Mitchell Wong, MD, PhD “UCLA CTSI KL2 Award” Associate Professor of Medicine Executive Co-Director, Specialty Training and Advanced Research (STAR) Program Director, UCLA CTSI KL2 Program Co-Program Leader, Research Education, Training and Career Development Program

1. UCLA CTSI KL2
Translational Science Award
Mitchell Wong, MD PhD
Director, KL2 Program

2. Award Overview
• Career development support for junior faculty
within the UCLA CTSI Consortium
• Interdisciplinary, translational science (basic,
clinical and HSR)
• Similar in structure to K08/K23 award

3. Support
• Annual award, renewable for up to 3-years
• Support
– $75k salary plus benefits
– $25k research support
– $4k for tuition or coursework
– $2k for travel
– $1500 for statistical support in addition to in-kind
support from DOM Stats

4. Eligibility
• Doctoral level research degree or professional degree
(with advanced research training)
• Faculty level title as of July 1, 2013 at a UCLA CTSI
Institution
• Commit 75% of effort to translational research and
aims of the KL2 (50% minimum for some specialties
like surgery)
• U.S. Citizen or non-citizen national, permanent U.S.
resident

5. Eligibility (Prior/Pending Grants)
• May have had a small grant (R03, R21)
• May have had prior K12 funding (total K funding cannot
exceed 5 years)
• Cannot have:
– Prior or current PI of a NIH R01 or equivalent grant (direct
costs>$100k per year)
– Prior or current PI of a K08/K23 award
– Prior or current PI of a VA Career Development or R01
Equivalent grant
– PI of a pending K award application, pending R award in
similar area
– Current co-investigator funding on an R01/Project grant

6. Future Funding for KL2
• KL2 Awardees may apply for K08/K23 or VA CDAs
– Must relinquish KL2 if awardee receives NIH/VA CDA
– Total CDA funding (KL2 + individual CDA) cannot exceed 5
years.
• KL2 Awardees may apply for R01, Program grants
– Must maintain 75% effort on KL2 in year 1
– May decrease to 50% effort in last 2 years of K support

7. Selection Criteria
1. Proposed research- Quality, innovation, significance,
feasibility, promise for future funding, relevance to
interdisciplinary, translational research
2. Candidate- Training, productivity, promise
3. Mentor- Track record in mentorship and research,
commitment to candidate
4. Educational Plan- Well described and planned, fit with
research plan, provides candidate with new skill set
5. (Environment)- Commitment from institution,
department/division, availability of support and
resources to conduct research and educational plan

8. Application Components
• Letter of intent- Name, mentor, title, biosketch, specific aims
(to help KL2 selection committee identify appropriate
reviewers)
• Application (6 pages)- Research, Education and Career Plan
• Mentor’s Letter (2 pages)
• Institutional Letter (2 pages) from department chair or division
chief
• Letters of support (2 max)
• Candidate’s CV and other support page
• Mentor’s Biosketch
• Budget and budget justification
• References
• Data and Safety Monitoring Plan (when applicable)
• Appendices allowable (e.g. letter of support for use of
equipment or data)

9. Timeline
• Letter of intent deadline February 4, 2013
• Application deadline February 25, 2013
• Awardees will be notified in late April 2013
• Grant start date July 1, 2013
• Research funds will not be released until IRB
approval received

10. Common Pitfalls
• Inadequate education plan that does not tie in
to research plan
• Lack of clear commitment from
division/department
• Not in a faculty position by 7/1/2013

11. Common Questions
• Is start date flexible? No
• Can postdoctoral fellows apply? Yes, if they have a faculty appointment
no later than 7/1/2013
• Does the mentor need to be at a UCLA CTSI Institution? No, but distance
mentoring is difficult so if the primary mentor is not local, that may raise
concern.
• Does the project have to involve direct patient contact? No.
• Ok to have a VA CDA? No.
• Can an applicant have a J1 Visa? No.
• I don’t have my junior faculty appointment yet? Need an appointment by
7/1/2013. If in process, have the chief or chair indicate in their letter the
commitment to your faculty appointment by 7/1/2013.