The Child Neurologist Career Development Program-K12 funds exceptional, customized research training for pediatric neurologists or graduates of neurodevelopmental disabilities. Scholars receive a three-year intensive, clinically relevant, basic and/or patient-oriented research mentorship at their home institution. A team of national experts in pediatric neurology and neuroscience provide additional mentoring and career development.
Eligibility
- U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Residents
- No more than three years from completion of neurology clinical training in an academically oriented department of neurology and/or pediatric neurology capable of providing mentorship with well-established research infrastructure at a U.S. academic institution. Very highly qualified candidates who are further out will be considered on a case by case basis.
- Have an appointment as instructor or assistant professor at a U.S. academic institution with a research mission by July 1, 2024.

Letter of Intent
Each potential CNCDP-K12 scholar must begin the application process with a Letter of Intent (LOI). Resubmissions will not be considered for full applications unless they have been appropriately modified in response to previous critique. For resubmissions, please provide a one-page explanation on how this submission differs from the previous application.
Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) with:
- One-page statement of intent to apply
- One-page page preliminary, specific aims for the proposed project
- NIH-format Bio sketches from the candidate and mentors
- Proof of US citizenship or lawful permanent resident status (copy of passport/green card)
- Submitted in PDF format as one document to cncdp-k12@KennedyKrieger.org
The Minority Research Scholar Program has separate application.
Resubmissions will not be considered for full applications unless they have been appropriately modified in response to previous critique. For resubmissions, please provide a one-page explanation on how this submission differs from the previous application.
There is no limit on the number of candidates who can apply from a single institution.

Full Application (Invitation Only)
In-person interviews and application review meetings will occur at the CNCDP Annual Retreat in conjunction with the CNS Annual Meeting from October 1-3, 2023. It is expected that current scholars and new applicants attend all days of the retreat.
DEADLINE: August 14, 2023, 11:59 PM EST
Funding for selected scholars will begin July 1, 2024.
Questions?
Program Coordinator, Amber Huggins Battle

The Minority Research Scholar Program
The Minority Research Scholar Program (MRSP) awards travel scholarships to underrepresented minority early-career individuals pursuing clinically relevant basic or patient-oriented research.
More about Minority Research Scholar Program
Mentoring
Our goal is to train talented, young child neurologists to have a significant national and international impact on the field of pediatric neurology. CNCDP-K12 scholars are the next generation of independent researchers, leading scientists and mentors dedicated to the mission of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease.
Benefits:
- Customized, frequent mentoring tailored to the scholar’s chosen research project and coordinated with the scholar’s clinical activity, including an in-person mentor from the scholar’s home institution and remotely by a National Advisory Committee (NAC) advisor
- In-person site visit by a NAC member to scholar’s institution within the first year of the award
- Option of moving to another institution for the period of research training
- Guided instruction on research principles and applications
- Research presentation at annual CNCDP-K12 retreats to audience of fellow scholars, mentors, NAC and NIH staff; retreats include keynote and didactic talks on research ethics, diversity in the child neurology research community and rigor, transparency and bio-statistics and experimental design
- Annual retreats and joint activities with Neurological Sciences Academic Development Award scholars
- Hands-on training on writing successful NIH and other agency grants; within six months of the end of their third year, scholars will write a K award to be submitted for funding

Diversity & Inclusion
The CNCDP K-12 program is dedicated to fostering diversity within the program and throughout the field of child neurology. A diverse clinical and scientific workforce is vital to nurturing scientific innovation and breakthroughs in health.
Applications from a diverse pool of clinician-researchers, especially those traditionally underrepresented in science fields, is encouraged.

My experience
“My experience as CNCDP-K12 scholar has transformed my research in pediatric movement disorders to help children with dystonic cerebral palsy. Being part of this community of mentors and scholars is shaping my career.”
Bhooma Aravamuthan, MD, DPhil
Washington University School of Medicine
Assistant Professor, Neurology
CNCDP-K12
Scholar since 2018
