The KL2 has the same benefits and requirements as individual K-awards from the NIH. It provides up to two years of support which includes: up to 80-90 percent protected time; funds to defray research costs: tuition support and professional travel.

• The KL2 program provides Scholars with an opportunity to pursue a Masters or Certificate in Clinical and Translational Sciences
• Participation in the program requires a commitment of 1-3 years beyond the two years of support from the KL2, as well as a commitment to provide follow-up information annually
• The Society of Scholars provides a community of junior faculty, fellows and postdocs with Career Development Awards and opportunities for peer mentoring and development of mentoring skills
• Each Scholar will have a primary research mentor and a mentoring committee to support their development
• Scholars are expected to present their work at the NJ ACTS annual retreat, scientific symposium or other similar venue
• KL2 Funding Opportunities

• Individual Development Plans (IDPs) for each Scholar will guide training and acquisition of knowledge and skills. The IDPs will include a research question, hypothesis, study design and approach, and a narrative statement of longer-term career aspirations. Scholars will also participate in a Core Curriculum, based on core competencies, as well as an elective curriculum comprised of courses appropriate to their research and level of training. Training plans include required and elective didactic programs, seminars/workshops, and other career development programs. The Core and Elective curriculum will require 5-10% of the Scholar’s time during the 2-year training period.
• Scholars can avail themselves of the resources of the NJ ACTS Core Facilities, which the program will introduce them to. As a capstone of the mentored training, Scholars will prepare applications for independent funding or for additional mentored career development. 

KL2 Scholars constitute a Society of Scholars. The Society includes not only KL2-supported Scholars, but junior faculty, fellows or postdocs with active or recently completed Career Development Awards. In addition to providing a community, there are opportunities for peer mentoring and development of mentoring skills.

If you are an early stage faculty member with a K-award or equivalent and are interested in being a member of the Society of Scholars, send a cover letter and biosketch to Tracey Sharp at kl2njacts@rbhs.rutgers.edu

Each Scholar is expected to have a primary research mentor who is a member of the Academy of Mentors, chosen for scientific achievement and track records in training/mentoring and funding. Mentors are expected to play an active role during the course of the award in fostering the applicant’s career development as a physician scientist. Mentors are expected to act as advocates for the applicant at the departmental, institutional and professional levels and provide scientific guidance for the proposed project.

Mentoring in the organizational structure of the NJ ACTS KL2 program will allow for more effective communication between basic and clinical scientists by building a community for the mentors through the Academy of Mentors, who share not only a focus on training the next generation of translational scientists but on translational research.

Primary Mentors in the Academy of Mentors are selected on the basis of the following criteria: a) alignment with the training mission; b) demonstrated excellence in investigation with an active research program in translational or clinical research; c) passion for contributing to the development of the next generation of clinical/translational scientist; d) past record of successful translational research; and e) research focus relevant to the study of scientific aspects of human diseases. Advisors are chosen based on either their clinical expertise and experience in training physicians and scientists or based on the methodological or technical expertise.

Join the Academy of Mentors

For faculty interested in joining the Academy of Mentors, please contact:

Tracey Sharp, Program Administrator, KL2 Career Development Program

Email: kl2njacts@rbhs.rutgers.edu

• Scholar evaluation and feedback is an important component of the Program and is intended to provide positive and actionable feedback to the Scholar. Specific components include:
• The Mentorship Committee will monitor research and career progress quarterly.
• The Scholar will submit a brief written progress report of their accomplishments biannually.
• The Chair of the Scholar’s Mentorship Committee will prepare a biannual written evaluation for submission to the Executive Committee (EC).
• Concluding presentation. Eighteen to twenty months after starting the research training, scholars will discuss their research achievements in a formal oral presentation to the Mentorship Committee and EC. This presentation will enable the Committee to judge the success of the Scholar’s progress and will provide the Scholar with an opportunity to prepare for a formal presentation of work at the Scholar’s forum at the NJ ACTS Annual Research Day.
• A formal review of the Scholar will be performed and reviewed by the EC. Matriculation to the second year of the program will be contingent on
  • Completion of the first year of the core curriculum.
  • Successful initial and interim presentations.
  • Satisfactory written evaluation by the Chair of the Scholar’s Mentorship Committee.
  • Progress in, or concrete plans for preparation, of an application for additional mentored career development.

Executive Committee includes the KL2 PI and training directors

The KL2 Program supports Scholars in developing and conducting an outstanding translational research project through strong and sustained mentoring and development of research skills through its core curriculum and electives.

Electives offered at Rutgers University include the opportunity for scholars to earn Masters Degrees or Certificates in Programs relevant to Biomedical Sciences/Clinical and Translational Research

The New Jersey Alliance for Clinical and Translational Science (NJ ACTS) Institutional Career Development (KL2) program will issue a solicitation for its next cohort in late August/early September 2024.  Appointments would begin July 1, 2025.

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On March 2, 2020, as an NCATS/CTSA travel award recipient, Qiana Brown attended the Center for Leading Innovation and Collaboration (CLIC)/CTSA “un-meeting” on lifespan and life course research hosted by the Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Institute.

According to Dr. Brown: This un-meeting was nothing short of amazing. “I learned more in one day at the un-meeting (mainly due to its structure) compared to some of the typical 3- to 5-day scientific meetings I have attended. The un-meeting structure was both science-focused and action-oriented, which facilitates translational research.” The best part of the meeting was the breakout sessions held after scientific talks. In these sessions, stakeholders committed to translational science generated ideas and discussed tangible and feasible solutions to improving population health as well as research infrastructure. Often, at traditional scientific conferences, practical approaches to translating research to practice are seldom discussed and implications for practice, policy and community are presented at the end of talks seemingly as an afterthought if there is time. The un-meeting gave adequate time for science and solution-focused discussion aimed at translation, which was refreshing and appreciated. Future un-meetings should be afforded to KL2 scholars and TL1 trainees as a standard and expected part of their training, regardless of travel award status. Attending un-meetings such as the one hosted by the NUCATS Institute would greatly benefit translational scientists and those training in the field.

On September 30, 2020, Ankit Shah participated in the Center for Leading Innovation and Collaboration (CLIC)/CTSA Virtual “un-meeting” on ‘Clinical Research in the COVID-era and Beyond’, which included an eclectic group of investigators from around the country.

According to Dr. Shah: I attended the Center for Leading Innovation and Collaboration’s Un-Meeting titled “Clinical Research in the COVID-era and Beyond”. Representatives from 37 different CTSA hubs joined this virtual session discussing challenges and opportunities in clinical and translational research during the COVID era. Breakout sessions discussed optimal methods to recruit and retain study participants and how to best conduct decentralized clinical trials. Investigators also shared methods on how to collect biospecimens from subjects remotely and how to best mobilize and redeploy research coordinators during COVID surges. These are the same challenges Rutgers physicians and researchers had during the spring 2020 surge. There was a general sentiment that learning from everyone’s experience could better prepare us for any future disruptions to research.

KL2 awardees from Clinical and Translational Science Centers (CTSA) present virtual lectures as part of CTSA Visiting Scholar Program.

Qiana Brown, PhD, MPH, LCSW, was invited to present at Johns Hopkins University as part of their CATAList seminar series on November 3, 2020. Dr. Brown presented her work on “Prenatal Cannabis Use: Who, When, Where, Why”.

Following her ‘visit’, Dr. Brown stated:  “I think this will lead to fruitful collaborations and networking opportunities.  I would encourage future KL2 Scholars to participate in the visiting professor program”

Ankit Shah, MD, was invited to present CTSA Grand Rounds at Duke University on April 9, 2021. Dr. Shah presented his work on “Glycerol as a Direct and Indirect Contributor to Glucose Production in Humans”.

Following his ‘visit’, Dr. Shah stated:  “Through the CTSA Visiting Scholars Program, I presented my KL2 research at Duke University where I met with thought leaders in my field, showcased my science to them, and discussed where next to take my project.  Such an exchange is vital for a junior investigator striving towards research independence by allowing me to gain national recognition and obtain valuable scientific feedback”.

Jonathan Grasman, PhD, was invited to present at The Integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia on March 15, 2022. Dr. Grasman presented his work on “3D Tissue Systems to Study Tissue Innervation.”

Following his ‘visit’, Dr. Grasman stated: “Through the CTSA Visiting Scholars Program, I had the opportunity to present my KL2 and lab’s research at iTHRIV on March 15, 2022. This was an excellent networking opportunity to discuss science with my peers, and I was also able to describe the next steps of my research program with leaders in my field and obtain valuable feedback. I encourage future KL2 scholars to participate in this program.”

Gregory L. Peck, DO, MPH, FACS, was invited to present his research at the UNC – School of Medicine, North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute on July 26, 2023. His talk was entitled, “A digestive disease requiring emergency general surgery: A surgeon scientist’s approach to prevention of morbidity and mortality from gallstone disease”.

Given Dr. Peck’s program of research — digestive disease requiring emergency surgery — he met with a multidisciplinary group assembled by the North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute. In a 3-day event, Dr. Peck met offline with SOM faculty from the Offices of Faculty Development, Department of Surgery, Division of Acute Care Surgery, and Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology, and Gillings School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology.

Following his ‘visit’, Dr. Peck stated: “Through the CTSA Visiting Scholars Program, I presented my KL2 research at UNC where I met with of course successful NIH funded clinical researchers, but also these same people who were thoughtful and sensitive in their approach to affirming my early research career development at Rutgers as novel in its focus on decreasing the need for emergency surgeries in the less than advantaged population.”

For General Inquiries about the KL2 Program, please contact:

Tracey Sharp
KL2 Program Administrator
Email: kl2njacts@rbhs.rutgers.edu