How to Apply for a Clinical & Translational Science (CATS) Scholars Award

January 11, 2021

Shane Phillips, PT, PhDProgram Director

Joanna Burdette, PhD Associate Program Director

• Overview of the Program

• Current K Scholar Demographics

• Application Requirements

• Timeline for LOI, Application,

Review and Appointment

• Q & A

Outline

• Overview of the Program

• Current K Scholar Demographics

• Application Requirements

• Timeline for LOI, Application,

Review and Appointment

• Q & A

Outline

Overview of the Program

• Two year award that provides a vigorous mentoring and career development program for clinical and translational scholars in disciplines and professions such as medicine, dentistry, exercise physiology, nursing, psychology, public health, pharmacy, engineering and physical & occupational therapy.

• Program Mission: Accelerate career progression of scientists who have demonstrated a commitment to clinical and/or translational research.

CATS Scholars Program Overview

Program Benefits for the Scholar

• 75% release time for research and career development, which will be funded by the CATS Program up to $100,000

• Funds to support scholarly activities (Scholars will receive $25,000 annually to support their scholarly activities, as well as $2,500/year for research related travel)

• Individualized career planning and formalized annual review of progress

• Monthly career development workshops and activities

• Peer review of grants and external presentations

• Mentoring from senior faculty

• Access to subsidized CCTS core services (requires submission of an application/proposal for approval)

CATS Scholars Program Overview

• Overview of the Program

• Current CATS Scholars

• Application Requirements

• Timeline for LOI, Application, Review

and Appointment

• Q & A

Outline

Current CATS Scholars

Mia Cajita, PhD, RN

Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, Dept. of Biobehavioral Health ScienceHealth Literacy-based Heart Failure Self-Care Intervention

Betsy Cliff, PhD

Assistant Professor, School of Public Health, Dept. of Health Policy and AdministrationHealth Service Utilization and Value in High-Deductible Health Plans

Andrew Riley, PhD

Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy, Dept. of Medicinal Chemistry and PharmacognosyAkuamma Alkaloids: A New Class of Opioids for Improved Pain Management

Cemal Yazici, MD

Assistant Professor, College of Medicine, Internal Medicine/ GastroenterologyThe Role of Diet and Gut Microbiome in Acute Pancreatitis and Health Disparities

Current Affiliate Scholars

Natasha Crooks, PhD, RNAssistant Professor, College of Nursing, Dept. of Women,

Children and Family Health ScienceIdentifying at risk Black girls for early sex and STI/HIV prevention

Stephanie Toth-Manikowski, MD, MHSAssistant Professor, College of Medicine, Dept. of Medicine, Division of NephrologyAcculturation and Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes in U.S. Hispanics/Latinos

• Overview of the Program

• Current K Scholar Demographics

• Application Eligibility

Requirements

• Timeline for LOI, Application,

Review and Appointment

• Q & A

Outline

Application Requirements

Application Eligibility Requirements

• Junior faculty (assistant professor and below) holding a research and/or health-professional doctoral degree or its equivalent and prior research training, e.g., the MS CTS (through the CCTS), a PhD, MD, or equivalent

• Department/unit assurance of 75% protected time for research once in the program

• Substantial prior research experience that allows development of an independent research program

• Primary research interest in clinical and/or translational science

• Interest in active participation in a mentored career development program

• NIH requires that applicants must be United States citizens, non-citizen nationals, or individuals lawfully admitted for permanent residence who hold an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-151 or I-551, or some other verification of legal admission as a permanent resident). Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible.

• Those who have served as former or current principal investigators on any NIH research project grant (other than NIH Small Grants (R03) or Exploratory/ Developmental (R21) grants or their equivalents), or on any equivalent non-PHS peer-reviewed research grants that are over $100,000 direct costs per year, or as project leaders on sub-projects of program project (P01) or center grants (e.g. a P50 grant).

• Candidates who have a currently pending NIH K series application

Not Eligible to Apply

Application Submission:

• All documents will be submitted through CCTS grants management system.

URL: https://awards.ccts.uic.edu/

Application Format:

• Personal statement (1 page limit)

• Career Development Needs and Plans (1 page limit)

• Research Strategy (2 page limit)

• IRB and IACUC Approvals

• Potential Mentors

• Biosketch

• Nomination Letter written by Applicants Department Head and Co-Signed as Approved by the College Dean

• Letters of Recommendation (2)

Application Requirements

• Overview of the Program

• Current K Scholar Demographics

• Application Requirements

• Timeline for application, review

and appointment

• Q & A

Outline

Timeline

• Online submission of full applications opens February 1, 2021

• Application deadline: March 1, 2021

• Review committee meets to review applications

• June 1, 2021 scholar appointments begin

• Overview of the Program

• Current K Scholar Demographics

• Application Requirements

• Timeline for LOI, Application,

Review and Appointment

• Q & A

Outline

Questions? ContactsKL2 Scholar Programmatic Questions:

Dr. Shane Phillips, Director, (shanep@uic.edu)

Dr. Joanna Burdette, Co-Director (joannab@uic.edu)

Application Questions:

Charlotte Jackson, Program Coordinator

(ccjacks2@uic.edu)

Julie C. Kong, Associate Director (jckong@uic.edu)

Q & A