| Updates from the UCI Office of Research |
|
New Policy on Disclosing, Reviewing and Approving Engagements Involving Countries of Concern |
| There is a new policy on Disclosing, Reviewing and Approving Engagements Involving Countries of Concern (PDF). Effective July 1, 2025, this policy will apply to new engagements involving countries of concern (North Korea, Iran, China, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates) and substantive changes to currently active engagements.
The Countries of Concern Engagements webpage contains FAQs regarding the policy, as well as the procedures to operationalize it. Additionally, questions may be directed to the Research Engagement and Compliance team in the Office of Research at or-rsie@uci.edu. | |
|
Sign up for the Office of Research Listserv |
| To keep up with the latest updates from the Office of Research amid all the federal funding changes, be sure to subscribe to the CG-News listserv. Sign up by sending a blank email to cg-news+subscribe@uci.edu. | |
|
| Due to shifts in the federal agency funding landscape, do not sign any certifications or acknowledgments, complete any surveys, or respond regarding grant compliance, change in abstract or scope of work, or project activities. Instead, forward such communications to Jeff Warner, Senior Director, Sponsored Projects Administration. Authorized Organizational Representatives (AORs) in the Office of Research will handle these matters. If you have trouble getting in touch with your Sponsored Programs offices/Contracts and Grants office, contact Nancy Lewis, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Administration. Learn more about the impact of federal executive orders and directives on federal grants and contracts.
For other questions or concerns, contact Paul Lekutai, Director, Federal and Non-Federal Sponsored Projects, or Jeff Warner.
| Back to top | | |
| | |
SOM-SSoE Incentive Program Extended |
| UC Irvine School of Medicine and the UC Irvine Samueli School of Engineering Deans’ offices are pleased to extend the SOM-SSoE Incentive Program to promote collaborative grant submissions between our schools. The program is specifically for multi-PI (MPI) research grants with one MPI from the School of Medicine and the other MPI from the Samueli School of Engineering at the NIH R01 level or similar (not R03 or R21). An example of a funding opportunity that may allow for medicine and engineering collaboration is the NIH Blueprint MedTech Translator (UG3/UH3 - Clinical Trial Optional). To be eligible for these funds, one faculty member of the team must fill out the SOM-SSoE Incentive Form prior to submission. Review the incentive form for complete program details. The SOM-SSoE program is available through June 30, 2026.
| |
|
School of Medicine Applications for Bridge Funding Due July 25 |
| Please note that the next UCI Office of Research deadline for Bridge Funding is Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. 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 25, 2025.
| |
|
NIH Large Multi-Component Grant Support & Incentive Program |
| The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a variety of grant and cooperative agreement mechanisms that have multiple components/cores. These mechanisms are time-intensive and require months of planning and preparation. However, the School of Medicine Research Development Unit (RDU) can provide guidance and support in the application process. There is also a School of Medicine Incentive Program for NIH Multi-Component (P or U) Submissions that provides a payment for those who apply for these mechanisms and another payment if awarded.
Please email the School of Medicine RDU with questions about these mechanisms. | |
|
NIH Fellowship Funding Opportunities Re-issued |
| The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Predoctoral (F30, F31) and Postdoctoral (F32) funding opportunities have been re-issued. The next available deadline for these funding opportunities is Aug. 8, 2025. If you would like to apply for these opportunities and have already discussed with your PI, you can request additional support from the School of Medicine Research Development Unit (RDU).
| |
|
Applications open! 2025 Physician Scientist Pathways Certificate Course |
| UC Irvine School of Medicine is currently accepting applications for the 2025 Physician Scientist Pathways Certificate Course. This course will prepare physician scientists by enabling them to combine their clinical knowledge with skills in scientific investigation. The School of Medicine strives to advance individual and population health and this fundamental certificate course will equip physician scientists with the basic knowledge required to address their research questions. This will allow UC Irvine to deliver top-level care to our patients, as we will have physicians able to leverage ongoing breakthroughs while advancing research in their fields. There is no tuition fee to participate in the course.
Deadline: Sept. 1, 2025 | Back to top | | |
|
| Lauren Hitchcock (graduate student, Armando Villalta Lab), is a recipient of the Faculty Mentorship Program (FMP) Fellowship for the 2025–26 academic year. The FMP is designed to increase the number of students who complete their PhD degree and successfully acquire a faculty appointment. Fellows are expected to participate in meaningful research and, eventually, develop an independent project.
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. | 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 | | |
ICTS T32 Postdoctoral Scholar Appointment
The UC Irvine Institute for Clinical & Translational Science (ICTS) has an NIH-funded (formerly TL1, now T32) training program designed to integrate training in clinical research and translational science into the core curriculum of students in medicine, biology, public health, nursing, pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical and social sciences, physical sciences, engineering, and informatics. There will be one open funding slot for a postdoctoral research trainee to begin July 1, 2025.
All Applicants Must:
- Have a project focused on clinical translational science
- Have one primary mentor and at least one other co-mentor from a separate discipline
- Currently hold a postdoctoral position and have no more than two years of postdoctoral training since the date of their terminal degree and be able to conduct research full-time
- Be a U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder
Deadline: July 25, 2025, 5 p.m.
| |
|
Available Postdoctoral Fellowships for the Hewitt Foundation for Biomedical Research |
| The Hewitt Foundation for Biomedical Research supports outstanding mentors and postdoctoral fellows. In addition to the Salk Institute and the Scripps Research Institute, the foundation offers positions to mentors and fellows in the Schools of Medicine, Biological Sciences, Engineering and Physical Sciences at UC Irvine. It aims to nurture the next generation of biomedical research leaders.
Mentors are invited to apply on behalf of potential fellows.
Postdoctoral fellowships are awarded for three years, carry yearly stipends of $72k, $74k and $76k. In addition, a yearly allocation of $15k is made to the fellow's sponsoring laboratory to cover health insurance, travel to scientific meetings, and to partially support their research expenses.
Learn more about available postdoctoral fellowships for the Hewitt Foundation for BioMedical Research at the Conte Center’s website.
Deadline: Aug. 15, 2025 | |
|
| | All Faculty Funding Opportunities | | |
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research Endeavor AwardThe Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center is seeking to nominate up to two collaborative research teams to submit Letters of Intent (LOIs) for the 2025 Endeavor Award from The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research. Before submitting your internal application to the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, please carefully review the RFA for detailed guidance on eligibility, project scope, budget and submission requirements. The first nomination may address any cancer type. The second nomination must be a translational or clinical project focused on upper GI, glioblastoma, triple-negative breast cancer, or pancreatic cancer. Teams must consist of one Principal Investigator and 2–8 Co-Principal Investigators. Applicants must have independent faculty appointments (tenure-track or equivalent). Projects must not overlap with currently funded research. Apply via InfoReady. Deadline: July 18, 2025 | |
|
The G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Foundation |
| The mission of The G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Foundation is to advance knowledge in the life sciences by sponsoring scientific research that will benefit mankind. Basic scientific research with potential translational application is central to this goal and fundamental to their operating principles. The Mathers Foundation welcomes research in immunology, microbiome, genomics, structural biology, cellular physiology, neuroscience and more. Plant biology research and oceanography-related research, space exploration, global warming, Covid-19, medical imaging technology, electrical engineering technology development, clinical trials and drug discovery projects are not considered.
UCI may submit only three applications for this award opportunity. Interested applicants are asked to submit an intent via InfoReady.
Deadline: July 21, 2025 | Back to top | | |
| Upcoming Seminars & Events |
|
ICTS Dissemination & Implementation Conference Workshop |
| The ICTS Dissemination and Implementation (D&I) Unit is offering a workshop to provide expert feedback and advice for graduate students and faculty interested in submitting an abstract to the 18th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation (D&I) in Health, which will be hosted by Academy Health and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in National Harbor, Maryland, Dec. 14–17, 2025. For more information, please contact Dr. Stephen Schueller.
Travel awards of up to $1,000 are available for investigators who:
- Attend the 2-hour workshop on July 9, 2025
- Submit an abstract to the D&I Conference by July 17, 2025
- Have their abstract accepted and attend the D&I Conference
Wednesday, July 9, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Via Zoom | |
|
Noel Drury, M.D. Institute for Translational Depression Discoveries Speaker Series |
| Early Adversity and the Developing Brain: Leveraging Developmental Neuroscience to Promote Youth Mental Health, by Dylan Gee, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Yale University. Hosted by the UC Irvine Noel Drury, M.D. Institute for Translational Depression Discoveries.
Wednesday, July 16, 10 to 11 a.m. PT Location: Thorp Conference Center, 4001 Gross Hall, and via Zoom | |
|
UC Irvine Center for Neuropolitics Lecture Series |
| From Democracy to Autocracy: Suicide by False Belief, by Joe Pierre, MD, Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco. This event is hosted by the UC Irvine Center for Neuropolitics. Register today for this FREE, virtual lecture! Friday, Aug. 8, Noon to 1:15 p.m. PT Via Zoom
| |
|
| The Art of Science, a special event held supplementary to the 2025 Center for Neural Circuit Mapping Conference: The Changing Brain, will feature artists, performers and talks from field professionals to highlight the powerful intersection between artistic expression and scientific discovery. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with one another and explore the ways in which the two disciplines work together to foster community and innovation. Event registration is open until July 18. This event is co-hosted by the School of Medicine’s Medical Humanities and Arts Program, the Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, and the Pacific Symphony.
Tuesday, Aug. 19, 7 to 9 p.m. Location: Irvine Marriott, 18000 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, CA 92612
| |
|
Grand Rounds and CME Symposia |
| For Continuing Medical Education (CME) opportunities, view the weekly Grand Rounds & CME Symposia email. | Back to top | | |
|
Postdoctoral Fellow in Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease |
| Ali Ezzati’s clinical neurology and neuroinformatics research group is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow within the Department of Neurology. The candidate will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of expert faculty in neurology, epidemiology, data science and biostatistics.
Dr. Ezzati’s lab specializes in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and other dementias, with additional focus areas in migraine and other headache disorders, neuroepidemiology, and other neurodegenerative disorders. The lab uses advanced biostatistical modeling, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and neuroinformatics methods to address pressing questions in clinical neurology. This position offers opportunities to work on large biomedical datasets, including cohort studies and clinical trials, and contributes to impactful projects in digital health and translational neuroscience. This is an excellent opportunity for candidates interested in pursuing a career in clinical and translational neuroscience, data science or digital health.
PI: Ali Ezzati, MD View the posting in UCI Recruit. Closing Date: July 15, 2025
| |
|
| 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 | | |
|
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 | | |
|