| | |
| How will AI/ML transform your research ... |
| … And how can the Office of Research (OR) and the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Science (ICS) help? As a starting point, they would like to gather some brief information about the current involvement of AI/ML in the UC Irvine research community. The information gathered will be used to develop strategies, identify critical needs, generate collaborations and organize efforts to pursue major funding opportunities.
Deadline: March 31, 2026 | |
| | |
| Mentorship Opportunity for Junior Faculty: John Tu Academic Research Scholarship |
| This is the second year of this exciting philanthropic gift from Mr. John Tu in conjunction with Dr. Edward Uchio. Students who participate receive a generous scholarship while doing summer research with UC Irvine faculty. Eligible medical students will participate in weekly in-person didactic sessions in Orange for the full duration of the fellowship, but must secure a UCI faculty mentor with a defined summer project. This comes with a $4,000 scholarship for the medical student. In addition, Tu-Uchio Fellows who travel to present their research at a national conference will be reimbursed up to $1,750 for travel expenses. Faculty mentors are also eligible to receive a travel reimbursement up to $1,750.
Interested junior faculty members in clinical departments can send the following by Friday, March 27, to Jeff Nahmias, MD, MHPE, or Areg Grigorian, MD:
- Name
- Research Project Title
- Description (1-2 sentences)
| |
| | |
| School of Medicine Applications for Bridge Funding Due March 25 |
| Please note that the next UC Irvine Office of Research deadline for Bridge Funding is Wednesday, April 1, 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 Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
| |
| | |
| The 2026 Faculty Research Retreat was a Success! |
| PLEASE RESPOND TO THE POST-EVENT SURVEY
Whether you were able to attend or not, we would greatly appreciate your feedback on this year’s School of Medicine faculty retreat. Please take a few minutes to complete a brief survey by March 27. Your response can remain anonymous. The organizers will use the data collected to plan future events. To contact us directly, please email Carey Berkowick.
Check out this recap of the day with a link to more photos. Learn more about the UC Irvine School of Medicine faculty research retreats.
| |
| | |
| Vote for UC Irvine in Round 4 of STAT Madness! |
| Great news! Our team has advanced to Round 4 of STAT Madness, an annual competition that brings together the best biomedical research from the past year. Show your UCI pride and take a moment to cast your vote for UC Irvine by Thursday, March 26, at 1 a.m. PT.
Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk, PhD (Physiology & Biophysics, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences): “Explaining Age-Related Vision Loss”
To vote, you will need to create a free account. Vote now for this important research and help send UC Irvine into the Final Four. | |
| | |
| Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) 101 | Physician Scientist Collective 2025-26 Distinguished Speaker Series |
| Join this webinar for an overview of Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) by a program officer, including: What PCORI funds and funding announcements, the application and review processes, and applicant resources PCORI offers. Additional time will be set aside for Q&A.
Presenter: Ari Tabaac, PhD, is a senior program officer in clinical effectiveness research (CER), and they were previously employed at Boston Children's Hospital as a research scientist specializing in sexual and reproductive healthcare and cancer surveillance. They have a doctoral degree in health psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University and previous experience in both epidemiology and community-engaged research methods.
Tuesday, March 31, 7 a.m. | |
| | |
| Call for Applications: Robert & Sylvia Mapel Research Innovation Award |
| UC Irvine School of Medicine is pleased to announce a 2026 call for applications for the Robert & Sylvia Mapel Research Innovation Award. This award is aimed at promoting the early exploration of high-risk research ideas focused on emerging areas of basic and applied biomedical science. Funding will support one $50,000 grant to a PhD mentor and PhD student team of UC Irvine School of Medicine faculty member and graduate academic researcher.
Deadline: April 9, 2026, by 5 p.m. | |
| | |
| Highlighting UC Irvine’s Shared Core Facilities for Researchers — The Optical Biology Core and the Facility for Imaging & Brain Research |
| Join this webinar to learn about these two shared core facilities: the Optical Biology Core and Facility for Imaging & Brain Research.
The Optical Biology Core (OBC) provides researchers access to state-of -the-art light microscopes, software for 3D and 4D analysis and technical support. Speaker: Adeela Syed, PhD, Manager of OBC
The Facility for Imaging and Brain Research (FIBRE) enables researchers to conduct cutting-edge research on brain structure, function and connectivity using high-resolution MRI technologies. Speaker: Craig Stark, PhD, Operations Director of FIBRE
Tuesday, April 14, Noon to 1 p.m.
Via Zoom | |
| | |
| UC Irvine Alpha Clinic IND / IDE Support |
| The UC Irvine SCRC IND Office provides regulatory strategy and support for INDs and IDEs, from determining whether an IND or IDE is required through FDA meetings, submissions, maintenance, and close out, including NIH and CIRM-funded projects. Do you have questions about whether your project needs an IND or IDE, how to design an IND-enabling preclinical package, how to plan for FDA meetings, or how to manage sponsor-investigator responsibilities and safety reporting?
Investigators developing FDA-regulated clinical research, particularly those preparing NIH or CIRM preclinical or clinical applications, are encouraged to reach out early in the planning process to discuss regulatory strategy, timelines and available support. Brief exploratory questions are welcome.
For non-oncology IND/IDE or NIH/CIRM-related regulatory questions or to request a consultation, email SCRCIND@hs.uci.edu.
| |
| | |
| Seeking Volunteer Judges for Excellence in Research Projects |
| Faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and other senior laboratory staff are invited to judge Biological Sciences 199 Excellence in Research projects. There is a large group of 140 student presenters this year, and your help is needed to evaluate their work and select finalists for research awards. Volunteers will evaluate written reports and posters. The poster session is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, 9 a.m. to noon. Note: Judges will only attend a single 90-minute time slot.
If interested, please complete this brief survey. Detailed instructions will be emailed to you. The deadline for registration is Friday, April 3. Questions? Contact Sean Ostlund or Shahrdad Lotfipour. | | Back to top | | | |
| | |
| 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.
| |
| | |
|
| | Postdocs & Early Career Faculty Funding Opportunities | |
|
Call for Applications: ICTS T32 Postdoctoral Scholar Appointment
For more information, please visit our website, or contact Brooke Piercy at piercyb@hs.uci.edu.
Deadline: March 29, 2026 | |
| | |
| Limited: Schmidt Science Fellows (Postdoc Fellows Program for Graduating PhD Students) |
| UC Irvine has received the distinguished honor of being invited to nominate candidates for the Schmidt Science Fellows program — one of only a select number of institutions worldwide to receive this invitation. This prestigious postdoctoral fellowship supports exceptional graduating PhD students as they pivot from their doctoral discipline to pursue bold, interdisciplinary research in the physical and biological sciences, mathematics, engineering and computing. UC Irvine may nominate two doctoral students for the 2027 cohort.
Deadline: March 31, 2026
| |
| | |
| 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 | |
| | |
|
| | All Faculty Funding Opportunities | |
|
ARPA-H Funding OpportunitiesThe Critical Illness Immunological Reprogramming and Control Point Learning Engine (CIRCLE) program aims to develop new digital twin capabilities to treat critical illness using the latest in AI and diagnostics. Solution Summary deadline: March 30, 2026The Developing self-monitoring ecosystems to “know thyself” (Delphi) program will spur a new development ecosystem that provides quick access to cutting-edge bioelectronics and sensing strategies. This approach will spur innovation with tiny, smart, next-generation “chiplets” that optimize delivery of real-time insights of important internal signals like hormones, immune markers, and therapeutic drug levels. Proposers’ Day: March 27, 2026 | Solution Summary Deadline: April 8, 2026The One Comprehensive Universal Radiotherapy for Everyone (1-CURE) program will develop a single, rapid, low-cost, and accessible radiotherapy approach to battle all types of cancer, including local, metastatic and RT-resistant cancers. Solution Summary Deadline: April 15, 2026 | |
| | |
| Center of Excellence Impact of Cannabinoids Across the Lifespan (ICAL) 2026 Pilot Grant |
| The NIH-supported UCI Center of Excellence for studying the Impact of Cannabinoids Across the Lifespan (ICAL) includes a Pilot Grant Program with the goal of fostering independent and collaborative research on the influences of cannabinoid exposure during different life stages. The purpose of the Pilot Grant program is to capitalize on the research expertise within the UC Irvine community to integrate innovative ideas into ICAL research programs and to gain insight into age-specific effects of cannabinoid drugs on the brain and other organ systems.
The center is accepting proposals for Basic Science pilot grants of up to $25,000 total costs for the funding period of 6/1/26 to 5/31/27. This funding opportunity is open to all UC Irvine faculty members (senate and non-senate) of all ranks.
Deadline: May 1, 2026
| |
| | |
| Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute (SSIHI) Pilot Studies Award |
| UC Irvine Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute (SSIHI) is pleased to announce a new call for the Pilot Studies Program. A minimum of two one-year awards in the amount of $25,000 will be conferred in this round.
Purpose: To encourage early exploration of research ideas that address growing health challenges and add to the evidence base of integrative health practices.
Eligibility: Principal Investigators (PIs) must be full-time UC Irvine faculty from any school or discipline. Junior and mid-career faculty, as well as established investigators, pursuing novel research lines are encouraged to apply.
Eligible Projects: Integrative health research projects currently not funded and aimed at obtaining preliminary results for a full application for extramural funds will be given priority. Emphasis will be placed on innovation and transformative potential of submitted proposals. The content of proposals, while linked to applicants’ current research, should demonstrate a clear evolution towards novel, relevant and untested research areas.
Deadline: May 1, 2026
| | Back to top | | | |
| | | Upcoming Seminars & Events |
| | |
| Rady Children's Health and UC Irvine Distinguished Lecture Series |
| Efficient Gene Delivery: New Approaches to Treating Cancer and Cystic Fibrosis, by Steven J. Jonas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics; Associate Program Director, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Wednesday, March 25, Noon to 1 p.m. PT
Via Zoom
| |
| | |
| Experimental Pathology Research Conferences |
| Decoding Dementia: Environmental Risk Factors and Mechanisms Throughout the Lifespan, by Kelly Bakulski, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan
Monday, March 30, 11 a.m. to Noon PT
Via Zoom
Meeting ID: 955 3602 9351/ Passcode: 998046 | |
| | |
| Department of Biological Chemistry BC Seminar Series |
|
Structural Biology of Telomerase Activity and Interactions at Telomeres, by Yao He, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Wednesday, April 1, 11 a.m. to Noon
Location: Plumwood House / Showa Denko Lecture Hall
| |
| | |
| Department of Physiology & Biophysics Research in Progress Seminar |
|
|  Nathaniel Addonizio
Graduate Student
|  Angela Li
Graduate Student
| |
|
Muscling Towards Regenerative Therapies with Human Pluripotent Stem Cells, by Angela Li, Graduate Student, Michael R. Hicks, PhD, Lab, Department of Physiology & Biophysics, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Wednesday, April 1, 4 to 5 p.m.
Location: Plumwood House / Showa Denko Lecture Hall | |
| | |
| Stem Cell Seminar Lecture Series |
| Using 3D Engineered Cardiac & Skeletal Muscle Tissues for DMD Disease Modeling & Drug Discovery, by David Mack, PhD, Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Bioengineering, University of Washington. Hosted by the UC Irvine Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center.
Friday, April 3, 11 a.m. to Noon
Location: Gross Hall, Thorp Conference Center (4th Floor)
| |
| | |
| Feedback Wanted: Developing the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2027–2031 |
| NIH seeks community feedback on the next Agency-Wide Strategic Plan. This plan will guide their work over the next five years to fulfill their mission.
NIH will hold webinars to gather input from the research community, stakeholders and the public on the framework that will inform development of the plan:
Wednesday, April 8, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PT
Via Webinar
| |
| | |
| Physiology & Biophysics Seminar Series |
| Molecular Choreography of Piezo1 in Development and Repair, by Medha M. Pathak, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Physiology & Biophysics, UC Irvine School of Medicine Wednesday, April 8, 4 to 5 p.m. PT
Location: Hybrid event at Plumwood House / Showa Denko Lecture Hall and Via Zoom
Contact Claire Chen to join via Zoom.
| |
| | |
| Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics Seminar |
|
|  Alan G. Barbour, MD
Distinguished Professor
Departments of Medicine and Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, UC Irvine School of Medicine
|  Matthew M. Zahn, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Rady Children’s Health
| |
|
Thursday, April 9, 9 a.m.
Location: Plumwood House, Room 166 | |
| | |
| UC Irvine Center for Aging Research in Down Syndrome Research Seminar Series |
| The Interferonopathy of Down Syndrome: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications, by Kelly Sullivan, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Hosted by the UC Irvine Center for Aging Research in Down Syndrome (CFAR-DS).
Friday, April 10, 11 a.m. to Noon PT
Via Zoom
| |
| | |
| Join the Southern California Flow Cytometry Association (SoCal Flow) for our local flow cytometry conference on April 13–14!
- Get exposure to different flow applications and fields
- Practice your poster talks by submitting an abstract in a low-pressure, personal environment
- Last, but not least, breakfast, lunch, and a happy hour will be provided.
April 13–14, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: The Beckman Center, 100 Academy Way, Irvine, CA 92617 | |
| | |
| Monthly on Mondays | Faculty Development Series |
| Artificial Intelligence in Support of Teaching & Mentoring, presented by Brian Sato, MD, and Mark Warschauer, PhD. Monthly on Mondays, presented by Nimisha Parekh and Brian Cummings, Senior Associate Deans of Faculty Development, is a monthly seminar series covering a wide range of topics on faculty development.
Monday, April 13, 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.
Via Zoom | |
| | |
| Stata: Introduction to Machine Learning and AI |
| This free noontime workshop (75 minutes) will briefly review the history of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), introduce the concepts and jargon, and demonstrate how to use these tools in Stata. Specific examples will include Lasso and elasticnet methods, Bayesian methods and MCMC, support vector machines (SVM) using Python integration, random forests and gradient boosting machines using H2O, and the user-written commands "chatgpt," "claude," "gemini," and "grok."
Instructor: Chuck Huber, PhD
Wednesday, April 15, Noon to 1:15 p.m. PT
Via Zoom
| |
| | |
| Imaged-Based Spatial Transcriptomics: From Technology to Analysis | Panel Discussion |
| Hear quick, high-impact presentations (three 15-minute talks), join lively discussions, and network with peers to spark fresh ideas and collaborations driving the next wave of discovery in single-cell biology. Speakers: Jenny Wu, PhD, Fangyuan Ding, PhD, and Anand Ganesan, MD, PhD Learn more about this panel discussion hosted by the UCI Genomics Research & Technology Hub.
Wednesday, April 15, 2 to 4 p.m.
Location: UC Irvine Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, Thorp Conference Center | |
| | |
| Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics Seminar |
| Molecular Genetics of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma: Virulence and Vaccine Development, by Roman Ganta, MSc, PhD, Curators' Distinguished Professor & Mckee Endowed Chair Professor, University of Missouri
Wednesday, April 15, 4 p.m.
Location: Plumwood House, Room 166
| |
| | |
| UCI SKIN: A Skin Biology Resource Center Distinguished Speaker Series |
| Regulation of Cutaneous Antiviral Immunity, by Megan Orzalli, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts. Hosted by the UCI Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center.
Friday, April 24, 11 a.m. to Noon
Location: Thorp Conference Center, 4001 Gross Hall | |
| | |
| Grand Rounds and CME Symposia |
| | For Continuing Medical Education (CME) opportunities, view the weekly Grand Rounds & CME Symposia email. | | Back to top | | | |
| | |
| Postdoctoral Fellow - Neurological Clinical Informatics and Data Science Lab |
| The Neurological Clinical Informatics and Data Science Lab led by Ali Ezzati, MD, is recruiting for a postdoctoral fellow to work on clinical research in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The position involves large-scale data analysis, digital health, and translational research. Candidates with strong quantitative and clinical research backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Please reach out if interested or share with potential candidates.
Closing Date: May 31, 2026 | |
| | |
| 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.
| | Back to top | | | |
| | |
| Sign up for the Office of Research Listserv & Keep Updated |
| | To keep up to date with the latest updates from the Office of Research amidst all of the federal funding changes, be sure to subscribe to the CG-News listserv. You can sign up by sending a blank email to: cg-news+subscribe@uci.edu. Also, bookmark the Office of Research Impact of Federal Executive Orders and Directives on Federal Grants and Contracts. | |
| | |
| What kind of grant support does the School of Medicine Research Development Unit provide? |
| | |
| | |
| 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
| | Back to top | | | |
|
