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| Congratulations to the 2026 ICTS Biobank Translational Team Science Pilot Studies Awardees |
| The UCI Biobank is proud to announce the inaugural awardees of the ICTS Biobank Translational Team Science Pilot Studies Award. One project led by Edward Kuan, MD, and Nicholas Pannunzio, PhD, will develop a translational multimodal pipeline for sinonasal cancer research, combining AI, genomic analysis, and the UCI Biobank to build one of the world's most comprehensive datasets for these rare and difficult-to-treat cancers. The other project led by Ali Ezzati, MD, and Crystal Jicha, MD, will investigate whether blood-based protein markers can help explain the daily impact of migraines and pave the way for more personalized, biologically informed patient care.
These $50,000 two-year awards are designed to promote the use of the UCI Biobank for research and to support transdisciplinary collaborations between clinical and basic science investigators to address unmet clinical needs utilizing existing or prospectively collected samples through the UCI Biobank. We thank the Departments of Surgery, Medicine, Urology, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and Dermatology for their generous support in making this funding opportunity possible. Learn about the awardees’ projects.
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| School of Medicine Applications for Bridge Funding Due July 24 |
| Please note that the next UC Irvine Office of Research deadline for Bridge Funding is Monday, Aug. 3, 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, July 24, 2026.
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| Updated Advisory: Electronic Records and Signatures in Human Subjects Research |
| UC Office of the General Counsel recently updated a Health Sciences Research Advisory for Electronic Records and Signatures in Human Subjects Research. While there are no significant changes in the law, the guidance incorporates information from the 2024 FDA guidance, updates sections to 21 CFR Part 11, and addresses questions regarding Part 11 compliance for IRB systems. Research Compliance will continue working with Institutional Officials on statements of compliance and will share additional information with applicable teams as appropriate.
Please contact Research Compliance for a copy of the advisory.
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| Congratulations to our 2025 Anti-Cancer Challenge Grant Awardees |
| Congratulations to our UC Irvine School of Medicine researchers who received grants from the UC Irvine Anti-Cancer Challenge, a community movement to raise awareness and funds for critical cancer research at the UC Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The Anti-Cancer Challenge has awarded grants to 35 pilot projects and early-phase clinical trials due a record-breaking $1.6 million which was raised in 2025.
Learn more about the 2025 awardees and a summary of their projects. | | Back to top | | | |
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| Jennifer Gelinas, MD, PhD (Pediatrics, Anatomy & Neurobiology), and her collaborators have been recognized by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) for one of the Top 10 Brain Research Advances of 2025. Their groundbreaking study evaluated adaptive (closed-loop) brain stimulation in an animal model of epilepsy, demonstrating its potential to prevent disease progression while preserving long-term memory. By using real-time feedback to tailor electrical stimulation, this innovative neuromodulation approach may lead to new treatment strategies for pediatric epilepsy and help protect brain function in affected children.
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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Beckman Young Investigator Program
Letter of Interest Deadline: July 31, 2026 | |
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| | All Faculty Funding Opportunities | |
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UC Irvine Genetic Epidemiology Research Institute | |
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| ARPA-H Funding Opportunities |
| The Restorative and Health-Enhancing Sleep Time (REST) program will advance two technical areas: measure and diagnosis sleep quality at-home with clinical fidelity, and control & treat to develop non-invasive, closed-loop systems with real-time interventions throughout the night.
Solution Summary Deadline: Aug. 12, 2026
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| | | Upcoming Seminars & Events |
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| National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Open House |
| Learn about individual career development (K Award) opportunities. The event will open with a short presentation on active funding opportunities, followed by breakout sessions where you can ask questions about specific activity codes or how to prepare a K award.
Wednesday, July 1, Noon to 1 p.m.
Online via Microsoft Teams | |
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| Informational Webinar: NIGMS MIRA for Early Stage Investigators (R35) |
| The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) will host an informational webinar on the Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) for Early Stage Investigators (ESI) program (PAR-27-032). The session will provide a program overview and offer prospective applicants the opportunity to ask questions.
Wednesday, July 15, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PT
Via Webinar
Microsoft Teams Meeting ID: 236 297 571 750 694; Passcode: aK7JH3WX) | |
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| UC Irvine Center for Neuropolitics Lecture Series |
| The Hostility Habit: How Partisan Expectations Shape Political Conflict, by Alexa Bankert, PhD, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Georgia. Lecture hosted by the UC Irvine Center for Neuropolitics. Register today for this FREE, virtual lecture! Friday, July 31, Noon to 1:15 p.m. PT
Via Zoom
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| NIH Grant Proposal Workshop for Investigators at All Career Stages |
| This workshop, associated with the UC Irvine Center for Neural Circuit Mapping's 2026 Conference on “Neural Circuits in Health & Disease,” is designed for investigators at all career stages, with a focus on early-stage and junior investigators. A panel of NIH Program Officers and UCI faculty will provide career-focused guidance with topics including NIH funding mechanisms, peer-review expectations, common pitfalls in grant applications, and effective strategies for engaging with NIH programs. All discussions will be grounded in NIH policies, funding announcements, and review practices. There is a nominal registration fee.
Monday, Aug. 17, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Irvine Marriott, Irvine, Calif. (CNCM Main Conference Venue)
Parking: $20
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| Viral Targeting Reagents for Mammalian Brain Neural Circuit Analysis |
| Hosted by the UC Irvine Center for Neural Circuit Mapping Viral Core & Vector Builder
This workshop is free and open to all those registered for the 2026 CNCM Conference. Individuals who are not registered for the main conference may attend for a nominal fee. If interested, please register here by Aug. 14, 2026.
Thursday, Aug. 20, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Location: Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building (FLFMIB), Room 2200 | |
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| Harnessing the Potential of Spatial Transcriptomics |
| Hosted by UC Irvine Center for Neural Circuit Mapping & VIZGEN
This workshop is free and open to all those registered for the 2026 CNCM Conference. Individuals who are not registered for the main conference may attend for a nominal fee. If interested, please register here by Aug. 14, 2026.
Thursday, Aug. 20, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building (FLFMIB), Room 2200 | |
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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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| Helpful Reminders to Ensure Integrity of NIH-Supported Research When Using Artificial Intelligence |
| Alongside NIH-supported scientific advances and priority research areas involving AI, NIH has also occasionally observed challenges with the use of these tools that affect the integrity of the science we support. NIH has shared some helpful reminders on the appropriate use of AI tools when applying, managing awards and conducting the research process itself. Read more.
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| 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. | |
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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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