NIH K23 Grants — Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award
Mentored training for clinicians doing patient-oriented research
Funding
Salary support + ~$30K research/year
Duration
3–5 years
Eligibility
Clinicians focused on patient-oriented research
Activity code
K23
What is the NIH K23 grant?
The K23 is the NIH career development award for clinicians doing patient-oriented research — clinical trials, observational studies, behavioral interventions, and other research that directly involves human subjects. Like K08, it provides 75% protected research time and a research allowance for 3–5 years.
Recent K23 awards (last 24 months)
Live data from NIH RePORTER1,784
Awards
$88,871,350
Total funding (sample)
$177,743
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 K23 grants
Autumn Rae Florimbio · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR, MI · NIH
$196,560
FY 2026
Project: 5K23DA059484-03
Samuel Cooper · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, TX · NIH
$693,138
FY 2026
Project: 4K23MH138889-02
Joseph Crivelli · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM, AL · NIH
$183,174
FY 2026
Project: 5K23DK135844-04
Sarah Cuddy · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL, MA · NIH
$184,537
FY 2026
Project: 5K23HL166686-04
Vance Albaugh · LSU PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CTR, LA · NIH
$178,740
FY 2026
Project: 5K23DK138261-03
Aubrey Armento · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER, CO · NIH
$163,825
FY 2026
Project: 1K23HD120665-01
Sung-Min Cho · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, MD · NIH
$138,226
FY 2026
Project: 5K23HL157610-05
Lilangi Ediriwickrema · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE, CA · NIH
$257,920
FY 2026
Project: 5K23EY036491-02
Top NIH institutes funding K23
By total funding in the last 24 months
- 1.NIH500 · $88,871,350
Top funded institutions
Most K23 awards in the last 24 months
- 1.UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO29 awards
- 2.MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL28 awards
- 3.UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA24 awards
- 4.UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR19 awards
- 5.JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY16 awards
- 6.UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES15 awards
Who applies for K23
When to choose K23
When NOT to choose K23
Search tips for K23
- K23 awards are useful predictors of clinical trial PIs in early career.
Search NIH grants by activity code
Find K23-funded PIs
K23 funding trends
K23 frequently asked questions
What is the difference between K08 and K23?
K08 = lab research for clinicians. K23 = patient-oriented research for clinicians. Both are 3–5 year mentored awards with 75% effort.
Related NIH grant types
Mentored Clinical Scientist Career Development Award
Mentored research training for clinician-scientists doing lab/translational research
Pathway to Independence Award
Postdoc → faculty transition (mentored K99 then independent R00)
Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award
Career development for new investigators needing mentored training
Mid-Career Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research
Protected time for established clinician-scientists to mentor