TABLE 4.

NIH Institutes and Centers with Effort Exceptions for Surgeon Scientist K-Awards

NIH Institute or Center	Eligibility and Surgical Specialty Effort Exception	Reference
NIDDK and NCI	“In an effort to accommodate the training needs of urologic surgeons, the NIDDK and NCI will allow highly motivated urologic surgeons to apply for K08 grants, and the K23 with a less than 75% effort.”	35
NHLBI	“The purpose of this Notice is to announce that for due dates on or after February 12, 2017, NHLBI will allow cardiothoracic, vascular, and trauma surgeons, interventional cardiologists, and electrophysiology cardiologists to request less than the required 75% effort for the specific purpose of maintaining specialty clinical competency skills. Applicants may not request less than 50% effort and must provide a justification clearly stating the reasons for the reduced amount of effort.”	36
NCI	NCI Request for Information (RFI) pending: “NCI now proposes to make the following change: To allow U.S.-licensed surgeon scientists with active surgical duties to request less than the required 75% effort under a K08 career development award for the specific purpose of maintaining specialty clinical competency. Applicants may not request less than 50% effort devoted to research and career development activities and must provide a justification clearly stating the reasons for the reduced amount of effort.”	37
NEI	“Scholars who are ophthalmic surgeons may request between 6 and 9 person-mo (50% to 75%) of full-time professional effort conducting research and career development activities.”	38
NIAMS	“Salary support: Up to $100,000 plus fringe benefits per year for a minimum of 75% effort (with the exception of orthopedic surgeons, who may devote a minimum of 50% effort.”	38
NIDCD	“Surgeon scientists must devote a minimum of 50% full time professional effort to research and career development activities associated with the K award.”	38
NIMH	“Neurosurgeons must devote a minimum of 50% full time professional effort to research and career development activities associated with the K award.”	38
NINDS	“Neurosurgeons must devote a minimum of 50% full time professional effort to research and career development activities associated with the K award.”	38
NCATS (KL2 through CTSA)	“In general, 9 person-mo (75% of the KL2 full-time professional effort) must be devoted to the KL2 program, except for those in surgical specialties, which can have less than 9 person-mo (75%), but no less than 6 person-mo (50%), protected time for this program, if sufficiently justified and programmatically approved.”	38

CTSA, Clinical and Translational Science Awards; NCATS, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; NCI, National Cancer Institute; NEI, National Eye Institute; NIAMS, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases; NIDCD, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders; NIMH, National Institute of Mental Health; NINDS, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; NHLBI, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; NIDDK, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.