# KL2 Training Program

> **NIH NIH KL2** · UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI · 2021 · $830,307

## Abstract

The University of Cincinnati Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training (CCTST) has an
excellent record of accomplishment in training KL2 Scholars. The KL2 program has appointed 24 Scholars
(50% women, 12.5% underrepresented) from diverse disciplines since 2009 (2 per year, for 2- to 3-year
appointments). Scholars have published a total of 674 manuscripts and presented 792 abstracts and
workshops at national and international scientific meetings. Of the 20 graduates, 95% are still conducting
Clinical and Translational Research (CTR) and 100% have served as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-
Investigator (Co-I) of an externally-funded CTR grant: 20% have transitioned to PI of a career
development award (CDA), 65% to PI of a federal independent grant, 75% to PI of a CDA or federal
independent grant, and 95% to PI or Co-I of a federal independent grant. Graduates have served as PI of
7 R01s, 3 independent Department of Defense grants, 4 R21s, 1 R03, 2 R40s, 1 R25, 1 R15, 1 U19, 2 K23s, 1
K25, and 1 American Heart Association CDA. They have served as site PI of 3 U01s. The sum of direct costs
generated by Scholars’ grants is $109,286,934. Our team has increasingly appreciated the need to address
the challenges to developing junior researchers, including: 1) recruiting and developing diverse investigators;
2) training them to be competent in a broad spectrum of core CTR skills; 3) preparing them to successfully
conduct team science; 4) ensuring that they achieve sustainable and independent careers; 5) fostering vitality
(professionally engaged, committed, and fulfilled) despite increasing levels of burnout among academic faculty;
and 6) encouraging them to integrate stakeholder priorities in research and disseminate research to improve
health outcomes. As a result, we have designed our KL2 Scholars program to address these challenges using
evidence-based strategies, to achieve the following Specific Aims: 1) Train the next generation of clinical and
translational investigators through mentored research experiences, core methods and skills development, and
tailored experiential learning opportunities; 2) Develop engaged, diverse junior investigators who have
sustainable translational research careers; and 3) Promote the translation of Scholar research into improved
health outcomes across the lifespan. We have planned several new collaborations across CTSA hubs and a
number of innovations that can be scaled up to include other hubs, using the 3D (develop, demonstrate and
disseminate) approach. We have designed a rigorous program evaluation plan including NCATS common
metrics, have incorporated broad training in research ethics, and have developed a comprehensive plan to
increase the recruitment and retention of investigators who are underrepresented in biomedical research.
Success will be measured by the following outcomes: 1) we recruit diverse, vibrant Scholars, 2) Scholars
secure grants and publish work in high-impact journals; 3) Sch...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10134461
- **Project number:** 5KL2TR001426-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
- **Principal Investigator:** MARGARET H ZELLER
- **Activity code:** KL2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $830,307
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2015-08-14 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10134461

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10134461, KL2 Training Program (5KL2TR001426-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10134461. Licensed CC0.

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