K12 Scholars Program (copy)
Program Overview
The Consortium for Translational and Precision Health (CTPH) K12 Scholars Program is a mentored career development program designed to prepare early-career investigators for independent research careers in clinical and translational science, with an emphasis on precision health.
Through protected research time, individualized mentoring, didactic training, and experiential learning, the CTPH K12 Scholars Program equips Scholars with the skills to become leaders, independent investigators, and mentors in translational science and precision health.
Award Information and Program Components
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The CTPH K12 Scholars Program is a Mentored Career Development Program Award within the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program, supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under award number K12TR004522.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Institute: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
Award Number: K12TR004522
Award Title: CTSA K12 Program at Baylor College of Medicine and University of Houston
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The CTPH K12 Scholars Program combines individualized career development with a shared curriculum centered on translational science principles. Each Scholar pursues a mentored research project while participating in structured training and professional development activities.
Program components include:
Protected research time and mentored research training
Individualized career development and mentoring
Weekly K12 seminars and didactic curriculum
Research Works-in-Progress (WIP) and Meet the Expert sessions
Experiential learning, networking, and leadership development National and regional CTSA and Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS) activities
Eligibility, Funding and Application Requirements
The CTPH K12 Scholars Program supports early-career faculty at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) and the University of Houston (UH) who are committed to careers in clinical and translational science. The program provides protected research time, mentored research support, and individualized career development designed to prepare Scholars for independent research careers.
The CTPH K12 Scholars Program is a Mentored Career Development Program Award within the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program, supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under award number K12TR004522.
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Eligible Scholars may receive:
· Up to $120,000 annually towards salary support (excluding fringe benefits)
· Up to $27,500 annually in research and career development support
· Two years of support, contingent upon satisfactory progress and continued eligibility
Research and career development funds may be used for activities such as: Research supplies and study expenses
Tuition and coursework
Scientific meetings and travel
Career development activities Other approved program-related expenses
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Eligible Scholars may receive:
Up to $120,000 annually towards salary support (excluding fringe benefits)
Up to $27,500 annually in research and career development support
Two years of support, contingent upon satisfactory progress and continued eligibility
Research and career development funds may be used for activities such as:
Research supplies and study expenses
Tuition and coursework
Scientific meetings and travel
Career development activities
Other approved program-related expenses
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Hold an early-career faculty appointment at BCM or UH
Be within five years of their initial faculty appointment at the time of appointment to the K12 program
Hold an appropriate terminal degree (e.g., MD, DO, DNP, PharmD, PhD, DrPH, EdD, or equivalent)
Demonstrate scholarly productivity appropriate to their career stage
Show a commitment to a career in translational science
Be eligible to devote at least 75% effort to the K12 program (50% for surgeons with prior approval)
Meet NIH citizenship or permanent residency requirements
Applicants are not eligible if they:
Are in the process of applying for an independent mentored career development grant, research project grant, program project grants/center grants or equivalent grant
Have a pending U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Public Health Service (PHS) mentored career development award that duplicates any provisions of the K component at the time of appointment
Have previously served as principal investigator on a major NIH research project grant (or equivalent non-PHS peer-reviewed award) or project leaders on sub-projects of program project grants/center grants
Current Scholars
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Jason K. Bowman, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Emergency Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
“Individualized, Data-Driven Screening for High-Risk Dementia Patients in the Emergency Department: An Implementation Science and Human-Centered Design Approach”
Primary Mentor: Kyler M. Godwin, Ph.D., M.P.H.
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Minh B. Nguyen, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Baylor College of Medicine
“Predicting Adverse Events in Pediatric Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Using
Echocardiography and Machine Learning”
Primary Mentor: Craig Rusin, Ph.D.
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Kaitlyn Sapoznik, O.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Clinical Sciences
College of Optometry
University of Houston
“High-Resolution Adaptive Optics Imaging of Retinal Vascular Biomarkers in Diabetes Management”
Primary Mentor: Nimesh B. Patel, O.D., Ph.D.
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Rashim, Singh, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences
College of Pharmacy
University of Houston
Primary Mentor: Meghana Trivedi, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
K12 Out and About
Dr. Bruce (MPI) and inaugural cohort Scholars, Drs. Nguyen, Sapoznik, and Singh, connect over dinner during the 2026 Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS) meeting in Milwaukee, WI.
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