KK Series — Career Development

NIH K01 Grants — Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award

Career development for new investigators needing mentored training

Funding

Salary up to ~$100K + research support (varies by IC)

Duration

3–5 years

Eligibility

PhDs in early career; specifics vary by IC

Activity code

K01

What is the NIH K01 grant?

The K01 is a mentored career development award for early-career researchers (typically PhDs) who need protected research time and mentoring to transition toward independence. Eligibility and program scope vary substantially by institute.

Recent K01 awards (last 24 months)

Live data from NIH RePORTER

1,364

Awards

$76,255,809

Total funding (sample)

$152,512

Average award

Sample reflects up to the most recent 500 NIH RePORTER awards with this activity code in the past 24 months. Total project count is the full RePORTER count.

Most recently awarded K01 grants

Roles of Autophagy in Microglial Senescence and Parkinsons Disease

Insup Choi · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AT CHICAGO, IL · NIH

$125,361

FY 2026

Project: 5K01AG078442-04

Sex-specific determinants of muscle quality in older adults

Jacob Earp · UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT STORRS, CT · NIH

$116,472

FY 2026

Project: 5K01AG092901-02

$134,811

FY 2026

Project: 5K01MD017626-03

$124,859

FY 2026

Project: 5K01AG078485-05

Engineered Hydrogel Elucidates the Contribution of ECM Stiffness to Barrett's Esophagus Pathogenesis

Ricardo Cruz Acuna · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES, NY · NIH

$152,680

FY 2026

Project: 5K01DK133620-04

Project: 5K01DK141969-02

$135,702

FY 2026

Project: 5K01MD019320-03

Top NIH institutes funding K01

By total funding in the last 24 months

  1. 1.NIH498 · $76,039,815
  2. 2.ALLCDC2 · $215,994

Top funded institutions

Most K01 awards in the last 24 months

  1. 1.JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY15 awards
  2. 2.UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES14 awards
  3. 3.UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO13 awards
  4. 4.NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE12 awards
  5. 5.YALE UNIVERSITY11 awards
  6. 6.UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH11 awards

Who applies for K01

Early-career PhDs (often basic or behavioral scientists) seeking 3–5 years of mentored research training and protected effort.

When to choose K01

Choose K01 when you need substantial mentored research effort and your institute participates in K01.

When NOT to choose K01

Clinicians should typically use K08 (lab) or K23 (patient-oriented) rather than K01.

Search tips for K01

  • K01 eligibility and scope differ by IC — check FOA carefully.

Search NIH grants by activity code

Find K01-funded PIs

K01 funding trends

Related NIH grant types