CTSC KL2 Program | UC Davis CTSC

NOTE:
The CTSC KL2 will transition to the CTSC Advancing Clinical and Translational Innovation by Vitalizing And Training Early-career faculty (ACTIVATE) K12 Mentored Research Training Program in Summer 2026, pending funding.

The Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC) supports highly qualified junior faculty to conduct mentored, multidisciplinary, patient-oriented clinical research. Clinical research is defined as (a) patient oriented research conducted with human subjects (or on material of human origin) that includes mechanisms of human disease, therapeutic interventions, clinical trials, and/or development of new technologies; (b) epidemiologic and behavioral studies; (c) health services and outcomes research. The period of support is for 2 years but may extend for up to 3 years.

Mission

The goal of the program is to accelerate the career development of promising junior faculty, promoting their development as independent clinical multidisciplinary research investigators. 

Scholars in the KL2 program will:

• Obtain additional research training through participation in coursework, workshops, and/or individualized programs of study.
• Conduct a rigorous multidisciplinary clinical/patient-oriented research investigation relevant to their research interests.
• Be mentored by senior investigators with a demonstrated track record of successfully developing the careers of junior colleagues.
• Utilize, and participate in, the activities and resources of the UC Davis CTSC, as well as a nation-wide consortium of 60 other NIH-funded CTSA sites. This will include a commitment to presenting their research progress at meetings and in seminars.
• Travel to the annual Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) meeting, which is mandatory in the first two years. Submission of an abstract is required for reimbursement of travel expenses.