The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded Duke University $7.9 million over five years to provide protected time, mentorship, and research training for early-stage investigators committed to careers in clinical and translational science, through the CTSA Mentored Career Development (K12) Program.
This award continues Duke’s long-standing leadership in the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program and builds on nearly two decades of training physician-scientists and clinical investigators. The program will prepare the next generation of translational researchers to lead studies that advance health locally, regionally, and nationally.
“Through the K12 program, we are equipping early-career investigators with the tools, mentorship, and collaborative networks they need to transform innovative ideas into solutions that improve health,” said Rasheed Adebayo Gbadegesin, MD, contact principal investigator for the K12.
The CTSI has also received $69 million over seven years to support its overall efforts to accelerate how scientific discoveries translate to better health for all.
Program Objectives
The Duke CTSA K12 Program is designed to:
- Provide junior faculty scholars from Duke and North Carolina Central University (NCCU) with research resources — including protected time, funding, and mentorship — and foundational transdisciplinary research knowledge and skills. Scholars will receive up to three years of support , along with training in translational science, team science, and principles of artificial intelligence (AI) and data science.
- Promote development of a broadly representative translational research workforce by recruiting scholars from all backgrounds and research disciplines.
- Prepare scholars to conduct trustworthy, community-engaged research through a longitudinal population health curriculum. This training will equip scholars to employ unbiased research processes that maximize benefits and minimize harm for all populations.
- Support success with next-level funding through the REKAPPNext initiative, which provides concept reviews, grant-writing workshops, and mock study sections to help scholars secure independent research awards.
Leadership Team
The CTSA K12 Program is led by Rasheed Adebayo Gbadegesin, MD, professor of pediatrics, and Kimberly S. Johnson, MD, MHS, professor of medicine. Stephanie Molner will provide administrative oversight for the grant.
Commitment to the Future of Translational Science
By fostering innovation, collaboration, and diversity in the research workforce, the Duke CTSA K12 Program will strengthen the pool of investigators advancing discoveries into improved health outcomes for all communities. The program’s strong institutional commitment, accomplished leadership, and robust infrastructure will contribute to a skillful and successful translational research workforce of the future.