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| 2026 UC Irvine School of Medicine Faculty Mentoring Awards |
| The Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to announce the 2026 call for nominations for our sixth annual faculty mentoring awards to recognize excellence and innovation in mentoring at UC Irvine School of Medicine — specifically in the domain of faculty mentoring other faculty (not students). Each awardee will receive $1,500 and a plaque. Winners’ names will be added to enduring plaques displayed in Irvine Hall.
Department chair and/or mentee nominations for each award category are due by March 23, to Senior Associate Dean Brian Cummings, cummings@hs.uci.edu, and Katherine Perez, katheap4@hs.uci.edu.
For more information, please refer to the call for nominations or the website.
Nominations Deadline: Monday, March 23, 2026
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| | | Updates from the UCI Office of Research |
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| The UC Irvine Center for Neurotherapeutics Announces Early Phase Drug Development Support Program |
| The UC Irvine Center for Neurotherapeutics (UCI CNT) is pleased to announce a call for applications focused on the discovery and development of small molecules intended to therapeutically modulate targets or pathways implicated in neurological diseases (i.e., any disorder affecting the brain, spinal cord, neuromuscular system, or retina, including neuropsychiatric disorders). Applications will be selected for entry into the UCI CNT’s Drug Discovery unit, which consists of three distinct, complementary service cores:
a) High-throughput assay development/ DNA-encoded library selection
b) Computational chemistry
c) Medicinal “hit-to-lead”
Note: Funds are not being provided to applicants and there is no budget section requirement in the application. Rather, all research experimentation performed at the UCI CNT will be fully supported during the duration of the project period. Proposals are opportunities for partnership development with the UCI CNT. The goal of this program is to support research projects and further integrate talented CNT staff with PI projects.
See the UCI CNT’s Request for Proposals for all details.
Deadline: Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, at 5 p.m.
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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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| 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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| 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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| Shivashankar Othy, PhD, (Physiology & Biophysics), Chao Comprehensive Cancer Center Member, received W. M. Keck Foundation Bridge Funding to support Angel Zavala, a 2nd-year graduate student researcher to peruse a Mechanoimmunology-related project aimed at uncovering fundamental principles of how biomechanically distinct tissues orchestrate lymphocytes and immune outcomes. Primary focus is on a recently discovered “mechanosensing” ion channel called Piezo1 and its role in T cell function.
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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Courageous Postdocs Aiming to Go Further - Branco Weiss Fellowship
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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| Limited: Campbell Foundation Grants for HIV/AIDS Research |
| The Campbell Foundation supports nonprofit organizations conducting clinical, laboratory-based research into the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, and related conditions and illnesses. Most grant funding is between $60,000 to $90,000. UC Irvine may nominate one candidate to apply per year. Apply via UCI Review.
Deadline: Feb. 2, 2026 | | Back to top | | | |
| | | Upcoming Seminars & Events |
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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
Location: Hybrid event at UC Irvine and Online | |
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| Department of Biological Chemistry BC Seminar Series |
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Exploring Understudied Frontiers in Skin Biology and Disease: Metabolism and Lichen Sclerosus, by Xing Dai, PhD, Professor, Department of Biological Chemistry, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Wednesday, Jan. 14, 11 a.m. to Noon
Location: Plumwood House / Showa Denko Lecture Hall
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| Physiology & Biophysics Seminar Series |
| Systems Biology of Single Cells, by Qing Nie, PhD, Distinguished Professor, Department of Mathematics, School of Physical Sciences; Department of Developmental & Cell Biology, Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences Wednesday, Jan. 14, 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.
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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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| Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics | Dissertation Defense |
| Elucidating the Role of IFN-λ in Alpha Herpesvirus Neuroinvasion, by Stephanie Salazar, Graduate Student, Koyuncu Lab, Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1 p.m. PT
Location: Hybrid event at Tamkin Student Lecture Building, Room F-114, 831 Health Sciences Rd., Irvine, CA 92617, and Via Zoom
Contact Katrina Pagdayunan to join via Zoom.
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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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| Advanced Searching in PubMed, presented by UCI Libraries |
| PubMed hides some powerful capabilities behind its simple search bar. This 30-minute online session will cover the ins and outs of advanced searching in PubMed, including understanding Automatic Term Mapping, searching for and using Mesh terms, and making the most out of field tag searching.
Thursday, Jan. 22, Noon to 12:45 p.m.
Via Zoom
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| Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics Special Seminar |
| Neural Immune Circuits During Cutaneous Ectoparasitism, by Joao Pedra, PhD, Professor, Director of Faculty Mentoring, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Friday, Jan. 23, 10 a.m.
Location: Hybrid event at Tamkin Student Lecture Building, Room F-114, 831 Health Sciences Rd., Irvine, CA 92617, and Via Zoom
Contact Katrina Pagdayunan to join 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) |
| 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. 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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| Monthly on Mondays | Faculty Development Series |
| Advancement, Giving and Foundation Relations, presented by Angelique Andrulaitis, Jamie Landman, MD, and Tim Prelletz. 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, Feb. 9, 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.
Via Zoom | |
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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 Friday, Jan. 16. 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: Friday, Jan. 16
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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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| 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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