The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage institutions to propose creative and innovative institutional research career development programs which prepare clinically-trained vision scientists for independent research careers.

This initiative is intended to

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expand and strengthen the community of investigators engaged in clinical research.

Such an increase in the number of well-trained clinical researchers is necessary to achieve a pool of scientists with contemporary, multidisciplinary expertise able to leverage recent advances in ocular genetics, therapeutics, bioengineering, and bio-behavioral research in order to enhance patient treatment and to increase scientific momentum in these fields.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) allows appointment of Scholars (K12) proposing a separate ancillary study to an existing trial or proposing to gain research experience in a clinical trial led by another investigator, as part of their research and career development.

Applications supported by this FOA that meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial (see NOT-OD-15-015) must also fulfill the NIH requirements for either a mechanistic or minimal risk trial.

A mechanistic trial is designed to understand a biological or behavioral process, the pathophysiology of a disease, or the mechanism of action of an intervention.

A minimal risk trial is one in which the probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research are not greater in and of themselves than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or during the performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests.

A proposed research career development program that includes a clinical trial that is not a mechanistic trial and/or involves a level of risk beyond that defined as minimal, will not be supported.

Applicants are strongly advised to consult with NEI program staff prior to submitting an application with human subjects to determine the