Purpose

The goal of the Early Career Training Grant Pilot Program is to increase the number of independent kidney researchers by providing protected time for senior post-docs, clinical fellows participating in research-oriented fellowships, and early career faculty interested in kidney research. This grant is intended to provide protected time to awardees to help strengthen their application for a career development grant (e.g., a K grant from the National Institutes of Health or equivalent). The ideal candidate would be an individual who has completed 2-3 years of research training and needs support for the next 2 years.

Applicants interested in clinical, translational, implementation, and basic science may submit a research proposal that examines any aspect of the entire spectrum of kidney biology and disease. KidneyCure invites applications from individuals whose personal backgrounds or life experiences may contribute valuable perspectives to nephrology, particularly those who have encountered barriers to entry in the field and candidates who are not eligible for federal training grants because of immigration status. KidneyCure grants are available to non-U.S. citizens so long as they are working in North or Central America or in the Caribbean region during the grant term.

Eligibility

This mechanism is intended for applicants who are not eligible for a Ben J. Lipps Research Fellowship and who are not ready to apply for a Transition to Independence Grant. Applicants may only apply to one KidneyCure grant mechanism per grant cycle. Please consult with KidneyCure to determine which mechanism is right for you.

To apply, candidates:

1. Must hold an MD, DO, PhD, or equivalent degree.
2. Must be less than seven years from earning an MD, DO, MD/PhD, or equivalent (excluding residency, fellowship, and any time spent earning a Master's in Clinical Research) on July 1, 2027.
3. Must be less than seven years from earning a PhD on July 1, 2027.
4. Must be an active member of ASN when the application cycle closes on Thursday, November 19, 2026. The sponsor and all co-sponsors of the candidate must also be active members of ASN when the application cycle closes on Thursday, November 19, 2026.
5. Must complete research under the direction and mentorship of a sponsor.
6. Must be working in North or Central America, or the Caribbean during the grant period.
7. Must commit a minimum of 75% time to research during the award period.
8. May not hold an academic title higher than Assistant Professor.

Review Criteria and Review Process

The review panel will assess each application based on the following review criteria:

1. The potential of the applicant to be competitive for K-level funding from the National Institutes of Health (or equivalent), or another equivalent career trajectory grant if ineligible for NIH funding by the end of the grant period.
2. The qualifications of the applicant with respect to prior training, productivity, independence, collaborative spirit, and a vision for impact, as well as the scientific merit of the proposed project.
3. The applicant's potential for success in building programs in the basic science, translational science, and clinical science domains.
4. The sponsor's track record of developing independent kidney researchers and the institution's ability to support an independent research career will also be considered.
5. The institution's commitment to provide cost sharing and resources to support the completion of the proposed study.

Applicants can expect to receive notice of their status in the early spring following the application deadline.

KidneyCure will make an award solely in accordance with KidneyCure policies, payment, and schedule regulations as described in the original Notice of Award and Grant Stipulations.

AI Use Policy

The submission of images created by artificial intelligence, machine learning tools, or similar technologies is discouraged, unless part of formal research design or methods, and is not permitted without clear description of the content that was created and the name of the model or tool, version and extension numbers, and manufacturer. If large language models (LLM)/artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT, are used to create content or assist with writing or application preparation, applicants must take responsibility for the integrity of the content generated by these tools. Applicants should report the use of artificial intelligence, language models, machine learning, or similar technologies to create content or assist with writing or editing of manuscripts in the Citations section if these tools are used in part of formal research design or methods. These citations should include a description of the content that was created or edited and the name of the language model or tool, version and extension numbers, manufacturer, date(s) of use, and confirmation that the authors take responsibility for the integrity of the content generated. Note: this does not include basic tools for checking grammar, spelling, references, etc.