For aspiring clinical investigators, career development awards provide a primary mechanism for “getting funded.” The objective
of this article is to provide information that will facilitate a successful application for a research career development
award. Specifically, we discuss important issues that cut across the diverse array of awards, and we highlight the most common
sources of funding, including the unique opportunities that are available for underrepresented minorities. The target audience
includes junior faculty and fellows who are pursuing or considering a research career in academic medicine, as well as their
mentors and program directors.
Key words career development - academic medicine - research training
Presented as a workshop at the annual meeting of the Society of General Internal Medicine, Vancouver, British Columbia, May
2, 2003.
Dr. Gill is the recipient of a Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24AG021507) from the National Institute
on Aging. Dr. McDermott is the recipient of an Established Investigator Award from the American Heart Association. Dr. Ibrahim
is the recipient of a VA HSR&D Career Development Award and a Robert Wood Johnson Minority Medical Faculty Development Award.
Dr. Petersen is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Generalist Physician Faculty Scholar. Dr. Doebbeling is the recipient of
a Research Career Development Award (K01OH00131) from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.