Outcomes of a Career Development Award (Pre-K) Mock Review Program for Postdoctoral Fellows and Early-Career Faculty

Jose R Castillo-Mancilla; Kristine M Erlandson; Emily R Hecker; Goldie Komaie; Lauren B Shomaker; Lisa Cicutto; Galit Mankin; Paul Maclean

doi:10.1097/ACM.0000000000005293

Outcomes of a Career Development Award (Pre-K) Mock Review Program for Postdoctoral Fellows and Early-Career Faculty

Acad Med. 2023 Nov 1;98(11):1313-1318. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000005293. Epub 2023 Jun 7.

Authors

Jose R Castillo-Mancilla¹, Kristine M Erlandson², Emily R Hecker³, Goldie Komaie⁴, Lauren B Shomaker⁵, Lisa Cicutto⁶, Galit Mankin⁷, Paul Maclean⁸

Affiliations

¹ J.R. Castillo-Mancilla is associate professor of medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.
² K.M. Erlandson is associate professor of medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.
³ E.R. Hecker is evaluation specialist, Evaluation Center, School of Education and Human Development, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado.
⁴ G. Komaie is senior evaluator, Evaluation Center, School of Education and Human Development, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado.
⁵ L.B. Shomaker is associate professor, College of Health and Human Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.
⁶ L. Cicutto is professor of medicine and director of community research, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, and director, Workforce Development Training Core, Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.
⁷ G. Mankin is administrative lead, Clinical Science Programs, Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.
⁸ P. MacLean is professor of medicine, Division of Endocrinology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.

Abstract

Purpose: Securing research funding for early-career investigators remains challenging. The authors present the results of a presubmission career development award (Pre-K) review program for postdoctoral fellows and early-career faculty.

Method: The Pre-K program is designed to help mentored postdoctoral fellows and early-career faculty write successful career development awards by assigning expert reviewers to score each application and provide written and oral critiques before a mock study section. Applicants and mentors attend the review and can ask questions directly to reviewers about their application. Quarterly, annual, and alumni surveys are sent to applicants who participated in the Pre-K program to assess satisfaction, confirm grant submission and status (i.e., funded and unfunded), and understand the long-term career impact of the program.

Results: A total of 212 applicants (136 [64%] female; 19 [9%] from underrepresented in medicine groups) participated in the program between 2014 and 2021. Outcome data from 194 grants were available. Among these grants, 71 were awarded (37% success rate). Among underrepresented in medicine applicants, 7 of 18 submitted grants were funded (39% success rate). Of 183 Pre-K participants sent the alumni survey, 123 (67%) responded. Academic degrees included 64 PhDs (52%), 46 MDs (37%), and 14 MDs/PhDs (11%). One hundred nine respondents (90%) were employed in an academic institution, and 106 (86%) devoted more than 50% of their time to research. One hundred twelve (91%) reported receipt of an award (87 [78%] federal and 59 [53%] intramural funding), the most common being National Institutes of Health K/Career Development Awards. Pre-K was rated as very useful to their careers by 102 respondents (83%).

Conclusions: A Pre-K mock review program can assist early-career investigators in securing funding and launching their research career. Continued investment in the next generation of clinical and translational researchers should remain an institutional priority.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Awards and Prizes*
Biomedical Research*
Faculty
Female
Financing, Organized
Humans
Male
Mentors
National Institutes of Health (U.S.)
United States

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding