The KL2 Program provides career development support for junior faculty through renewable 3-year awards including salary, research funding, and tuition/training support. Eligible candidates hold a doctoral or professional degree and faculty position at a UCLA CTSI institution. Successful applicants will have a well-defined educational plan that enhances their interdisciplinary translational research, strong mentor support, and commitment from their institution. The next application deadline is in late February 2014.

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

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, 2014 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 Grant)
• 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 non-PHS
reviewed research 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

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 early February 2014
• Application deadline late February 2014
• Awardees will be notified in late April 2014
• Grant start date July 1, 2014
• 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 7/1/2014

11. Common Questions
• Is start date flexible? No
• Can postdoctoral fellows apply? Yes, if they have a faculty appointment
no later than 7/1/2014
• 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 7/1/2014. If in process, have the chief or chair indicate in their letter
the commitment to your faculty appointment by 7/1/2014.