Timelines for K Submission

It takes a lot longer to get funded on a K grant than most junior faculty expect. This powerpoint reviews typical timelines, and when to start preparing an application in order to avoid funding gaps.

1. Timelines from K Submission to K Funding Submit Early (Earlier than You Probably Expected) Peter D.R. Higgins University of Michigan
2. A Common Question • I have 2 years of department support, or I have a foundation grant for 2-3 years • So, when should I actually submit my first K application? • Junior faculty often think they have a lot more time than they actually have available
3. K Preparation Time ~ 6 months minimum • 1 month Aims, get feedback, revise • 2 months on Research Plan, cycles of revision • 2 months on career plan, other sections • 1 month for final revisions, feedback, checking • This can definitely take longer than 6 m….
4. Best-Case Scenario: Good 1st score, one cycle Event Timeline Month You submit your first K application to your department Jan 2025 0 Submitted to NIH Feb 2025 1 Reviews completed – score released in <=3 business days July 2025 6 Full reviews (pink sheets) released in 30 days Aug 2025 7 Funded on regular budget (score <25) Oct 2025 9 Funded from end-of-year budget (score 25-30)* As late as Oct 2026 Up to 21 *Often best to revise and resubmit in this score range
5. Typical Scenario: 2 rounds, good 2nd score Event Timeline Month You submit your first K application to your department Jan 2025 0 Submitted to NIH Feb 2025 1 Reviews completed – score released in <=3 business days July 2025 6 Full reviews (pink sheets) released in 30 days Aug 2025 7 Revised application submitted to department Oct 2025 9 Revised application submitted to NIH Nov 2025 10 Revised app reviews completed Apr 2026 15 Revised app full reviews released May 2026 16 Funded on regular budget (score <25) July 2026 18
6. Slow Scenario: 2 rounds, borderline 2nd score Event Timeline Month You submit your first K application to your department Jan 2025 0 Submitted to NIH Feb 2025 1 Reviews completed – score released in <=3 business days July 2025 6 Full reviews (pink sheets) released in 30 days Aug 2025 7 Revised application submitted to department Oct 2025 9 Revised application submitted to NIH Nov 2025 10 Revised app reviews completed Apr 2026 15 Revised app full reviews released May 2026 16 Funded on regular budget (score <25) July 2026 18 Funded from end-of-year budget (score 25-30) As late as July 2027 30
7. VA CDA Timeline – 2 cycles per year • S Event Timeline Month 1st Submission Dec 2024 0 Reviews completed – score released Feb 2025 3 Resubmit June 2025 7 Reviews completed – score released Sep 2025 10 Skipped Dec cycle Resubmit June 2026 19 Reviews completed – score released Sep 2026 22 Funding Feb 2027 27
8. Timelines • Best case scenario – 9 months from dept. submission to funding • Typical scenario – 18 months • Worst case (2nd score borderline) – 30 months • VA CDA timeline – 27 months (lots of waiting for your turn)
9. Planning Ahead • Anyone with department support or foundation funding should be working hard with a 6-month 9or more) fixed timeline to write/submit a K starting 24-30 months from their end of current funding • How many junior faculty have < 24-30 months of funding? • Are they working hard on writing their K? • Do they know, understand the timelines?
10. Timelines for K Funding • It is a lot of work to put together a K grant • Even after submission, it is a long time from submission to funding • To avoid funding gaps, start early!