Deadlines and Submission Links
KL2 Program
Alert
The 2025 KL2 Application is now closed. The 2026 KL2 Application will open by July 2025.
The KL2 Award
The UCLA CTSI KL2 program supports qualified junior faculty from any of the four partnered institutions (UCLA, Cedars-Sinai, Charles R. Drew University, and Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA) to conduct mentored, interdisciplinary, and translational research (T1-T4). The program is specifically designed to meet an important goal of the UCLA CTSI: To provide the next generation of researchers with the scientific training they need to conduct research across medicine, engineering, social sciences, and other disciplines to improve health.
The UCLA CTSI encourages junior faculty from varied scientific disciplines to apply for the KL2 program to bring different perspectives, creativity, and individual expertise to address complex scientific problems. There are many benefits that flow from a multidisciplinary scientific workforce, including: fostering scientific innovation, enhancing global competitiveness, contributing to robust learning environments, improving the quality of the research, and advancing translational science.
KL2 Scholars may receive up to 3 years of funding or until receipt of an individual NIH K award (or equivalent grant from the Veterans Administration or foundation), whichever comes first. Continued KL2 support in Years 2 and 3 will be contingent on the scholar’s performance during the prior year(s). Please note that funding after May 31, 2027 is also contingent on the renewal of the UCLA CTSI grant.
Direct costs may not exceed $130,000 per year (see categories below).
| Salary Support | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scholar salary (75% effort) | $75,000 | |
| Scholar fringe benefits Research expenses (UCLA applicants must include TIF) Tuition/career development (excludes scientific memberships) Statistical support |
$53,000 | |
| Travel for scientific conferences | $2,000 | |
| Maximum direct costs/year | $130,000 |
| KL2 Important Dates | Updated June 2024 |
|---|---|
| REQUIRED Pre-Application Deadline | September 3, 2024 |
| Invitations for Full Applications and Pre-Application Feedback | October 2024 |
| Full Application Deadline (selected applicants) | January 22, 2025 |
| Invitations for Interviews (selected applicants) | March 2025 |
| Selected Candidate Interviews | April 2025 |
| Award Notifications | June 2025 |
| Grant Start Date | July 1, 2025 |
- Possess a doctoral-level degree (e.g., MD, PhD, DDS, PharmD)
- Have a full-time junior faculty appointment at one of the four UCLA CTSI partnered institutions (UCLA, Cedars-Sinai, Charles R. Drew University, and Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA) in any series at or above the clinical instructor level as of the grant start date.
- U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or permanent resident by the grant start date. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible.
- Commit 75% of professional effort (9 calendar months) to the KL2 Program. Those in surgical specialties may request a lower level of effort, but in no case lower than 50%, with the level of CTSI KL2 salary support being reduced proportionately. To request a lower level of effort, please contact CTSIWD@mednet.ucla.edu by the full application deadline so a formal request can be submitted to the NIH.
- Not be or have been a principal investigator on an NIH R01, or project leader on a subproject of a Program Project (P01), Center (P50, P60, U54), mentored career development grant (K23, K08, K01, etc.), or equivalent non-PHS peer reviewed research grant that is over $100,000 in direct costs per year. May have had support on a non-federal grant, a NRSA grant (F or T) or have been PI of an NIH small grant (R03 or R21). Note: Candidates may have had previous support on a K12 award, but the total K12+KL2 duration of support cannot extend beyond five years.
Simultaneous KL2 and NIH K (e.g. K01, K08, K23, etc.) applications are not allowable. Everyone is encouraged to submit a KL2 pre-application. However, if you submit an NIH K application in January, February or March 2024, you are not eligible to submit a KL2 full application.
Required Pre-Application
This pre-application is comprised of a 2-page application (plus candidate’s biosketch, mentor’s letter and biosketch), which will be reviewed by the KL2 Selection Committee. Only a portion of pre-applications will be asked to submit a full application.
- NIH-formatted Biosketch of CTSI KL2 candidate
- Personal Statement must include the justification for the need of training
- NIH-formatted Biosketch of the primary mentor
- Primary Mentor’s Letter of Support (1 page maximum)
- Specific Aims of the Proposed Project and Relevant Preliminary Data (1½ page maximum)
- You may include a Bibliography & References Cited and it would not count towards the page limit.
- Candidate’s Statement (½ page maximum): Describe your previous research experience and training goals for the KL2.
Pre-Application Submission link: Link TBD.
CLICK HERE to view the full 2025 KL2 RFA.
Sample instructions are posted here as a general guide. Instructions are updated each year so please refer to the RFA for the most current details.
- NIH-formatted Biosketch of the CTSI KL2 candidate
- NIH-formatted Other Support Pages of the CTSI KL2 candidate
- Project Summary/Abstract (30 lines of text maximum)
- Specific Aims (1 page maximum)
- Program Plan (12 pages maximum)
- Authentication of Key Biological and/or Chemical Resources (1 page maximum)
- Protection of Human Subjects (required for research involving human subjects)
- Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Inclusion Across the Lifespan (required for research involving human subjects)
- The inclusion of participants documents are still required by NIH, please refer to https://grants.nih.gov/news-events/nih-extramural-nexus-news/2025/05/reminder-about-inclusion-of-participants-in-clinical-research
- PHS Inclusion Enrollment Report (required for research involving human subjects)
- Data and Safety Monitoring Plan (required for research involving human subjects)
- Vertebrate Animals (when applicable)
- Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research (1 page maximum)
- Letters of Support from Mentoring Team (6 pages maximum)
- Institutional Letter of Support (2 pages maximum)
- Mentoring Team NIH-formatted Biosketches
- NIH-formatted Detailed Budget (Form Page 4) and Budget Justification
- Bibliography & References Cited
Selected candidates will be invited for an interview with the KL2 Directors.