NCI CCT K Awards Evaluation

NCI’s career development (K) awards program provides support for early-career scientists and clinicians to develop independent careers in cancer research. A recent evaluation of the K awards program administered by NCI’s Center for Cancer Training tracked participants’subsequent outcomes and demonstrated that the program had a positive influence on their research careers. Outcomes included subsequent grant funding, publication activity, service on Federal advisory committees, and membership in scientifically-oriented professional societies, among other measures.

Report Highlights

Gender equity exists in K funding success: Men and women were equally successful in receiving K awards. Any gender disparities in the K portfolio were due to differences in application rates rather than success rates.

Time to first R01 is unaffected: Time spent participating in the K program generally did not prolong time to receipt of first R01 grant.

K awardees have improved odds of subsequent NIH research funding: Proportionately more K awardees had NIH and NCI grants than non-awardees.

K awardees are highly published: A greater proportion of K awardees had subsequent research publications, and the average and median number of publications per person was higher than for non-awardees.

K awardees are more involved in the scientific community: Proportionately more K awardees were active members of scientific professional societies and were more likely to serve on Federal advisory committees and NIH review panels.

K awardees are more likely to remain involved in the scientific enterprise: K awardees had improved odds of continuing as funded researchers and greater odds of remaining engaged in the broader scientific research enterprise.