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Early Career Training Grant Pilot Program

American Society of Nephrology

The goal of the Early Career Training Grant Pilot Program is to increase the number of independent kidney researchers by providing protected time for senior post-docs, clinical fellows participating in research-oriented fellowships, and early career faculty interested in kidney research. This grant is intended to provide protected time to awardees to help strengthen their application for a career development grant (e.g., a K grant from the National Institutes of Health or equivalent). The ideal candidate would be an individual who has completed 2-3 years of research training and needs support for the next 2 years.

Applicants interested in clinical, translational, implementation, and basic science may submit a research proposal that examines any aspect of the entire spectrum of kidney biology and disease. KidneyCure invites applications from individuals whose personal backgrounds or life experiences may contribute valuable perspectives to nephrology, particularly those who have encountered barriers to entry in the field and candidates who are not eligible for federal training grants because of immigration status. KidneyCure grants are available to non-U.S. citizens so long as they are working in North or Central America or in the Caribbean region during the grant term.

Review Criteria and Review Process

The review panel will assess each application based on the following review criteria:

The potential of the applicant to be competitive for K-level funding from the National Institutes of Health (or equivalent), or another equivalent career trajectory grant if ineligible for NIH funding by the end of the grant period.
The qualifications of the applicant with respect to prior training, productivity, independence, collaborative spirit, and a vision for impact, as well as the scientific merit of the proposed project.
The applicant's potential for success in building programs in the basic science, translational science, and clinical science domains.
The sponsor's track record of developing independent kidney researchers and the institution's ability to support an independent research career will also be considered.
The institution's commitment to provide cost sharing and resources to support the completion of the proposed study.

Applicants can expect to receive notice of their status in the early spring following the application deadline.

KidneyCure will make an award solely in accordance with KidneyCure policies, payment, and schedule regulations as described in the original Notice of Award and Grant Stipulations.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Direct relevance to kidney biology and kidney disease

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Critical

The fundamental requirement across KidneyCure research mechanisms is a clearly kidney-directed scientific question. ASN's current programs allow both clinical and basic-science proposals covering the spectrum of kidney biology and disease.

Strong areas include:

Chronic kidney disease
Acute kidney injury
Glomerular disease
Diabetic kidney disease
Hypertension and kidney disease
Polycystic kidney disease
Kidney transplantation
Dialysis
Pediatric nephrology
Kidney stones
Renal genetics
Kidney physiology and molecular biology

2. Strong scientific merit and rigorous methodology

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Critical

ASN's Grants Review Committee reviews KidneyCure's major investigator and fellowship programs. The current Early Career Training Grant explicitly evaluates the scientific merit of the proposed project alongside investigator qualifications and career potential.

A competitive proposal should have:

A clearly defined research question
Testable hypothesis
Appropriate experimental design
Strong controls
Appropriate statistical methods
Measurable outcomes
Feasible aims
A clear explanation of expected results

3. Clear pathway toward independent research

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Critical for career-development grants

This is one of ASN/KidneyCure's most distinctive success factors.

The Transition to Independence Grant explicitly aims to produce investigators who can become competitive for an NIH R01 or equivalent by the end of the award period. Applicants must demonstrate that the proposed project is independent of their previous mentors.

Therefore, a strong application should demonstrate:

Mentored research → independent scientific question → preliminary evidence → independent research program → R01/equivalent

4. Strong applicant productivity and future potential

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very High

ASN evaluates more than the research idea. Current review criteria for the Early Career Training Grant include the applicant's:

Prior training
Productivity
Independence
Collaborative ability
Vision for impact
Potential to build a research program

The Transition to Independence mechanism similarly focuses on the applicant's ability to establish an independent research career.

This makes the investigator's trajectory particularly important for ASN career-development awards.

5. Excellent mentor and institutional environment

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very High

For fellowship and early-career mechanisms, the mentor is not simply a letter writer. ASN evaluates the mentor's ability to develop independent kidney researchers and the institution's ability to support the applicant's career.

A strong proposal should demonstrate:

Mentor expertise directly related to the project
Mentor's history of developing researchers
Appropriate laboratory/clinical resources
Protected research time
Institutional research space
Access to collaborators and specialized equipment
Institutional commitment to independence

6. Innovation and potential to advance kidney care

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very High

ASN's broader research strategy emphasizes new drugs, devices, biologics and technologies, including emerging areas such as AI and xenotransplantation.

Innovation can involve:

New therapeutic targets
Novel disease mechanisms
New biomarkers
Precision medicine
New dialysis technologies
Artificial intelligence
Digital health
Novel transplantation approaches
New experimental models
Innovative clinical interventions

The proposal should explain what changes if the research succeeds.

7. Translational or clinical significance

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ High

ASN supports both basic and clinical research, but proposals become more compelling when they establish how discoveries can eventually improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment or kidney-care delivery.

A strong translational chain is:

Mechanism → biomarker/target → intervention → clinical validation → improved kidney outcomes

This does not mean every ASN grant must be immediately clinical; fundamental kidney biology remains explicitly eligible.

8. Appropriate career-stage and mechanism fit

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ High

ASN/KidneyCure has deliberately different mechanisms for different career stages.

For example:

Career stage	Relevant mechanism
PhD student	Pre-Doctoral Fellowship
Nephrology fellow	Ben J. Lipps Research Fellowship
Senior postdoc/clinical fellow	Early Career Training Grant
Early faculty	Transition to Independence Grant
Established investigator	Research/innovation mechanisms

The 2027 cycle also has specific eligibility windows. For example, the Lipps Fellowship generally limits applicants to five years from the relevant medical degree or three years from a PhD, while the Transition to Independence mechanism uses longer windows and requires a full-time faculty appointment.

Applying to the wrong mechanism can therefore undermine an otherwise strong scientific proposal.

9. Meaningful kidney-health impact and unmet need

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ High

A competitive application should establish why the problem matters to kidney patients, clinicians or the kidney research field.

Particularly compelling areas can include:

Progressive kidney disease
Kidney failure
Dialysis safety
Transplant outcomes
Rare kidney diseases
Treatment-resistant disease
Health disparities
Prevention and early detection
Patient-centered kidney care

ASN's current funding portfolio includes specialized mechanisms for dialysis safety, innovation and treatment development.

10. Strong feasibility, protected research time and institutional resources

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ High

ASN places substantial emphasis on whether the investigator and institution can actually complete the proposed work.

The Early Career Training Grant requires at least 75% research time and evaluates institutional resources and cost sharing. Transition to Independence applicants similarly need institutional commitment covering resources such as laboratory/office space, salary support and protected research time.

The proposal should therefore show:

Achievable aims
Adequate preliminary evidence
Appropriate facilities
Sufficient personnel
Protected research time
Realistic budget
Clear milestones

Specialties

Nephrology

Eligibility Requirements

This mechanism is intended for applicants who are not eligible for a Ben J. Lipps Research Fellowship and who are not ready to apply for a Transition to Independence Grant. Applicants may only apply to one KidneyCure grant mechanism per grant cycle. Please consult with KidneyCure to determine which mechanism is right for you.

To apply, candidates:

Must hold an MD, DO, PhD, or equivalent degree.
Must be less than seven years from earning an MD, DO, MD/PhD, or equivalent (excluding residency, fellowship, and any time spent earning a Master's in Clinical Research) on July 1, 2027.
Must be less than seven years from earning a PhD on July 1, 2027.
Must be an active member of ASN when the application cycle closes on Thursday, November 19, 2026. The sponsor and all co-sponsors of the candidate must also be active members of ASN when the application cycle closes on Thursday, November 19, 2026.
Must complete research under the direction and mentorship of a sponsor.
Must be working in North or Central America, or the Caribbean during the grant period.
Must commit a minimum of 75% time to research during the award period.
May not hold an academic title higher than Assistant Professor.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: American Society of Nephrology

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 1401 H Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005

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