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Events | Funding Opportunities | Announcements | News | Resources
 
 
 July 23, 2025
 
 
Events
 
 
 
JULY 24, 2025, 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
Fueling Pioneers with Bold Cancer Solutions - NCI SBIR Regional Outreach Webinar
Unleash the Potential of Your Cancer Technology with NCI SBIR Support, Regional Webinar Series
 
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AUGUST 1, 2025, 2:00–3:00 PM
Opportunities to Optimize and Accelerate Clinical Development Through Phase 1 Trials
Leena Gandhi, MD, PhD, Chao Irvine Amb. Care & Cancer Ctr., Palmer Conf. Rm. 2157 – or Zoom
 
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AUGUST 6, 2025, 12:00–1:00 PM
Understanding the Role of the Cellular Microenvironment in BRCA1-Driven Breast Cancer Initiation
Speaker: Kai Kessenbrock, PhD
 
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SEPTEMBER 9, 2025, 9:25 AM–2:55 PM
NCCN Oncology Policy Summit
The National Press Club, Washington D.C. Discuss policy and practice strategies focused on the rapidly changing AI landscape.
 
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SEPTEMBER 19, 7:30 AM–5:30 PM
Breaking Barriers: Trailblazing Innovations in Medical Research
Noble Prize Laureate, Gregg Semenza, PhD
Development of inhibitors to treat cancer
 
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SEPTEMBER 29–30, 2025, 8:30 AM–3:30 PM
Enhancing Childhood Cancer Data Sharing and Utility
NIH Main Campus, Bethesda, MD (Day 1) | NCI Shady Grove Campus, Rockville, MD (Day 2)
 
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OCTOBER 3 & 24, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Responsible Conduct of Research Workshop – Attendance for both days required
Hosted by the UC Irvine Institute for Clinical & Translational Science
 
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OCTOBER 10-11, 2025
ASCO Quality Care Symposium, Chicago IL & Online
Early registration deadline: September 3, 2025. Marriott Marquis Chicago.
 
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Funding Opportunities
 
 
 
Autologous Humanized PDX Models and Organoids
1 year | $500,000 – Award period starts September 1, 2025!
The Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center will nominate one candidate for an NCI Administrative Supplement.
Deadline: July 23
 
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Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP) – 2026 Calls for Applications
TRDRP transforms tobacco excise taxes into cutting edge research to reduce commercial tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases and to inform public policy that benefits all Californians.
Deadline: August 21, 2025 

Core Call for Applications (investigator-initiated awards)
https://trdrp.org/what-we-fund/2026-call/2026-core-call-for-applications-final.pdf
Program Award: 4 years | $1,150,000 total
Research Award: Up to 3 years | $300,000/year
Pilot Award: Up to 2 years | $250,000/year
New Investigator Award: Up to 3 years | $200,000/year
Postdoctoral Award: Up to 3 years | $200,000/year
Predoctoral Award: Up to 3 years | $200,000/year 

Community-Partnered Participatory Research Call for Applications
https://trdrp.org/what-we-fund/2026-call/2026-cppra-rfa_final_25.7.2.pdf
Pilot CPPRA Award: Up to 2 years | $500,000/year
Full CPPRA Award: Up to 3 years | $600,000/year

Maternal Smoking Cessation Initiative Call for Applications
https://trdrp.org/what-we-fund/2026-call/msci-2026-rfp-final.pdf
Partnered-MSCI Award: up to 2 years | $500,000 per year total
Single Investigator‑MSCI Award: up to 2 years | $250,000 per year 

Smoke- and Vape-free Scholars Call for Applications
https://trdrp.org/what-we-fund/2026-call/svfsi-cycle-36-070225-final.pdf
Program Award: up to 4 years | $1,150,000 total
 
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A1 Bridge Funding
UC Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
1 year | $20,000
Supports cancer research with strong potential to improve treatment, diagnosis, prevention, and patient outcomes. Designed to strengthen and resubmit NIH grant applications.
Rolling Deadline
 
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Research Support Opportunity
UC Irvine Genetic Epidemiology Research Institute
1 year | $2,500
Funds research using NIH All of Us data to advance precision medicine.
Rolling Deadline
 
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Announcements
 
 
 
Welcome to Katrina Parshad, MS, Manager for Programmatic Development!
Katrina joined the Cancer Center with over eight years of healthcare operations and project management experience from UC San Francisco, where she managed multimillion-dollar global health initiatives. kparshad@hs.uci.edu
 
Welcome to Michael Rodrigeuz, Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator!
Michael joined the Cancer Center with a master’s in global medicine from USC and four years of experience in emergency medicine where he led training efforts and streamlined clinical workflows. michaar2@hs.uci.edu
 
Welcome to Madeleine Phan, Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator!
Madeleine joined the Cancer Center with a master’s in public health from UC Irvine and experience as an MPH intern where she excelled in data management for industry and NCI-sponsored studies. madelnp1@hs.uci.edu
 
Welcome to Nathan Lenahan Clinical Research Finance Analyst!
Nathan joined the Cancer Center’s clinical trial finance team with a focus on accuracy, innovation, and process improvement. He leverages technology to streamline workflows and strengthen operations. nlenahan@hs.uci.edu
 
UC Irvine Office of Research: Limited Protocol Submissions August 4–September 14
Starting August 4, 2025, the UCI IRB will limit submissions to allow time for HRP to clear its review queue, train on the new system, and support the data migration process.
 
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UC Irvine Office of Research - Federal Communications
Due to changes in federal funding, forward related grant and contract communications to Jeff Warner, Senior Director of Sponsored Projects Administration.
 
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Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE)
Strengthen your research impact, enhance clinical trial success, gain trusted community insights, increase study relevance, and accelerate accruals.
 
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News
 
 
 
Member, Munjal Acharya, MS, PhD, awarded for advancing health through interdisciplinary research collaborations
June 18, 2025 – 2025 Basic Science College of Health Sciences Team Research Award
 
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Circadian Disruption: The Hidden Cancer Link?
July 16, 2025 – The study, published in Nature Immunology, was led by Bridget M. Fortin, a doctoral candidate in biological chemistry at UC Irvine.
 
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Member, Michael Hoyt, PhD - Cancer's Hidden Toll on Mental Health: What You Need to Know
July 15, 2025 – “Being diagnosed with cancer can bring on a wide range of strong emotions in the period after diagnosis.”
 
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Member, Alexandre Chan, PharmD, MPH, receives Hematology / Oncology Pharmacy Award
July 15, 2025 – The award reflects a joint effort with the infusion center pharmacists at the Cancer Center.
 
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Member Anand Ganesan, MD, PhD (right);  Linh Vuong, PhD (left) - New potential to treat cancer and skin diseases
July 14, 2025 – “We’re hopeful this research will lead to better, safer therapies for patients who currently have very few treatment options.
 
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Member, Edward C. Kuan, MD, is elevating care by leading a team of skull base reconstruction experts
June 12, 2025 – "We hope this work will be valuable...and motivate innovation in research and protocol development."​​​
 
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Member, Evgeny Kvon, PhD, one of eight UC Irvine faculty members named Hellman Fellows
July 11, 2025 – Program supports research by promising assistant professors
 
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Member, Veronica Vieira, DSc, mentor for research that analyzed data from over 40,000 children
July 10, 2025 – Uncovering Potential Links Between PFAS Exposure and Childhood Cancers
 
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Gary Deng, MD, PhD, shares insights in interview with Becker's Hospital Review
July 9, 2025 – "Ultimately, integrative oncology can be a net positive service line with tangible and intangible benefits..."
 
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Member, Kristen Kelly, MD – Lasers for Pediatric Skin Conditions Require a Different Approach Than in Adults
July 9, 2025 – “...you want to make sure that you know how to use it, that you’re using it for the correct indications..."​​​​​
 
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Member, Maksim Plikus, PhD, co-author of new research about how hair gave ancestors an evolutionary advantage
July 7, 2025 – New research explains how scalp hair grows so long, and how its characteristics helped us thrive [log in with UCInetID]
 
Read more
 
 
 

 
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Phone 714-456-8000
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