| | | Updates from the UCI Office of Research |
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| Congratulations to the Dr. Lorna Carlin Scholar Awardees |
| The UC Irvine School of Medicine Office of Graduate Studies is pleased to announce the recipients of the Dr. Lorna Carlin Scholar Awards. These awards are made possible by the generosity of Lorna Carlin, MD, donor and longtime supporter of the School of Medicine’s graduate studies program. The School of Medicine matches the donor’s contribution to double the opportunities in support of the graduate students, with awards directly supporting student research and professional development.
Congratulations to Laraka Taniguchi, Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology (PI Tallie Z. Baram, MD, PhD), this year’s recipient of the top prize — the Dr. Lorna Carlin Scholar Award — which comes with $20,000 of support.
Congratulations to the additional awardees:
- Dr. Lorna Carlin Excellence in Research Award: Chaorong Chen, Department of Biological Chemistry, Wei Li, PhD, PI, $14,000
- Dr. Lorna Carlin Excellence in Research Recognition: Justin Yi, Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Laura Ewell, PhD, PI, $2,000
- Dr. Lorna Carlin Excellence in Research Recognition: Shannon Geels, Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Francesco Marangoni, PhD, PI, $2,000
- Dr. Lorna Carlin Excellence in Research Recognition: Christy Nguyen, Department of Biological Chemistry, Marcus Seldin, PhD, PI, $2,000
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| Congratulations to the Recipient of the Gazzaniga Family Medical Research Award |
| This year’s recipient of the Gazzaniga Family Medical Research Award, which comes with $6,000 in support, is Alisa Mahieu, Department of Biological Chemistry; Co-PIs Selma Masri, PhD, and Nicholas Pannunzio, PhD.
Selection was based on Mahieu’s cumulative research accomplishments, promising research, leadership, and enthusiasm for discovery and scientific advancement in circadian disruption in colorectal cancer delineating involved molecular mechanisms.
This award represents a commitment by retired UC Irvine cardio-thoracic surgeon Dr. Alan Gazzaniga to fund graduate student research. Now in its ninth year, this merit-based award supports a PhD student at the School of Medicine with outstanding academic credentials and a promising biomedical study underway. | |
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| School of Medicine Applications for Bridge Funding Due Jan. 23 |
| Please note that the next UC Irvine Office of Research deadline for Bridge Funding is Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Complete applications must include a signed letter of support by your department chair showing financial commitment. Bridge Funding applications are due to the School of Medicine Office of Research by Friday, Jan. 23, 2026.
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| Call for Applications: School of Medicine Junior Faculty Research Grant |
| The School of Medicine Research Committee is pleased to announce the School of Medicine Junior Faculty Research Grant competition. It is the policy of the committee to support seed research projects from new investigators who have a high probability of obtaining extramural funding as a result of this award. To qualify, the applicant must be a senate faculty member (Assistant or Associate level). Please submit inquiries to somrd@hs.uci.edu.
Deadline: March 12, 2026 | |
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| NIH’s Implementation of Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support for Due Dates on or after Jan. 25, 2026 |
| A unified Common Biographical Sketch and Common Current & Pending (Other) Support format will be required using SciENcv. In SciENcv, you will need to create the NIH Biographical Sketch Common Form and the NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement.
These forms must be used for all NIH submissions with due dates in Cycle 1, beginning with any submission — applications, JIT, RPPRs and others — due on or after Jan. 25, 2026.
Instructions for the Biographical Sketch Common Form and NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement as well as an FAQ are available.
Instructions for the Current and Pending (Other) Support Common Form, as well as an FAQ, are available.
Additional resources, including training videos, will be posted on Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support as they become available.
Reminder: Applicants are required to have an ORCID ID and link it with their eRA Commons profiles. Review the notice. | |
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| UC Irvine Training Grant Support Hub |
| Training grants submitted through the UC Irvine Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences and the School of Medicine are supported by Yergalem T. Meharenna, PhD. Her support serves every stage of training grant development, from early planning to final submission.
Review the new Training Grant Support Hub, a centralized resource designed to empower faculty, trainees and administrators engaged in biomedical research training by offering guidance, curated tools and institutional support for the development and submission of competitive training grants.
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| Database for UC Irvine School of Medicine Researcher Sharing - Cell Lines, Antibodies and Mouse Strains |
| The database for laboratory resources, specifically antibodies, cell lines and mouse strains, is live at UC Irvine School of Medicine - Research Resources. You can submit resources that your lab has available to share. The website is UCInetID-protected.
If you need help with entering data, contact Mary Frances Ypma-Wong.
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| Register for an Upcoming UC Irvine NIH Boot Camp Informational Session |
| The Research Development Unit will host three virtual informational sessions about the UCI NIH Boot Camp, a comprehensive, multifaceted mentoring program designed to help faculty and career researchers apply for their first research grants from NIH. Attend one to learn more about this program and how to apply for the upcoming 2026 UCI NIH Boot Camp! Applications are due Feb. 10, 2026.
- Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, 9 to 10 a.m. | Register
- Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, 4 to 5 p.m. | Register
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| Monthly on Mondays | Faculty Development Series |
| Merits and Promotions for HS Clinical and Senate Faculty, presented by Brian Cummings, PhD, and Nimisha Parekh, MD. Monthly on Mondays, presented by Drs. Parekh and Cummings, Senior Associate Deans of Faculty Development, is a monthly seminar series covering a wide range of topics on faculty development.
Monday, Jan. 12, 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.
Via Zoom | |
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| UC Irvine's Health Data Research Resources | Physician Scientist Collective 2025-26 Distinguished Speaker Series |
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Kai Zheng, PhD, FACMI, Professor of Informatics and Emergency Medicine, UC Irvine. Zheng directs the Center for Biomedical Informatics (CBMI), a key component of the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS) and the Institute for Precision Health (IPH). In this seminar, he will present an overview of UC Irvine’s health data research resources managed by CBMI. The following topics will be covered:
- Types of health data available for research reuse
- Requesting procedures and best practices
- Tools for cohort discovery prior to submitting a data request
- Additional resources such as the UC Health Data Warehouse and the NIH All of Us Research Hub
Zheng will also present a brief overview of the Protected Virtual Computing Environment (PVCE), where datasets retrieved by the UCI Health Honest Brokers team are deposited. PVCE is an institutionally approved secure environment for storing and computing health data. It comprises multiple servers hosted at the UCI Health Data Center with common statistical and machine-learning tools such as SAS, SPSS, R and Python preinstalled. Learn more about the Physician Scientist Collective.
Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, Noon to 1 p.m.
Via Zoom | |
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| Join us for the School of Medicine’s 2026 Faculty Research Retreat |
| You’re invited to attend the UC Irvine School of Medicine’s 2026 Faculty Research Retreat, “The Next Chapter: Future Directions for Biomedical Research.”
Thursday, March 5, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Check-in & Breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m.
Location: Beall Applied Innovation | | Back to top | | | |
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| Xiangmin Xu, PhD (Anatomy & Neurobiology), received an NIH R61, “Enhancer AAV-based genetic access and manipulation of specific brain cell types implicated in aging and Alzheimer's Disease.” Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major health concern in the United States. The proposed research will optimize and use cell-type-selective enhancer AAV tools to study vulnerable cell types and disease-relevant neural circuits using mouse models of aging and AD. Our proposed research meets the goal of RFA-AG-25-024 and will help us understand the cellular and neural mechanisms underlying aging and AD/ADRD.
Do you or someone on your team have research-related good news to report (e.g., research funding/award, publication, other accolade)? We would like to know! Please fill out this short Good News submission form.
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| Find funding opportunities for trainees, postdocs and early career faculty, and all faculty. For more funding opportunities and resources to help in your funding search, visit the Funding Opportunities page.
The Research Development Unit (RDU) has created lists of intramural funding opportunities and foundation funding opportunities. If you have additional opportunities that should be included, contact the RDU.
Considering applying for a Limited Funding Opportunity? Typically, you submit a pre-proposal to the Office of Research via UCI Review. If the opportunity is not listed, contact the RDU.
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| | Postdocs & Early Career Faculty Funding Opportunities | |
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Arthritis National Research Foundation (ANRF) Grant Opportunities
Awards range from $50,000 to $250,000, supporting projects from one to two years. They encourage researchers from diverse fields to explore these opportunities and apply.
Deadline: Jan. 9, 2026
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| Courageous Postdocs Aiming to Go Further - Branco Weiss Fellowship |
| The ideal applicant for a Branco Weiss Fellowship leverages the freedom offered by the fellowship to design a surprisingly novel and scientifically rigorous research project. The fellowship addresses junior researchers with a record of outstanding scientific achievement and a passion for venturing into new territory. To give you an impression of what kind of qualifications a typical Branco Weiss Fellow should have, please check the current fellow profiles, as well as selected alumni portraits.
A Branco Weiss Fellowship amounts to max. CHF 600,000 for up to five years. It may be used to cover all legitimate costs of research (i.e., salary and/or equipment, travel expenses, consumables, personnel, etc.). Apply here for the Branco Weiss Fellowship.
Deadline: Jan. 15, 2026, at 3 p.m.
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| UC Cancer Research Coordinating Committee (CRCC) Fellowships |
| CRCC Fellowships support meritorious mentored research spanning all areas from basic research to applied clinical and community-based research in any field relevant to cancer.
Eligible PIs must be trainees conducting mentored research at one of the 10 UC campuses:
- Predoctoral students with an anticipated graduation date of 12–18 months from award start date;
- Scholars with doctoral degrees who are within the first 3 years of their appointment at award start date.
Learn more about how to apply for CRCC Fellowships.
Deadline: Jan. 22, 2026, by Noon
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| Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials: Career Development Award (Winn CDA) |
| The Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials: Career Development Award (Winn CDA) is a rigorous 2-year program designed to train early-career investigator-physicians to design and implement clinical trials that engage more communities. Through structured education and mentorship, Winn CDA Scholars become community-oriented clinical trialists who have the skills and expertise to transform the ways that communities conduct research and deliver care. Current Winn CDA clinical research areas include cancer, cardiovascular and cardio-metabolic disease, and neuropsychiatry. The Winn Career Development Award (Winn CDA) provides $120,000 annually for two years, intended to cover a portion of the scholar’s salary — approximately 40% of their time — allowing them the protected space needed to fully engage in the program’s intensive training and research activities. Deadline: May 4, 2026 | |
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| | All Faculty Funding Opportunities | |
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Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional) | |
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| UC Cancer Research Coordinating Committee (CRCC) Faculty Seed Grants |
| The CRCC is a systemwide, faculty-directed cancer research program that provides grants for topics in any discipline that address any aspect of cancer, including its origins, prevention and cure. CRCC funds support meritorious research spanning all areas from basic research to applied clinical and community-based research in any field relevant to cancer.
Faculty Seed Grants are offered via two award categories: New Assistant Professor applications (NAP) and Regular applications (REG).
Learn more about how to apply for CRCC Faculty Seed Grants.
Deadline: Jan. 22, 2026, by Noon
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| | | Upcoming Seminars & Events |
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| Department of Biological Chemistry BC Seminar Series |
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How One-Carbon Metabolism and Environmental Cues Shape Cell-Cycle Control and Cancer, by Peter Kaiser, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Chemistry, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 11 a.m. to Noon
Location: Plumwood House / Showa Denko Lecture Hall
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| Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology Dissertation Defense |
| Microglia Compl(e)ment Themselves: A Novel Role for C1Q In Regulating Microglial State, by Pooja Sakthivel, PhD candidate, Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Friday, Jan. 9, 2 p.m. PT
Location: Hybrid event at Thorp Conference Center, Gross Hall, 4th Floor, and Via Zoom
Meeting ID: 913 8538 8529
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| Experimental Pathology Research in Progress |
| Chemical Stabilization Enables Interrogation of the Endogenous Galectin-3 Interactome, by Blake Krisko, Graduate Student, Haik Mkhikian, MD, PhD, Lab, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Monday, Jan. 12, 11 a.m. to Noon PT
Location: Hybrid event at Plumwood House / Showa Denko Lecture Hall and Via Zoom
Meeting ID: 955 3602 9351 | Passcode: 998046 | |
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| The LFD/AIM Workshop on "FLuorescence Advanced Imaging Research" (FLAIR) |
| Join the UC Irvine Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics (LFD) and UC Berkeley’s Advanced Imaging Methods (AIM) for a four-day comprehensive workshop that combines cutting-edge fluorescence imaging expertise from both institutions and coverage on essential topics. Learn more about the course and featured speakers (PDF). Questions? Email Adeela at adeelas@uci.edu.
Jan. 12-15, 2026
Location: Hybrid event at UC Irvine and Online | |
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| Center for Neural Circuit Mapping Seminar |
| | Single-nucleus Sequencing and Spatial Transcriptomics Revealed Epigenetics Mechanism Underlying the Abnormal Brain Development Induced by Prenatal E-cigarette Vaping, by Charles Wang, MD, PhD, MPH, Director and Professor, Department of Basic Sciences, Center for Genomics and Division of Molecular Genetics, Loma Linda University. Hosted by the UC Irvine Center for Neural Circuit Mapping.
Tuesday, Jan. 13, 10 to 11 a.m.
Location: Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building, Room 2200, 847 Health Sciences Road, Irvine, CA 92697
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| Master of Science in Biomedical and Translational Science (MS-BATS) Informational Session |
| Jumpstart your career in clinical and translational research! The MS-BATS is a 1-year master’s program (Capstone Project or Thesis Option) designed to train students to conduct high-quality multidisciplinary clinical research at the intersection of basic science and clinical medicine. Students from various training backgrounds, including medical students, residents, fellows, physicians, nurses and others interested in excelling as an effective clinical and translational researcher will benefit from this program. This informational session will provide attendees with an overview of the MS-BATS program and answer any questions.
Tuesday, Jan. 13, 5 to 6 p.m.
Via Zoom | |
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| Hosted by the UC Irvine Center for RNA Science & Therapeutics (CRST). Join the CSRT for a scientific symposium featuring multiple speakers focused on basic and translational RNA science. Learn more about the speakers and the agenda.
Friday, Jan. 16, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Location: Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences, Sue Gross Auditorium, 856 Health Sciences Rd, Irvine, CA | |
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| Experimental Pathology Dissertation Defense |
| Cellular Mechanisms of Neuronal and Neuroretinal Degeneration Across Disease Pathologies, by Jacob Dohl, Graduate Student, Elizabeth Head Lab, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Friday, Jan. 16, 1 to 3 p.m. PT
Location: Hybrid event at Plumwood House and Via Zoom
Meeting ID: 940 7528 0011 | Passcode: 291233 | |
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| Rady Children's Health and UC Irvine Distinguished Lecture Series |
| Advancing Research in Immunology and Neurology, by Michael Demetriou, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Neurology, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Wednesday, Jan. 21, Noon to 1 p.m. PT
Via Zoom
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| UCI SKIN: A Skin Biology Resource Center Distinguished Speaker Series |
| Dissect the Inflammatory Adaptation Circuit of Epithelial Stem Cells, by Yuxuan (Phoenix) Miao, PhD, Assistant Professor, Ben May Department of Cancer Research, University of Chicago. Hosted by the UCI Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center.
Friday, Jan. 23, 11 a.m. to Noon PT
Location: Thorp Conference Center, 4001 Gross Hall | |
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| Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences Dean's Distinguished Lecture — Winter 2026 |
| How Early-Life Experiences Shape Our Adult Behaviors, by Tallie Z. Baram, MD, PhD, D. Shepard & Bren Distinguished Professor, Departments of Pediatrics, Anatomy & Neurobiology and Neurology, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Tuesday, Jan. 27, 4 to 6 p.m.
Location: Crystal Cove Auditorium — UC Irvine Student Center | |
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| Second International Conference on “Unconventional Animal Models of Alzheimer’s Disease and Aging” (UAMAA 2026): Call for Abstracts! |
| The Second International Conference on “Unconventional Animal Models of Alzheimer’s Disease and Aging” (UAMAA 2026) is a multidisciplinary forum will bring together researchers, scientists and professionals advancing the frontiers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research. This conference will offer a unique platform to discuss and explore unconventional mammalian and non-murine models of AD that may provide enhanced translational potential for therapeutic development. Abstract submissions for selected talks and poster presentations are due Jan. 9, 2026. Feb. 9–11, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. PT
Location: Sue Gross Auditorium, Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences, Irvine, CA | |
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| Cancer Clinical Trials Bootcamp |
| The Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center is accepting applications for the Cancer Clinical Trials Bootcamp, a 16-week intensive program that trains faculty, fellows, and postdoctoral scholars to design cancer investigator-initiated trial (IIT) protocols and ends with the submission of a completed IIT protocol. Apply by Jan. 16, 2026. For questions, contact Kimberly Castellanos.
Program Dates: Feb. 9–May 18, every other Monday, 6 to 8 p.m.
Location: Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Care and Ambulatory Care, Irvine, Calif.
Application Deadline: Jan. 16, 2026
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| 9th Annual Skin Symposium |
| Skin in Motion: Forces, Signals & Renewal. Explore the latest advancements in skin research at the 9th Annual UC Irvine Skin Symposium, hosted by UC Irvine Skin, A Skin Biology Resource Center. Connect with renowned experts from across the globe as they unveil cutting-edge research findings, breakthroughs in skin health and innovative treatment approaches. Delve into the forefront of skin science with the distinguished speaker lineup. Register by Feb. 4.
Friday, Feb. 13, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Hybrid event at UC Irvine Sue & Bill Gross Hall, Thorp Conference Center, 845 Health Sciences Road, Irvine, CA 92617 and Via Zoom
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| 2026 Stem Cell Science Symposium & Featured Community Lecture |
| Join the UC Irvine Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center for the 13th Annual Science Symposium & Featured Community Lecture. Register by Feb. 13.
Featured Community Lecture | Gene Therapy for Blood Cell Diseases
Keynote Speaker: Donald B. Kohn, MD, Distinguished Professor, Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA – Tuesday, Feb. 24, 7 to 8 p.m.
Location: Beall Applied Innovation – The Beach
13th Annual Stem Cell Symposium – Wednesday, Feb. 25, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (tentative)
Featured Speakers: Donald B. Kohn, MD, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Molly Shoichet, PhD, University of Toronto; Clive Svendsen, PhD, Cedars-Sinai; Vivian Gama, PhD, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; Lisa Flanagan, PhD, Robert Hunt, PhD, Munjal Acharya, PhD, and Piyanuch Kongtim, MD, PhD, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Location: Gross Hall, Thorp Conference Center
Feb. 24 & 25
Location: Beall Applied Innovation – The Beach (Feb. 24) and Gross Hall, Thorp Conference Center (Feb. 25)
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| Fifth Annual Rady Children's Health and UC Irvine Rare Disease Symposium & Family Conference: Call for Abstract Submissions! |
| The Fifth Annual Rady Children’s Health and UC Irvine Rare Disease Symposium & Family Conference will focus on the latest innovations in the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases across various specialties. Attendees will experience dynamic presentations by leading experts, as well as personal stories from families affected by rare conditions, promoting a stronger sense of community and understanding.The abstract submission deadline is Monday, Jan. 12, 2025 at 11:50 p.m. PT. Friday, Feb. 27, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT
Location: The Beckman Center, 100 Academy Way, Irvine, CA 92617 | |
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| Grand Rounds and CME Symposia |
| | For Continuing Medical Education (CME) opportunities, view the weekly Grand Rounds & CME Symposia email. | | Back to top | | | |
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| Do you have an open research-related position you would also like announced in Research Insider? Please fill out this form to have your open position listed.
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| What kind of grant support does the School of Medicine Research Development Unit provide? |
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| What kind of grant support does the RDU provide to Physician Scientists? |
| Along with the general grant support the RDU provides (outlined above), there are multiple programs available outlined on the Physician Scientist Resources page. - Physician Scientist Collective: Monthly seminar series with visiting speakers
- Physician Scientist Pathways Certificate Course: Six-week, 12-hour hybrid course that introduces clinicians to research pathways
- Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP): Helps physician scientists apply for their first K award
- Dean’s K Scholar: Provides awardees the protected time and mentorship needed to obtain NIH K/ equivalent funding
- Clinical Trialist Training Program (CTTP): Supports junior faculty on externally funded clinical trials through a 2-year partnership program with senior investigators already running clinical trials
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