 

Mentors should be experienced, funded clinical investigators. Preferably there should be an interdisciplinary team of mentors.

Yes

No

ICTR KL2 award applicants are responsible for identifying their mentor(s).  Although the applicant must identify and have the support from at least one mentor, ideally an applicant will identify an interdisciplinary team of UMB active faculty mentor(s) who are established and successful in clinical investigation. Your mentor(s) should be committed to your research goals.

Yes

KL2 mentors are expected to:

• Meet with the KL2 scholar mentee at least every 2 weeks to supervise the development and implementation of the scholar’s project,
• Provide feedback, and guide the scholar’s career development,
• Submit biannual mentor reports,
• Attend the Scholar’s annual RIP presentation, and to
• Attend a Mentor Skills Development Workshop

• Scholars are expected to complete at least one year of structured, didactic coursework, preferably leading to an advanced degree
• Scholars are expected to submit a federally funded Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award, equivalent to NIH K award or an NIH R by the end of the second year
• Annual participation in the Translational Science Annual meeting is required
• Participation in required program activities over the three-year period of combined support – including our monthly Grants-in-Progress meetings and monthly CATALiST Seminar Series.
• Demonstration of ongoing participation in mentors’ multidisciplinary clinical research team(s)
• Scholars are required to submit biannual progress reports to the ICTR
• Extensions of support or leaves of absence are possible only under exceptional circumstances
• Scholars are expected to update the program on publications, grants, and awards after the appointment

- Scholars will receive up to $110,000 plus fringe in salary support proportional to effort committed to program activities (required 75%) for up to three years (ongoing support is contingent upon the Scholar making adequate progress in the program and completing program requirements). 

- Tuition fees for full-time faculty at UMB undergoing a master’s degree will be supported by UMB. A travel stipend of $2500 and research funds up to $20,000 per year upon approval to cover related activities such as (supplies, computers/software, biostatistics services, personnel, and other project infrastructure) will also be provided to each UMB KL2 Scholar. 

- Annual travel costs ($2,500) are allowable to attend the National CTSA career development meetings including the annual Society of Clinical and Translational Science meeting as well as, other relevant scientific meetings and research training opportunities.

The KL2 award does NOT include indirect costs. It does include fringe benefits.

The 75% protected time is to be utilized to fulfill the requirements of the ICTR KL2 award only.

Yes

Scholars are expected to submit a federally funded Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award, equivalent NIH K award or an NIH R application by the end of the second year.  The KL2 Scholar can apply as a principal investigator for an R03 or R21 or other non-federally funded grant.

Effort can be reduced to 50% for those that are in surgery or surgical subspecialties with justification. Justification will require documentation that more than a 25% clinical commitment is required in order to avoid loss of competence or credentialing in special clinical skills.

The remaining effort (up to 25%) can be devoted to additional research, teaching, clinical work, or other efforts complementary to career development of the K awardee.

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

Salary is subject to state and federal income taxes. Educational loans cannot be deferred while on the KL2 program.

Possibly, depending upon the extent of commitment (percent effort) to the VA. Federal salaries cannot be considered as part of the KL2 commitment as federal salaries are separate appointments that are not included in the institutional appointment or payroll distribution. Thus, KL2 scholars may NOT be supplemented with VA sources in a manner to meet the basic eligibility requirement of a KL2 (75 percent of a full-time appointment with the institution).

Two letters of support should be written by faculty and/or past mentors/advisors who can assess the candidate’s ability. These letters are in addition to the nomination letter and should not be written by your primary mentor or Department/Division directors.

If you are including more than one mentor in your proposal, please include a letter of support from each of the secondary mentors as well as their biosketches.

Letters of support should be emailed directly by the letter writers at ICTR-Navigator@umaryland.edu no later than the application deadline. The required 'reference forms' are part of the online application, where the applicant is asked to enter the letter writers' name and contact info. 

The nomination letter should be written by the primary mentor and the Division/Department Director (though separate letters are also acceptable). It should be emailed by the letter writer to ICTR-Navigator@umaryland.edu no later than the application deadline.

The letter should address:

- Career development plans for the candidate and how the award would facilitate these plans

- Candidate’s potential for a successful academic career in clinical investigation including a listing of any supporting past accomplishments

- Mentor’s/division’s commitment to the candidate’s career development, including what commitment and/or plans there are for the nominee should a KL2 Award NOT be made

- Assurance of a third year of support and dedicated research time from the division/department – a specific commitment to salary support and at least 75% effort for research to complement the two-year KL2 award, including identifying the likely source of such support (During this third year, there is no salary/stipend, tuition, research or mentor funding from the KL2 Scholar Program). The nomination letter must specifically state, “I/We will guarantee a third year of salary support for Dr. X with (indicate the source of support) and protect his/her time so that at least 75% time is available for the pursuit of research, education and training activities for three years.” 

- Provisions (if any) made for faculty advancement, mentoring, space and other support

- SOM faculty may need mention of additional salary support during the initial two years from their Chair

Yes, an NIH biosketch of each mentor must be submitted.

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