April 11, 2023
Announcements
 
Form 700U PowerForms in DocuSign!
With input from campus working group volunteers, Electronic Research Administration (ERA) published Form 700U PowerForms in DocuSign that allow completion and signature of the form all through DocuSign. If you have any suggestions or questions, contact us at era@research.uci.edu. Read the full announcement here.
 
Postdoctoral Slots Available!: Partnerships for Research in Implementation Science for Equity in Heart and Lung (PRISE-HL) NIH T32
The goal of the PRISE-HL diseases T32 program is to provide support to outstanding post-doctoral scholars with interdisciplinary training in implementation science and health equity approaches to help transform the uptake and delivery of evidence-based interventions for heart and lung diseases in clinical and community settings. Trainees will benefit from a team-based approach to mentoring through a career development committee that includes one faculty member with content expertise in clinical or translational research in heart and lung diseases, one faculty member with methodological expertise in implementation science-based methods, and one faculty member with expertise in health equity research (if not already covered). There are 2 open UCI positions to start on or before 7/1/2023. Read the full announcement, which includes application requirements, here.
Application deadline: Wednesday, May 10, 2023
 
Join AAAS for Future Honorary Fellow Eligibility
Researchers are encouraged to become members of AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science). There are many member benefits and membership in this esteemed organization has been a time-honored tradition in the scientific community.

An important benefit of membership in AAAS is to position yourself to be elected as an AAAS Honorary Fellow. AAAS Fellows are a distinguished group of scientists, engineers and innovators who have been recognized for their extraordinary achievements. In a tradition stretching back to 1874, Fellows are elected annually by the AAAS Council. View the list of AAAS Fellows elected in 2022.

The UCI School of Medicine Awards Nominations Committee would like to nominate our researchers for consideration for election to AAAS Fellowship. One must be a continuous member of AAAS for the four-year period leading up to the year of nomination. Please make yourself eligible for this honor and become a member. Learn more.
 
Have You Received a New Award?
Have you or someone on your research team received a new grant, i.e., research funding? The School of Medicine Office of Research would like to know! Please fill out this short form.
Funding Opportunities Recently Added to Calendar
 
California Collaborative for Pandemic Recovery and Readiness Research (CPR3)
The California Collaborative for Pandemic Recovery and Readiness Research (CPR3) recently issued a second round of request for proposals for COVID-19 pandemic-related research within two new priority topic areas:
  • The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social and economic outcomes (e.g., those related to household finances, housing/mobility, labor markets, etc.) and evaluation of policies/interventions designed to mitigate or stabilize these effects
  • Behavior change strategies to improve relevance, acceptance, and uptake of pandemic-related recommendations, policies and interventions, including public health communication approaches
These awards are intended for individuals with Principal Investigator (PI) status – or who have appropriate waivers/letters of support – at any University of California (UC) campus, and PIs must have a departmental mechanism to receive funding. PIs across research disciplines are welcome to apply, and collaboration with community and public health partners is encouraged. Read more here. Please email cpr3@ucsf.edu with any additional questions.
Applications due: April 17, 2023, by 6 p.m.
 
Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences
UCI is among a select number of institutions invited to nominate a candidate for the Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences. The award supports independent young investigators of outstanding promise in pursuing basic, translational, or applied biomedical research relevant to the advancement of human health. Ideas having the potential for unusually high impact are encouraged. Candidates whose work is based on biomedical principles but also incorporates concepts and theories from more diverse fields are encouraged to apply. Pew Scholars will receive $75,000 in annual support over four years ($300,000 in total). Funds may be used at the scholar’s discretion for personnel, equipment, supplies or research-related travel. No more than $12,500 of the annual award may be used for the Scholar’s salary and fringe benefits. $24,000 (8%) is allowed for F&A. ​​​​​

Candidates must have a doctorate in biomedical sciences, medicine or a related field including engineering or physical sciences (PhD or MD/PhD only) and must hold a full-time appointment as tenure-track assistant professor as of September 7, 2023. Candidates must not have been appointed as an assistant professor prior to June 12, 2019, whether or not such appointment was on a tenure track or at more than one institution. Time spent in clinical internships, residencies, or in work towards board certification does not count toward this four-year limit. Pew Scholars are expected to spend at least 80% of their time pursuing their research goals. Faculty may apply to the program a maximum of two times. Appointments such as Research Assistant Professor, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor Research Track, Visiting Professor or Instructor, HS Clinical and Clinical X series appointments are not eligible.
​​​​​​​Internal nominations may be submitted to the Office of Research via the UCI Review application portal.
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Deadline: Monday, April 24, 2023, at 11:59 p.m.
 
Brain Research Foundation Scientific Innovations Award
The Brain Research Foundation has invited UCI to nominate a senior faculty member (Associate Professor/Full Professor) for the Scientific Innovations Award (SIA), which provides funding for innovative science in both basic and clinical neuroscience. This program is designed to support creative, exploratory, cutting-edge research in well-established research laboratories, under the direction of established investigators. The objective of the SIA is to support projects that may be too innovative and speculative for traditional funding sources but still have a high likelihood of producing important findings. It is expected that investigations supported by these grants will yield high-impact findings and result in major grant applications and significant publications in high-impact journals. Each total award is limited to $150,000 (direct costs) for a two-year grant period. The program does not support indirect costs.

​​​​​​​The nominee must be a full-time associate professor or full professor working in brain function in health and disease. Current major NIH or other peer-reviewed funding is preferred, but evidence of such funding in the past three years is essential. Studies should be related to either normal human brain development or specifically identified disease states. This includes molecular and clinical neuroscience as well as studies of neural, sensory, motor, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional functioning in health and disease. The grant proposal must detail a new research project that is not funded by other sources. This grant is not to be used as a source of bridge funding. Scientists who have previously received a BRF Scientific Innovations Award may not receive the award for a second time until five years have elapsed since the beginning date of the prior award.

​​​​​​​The campus may submit no more than one proposal. Interested applicants are asked to submit a preliminary application to the Office of Research via the UCI Review application portal.

​​​​​​​Deadline: Monday, April 24, 2023, at 11:59 p.m.
 
Dependent Care Travel Award Funding Call
Academic Senate faculty members at UCI are invited to apply for summer 2023 Dependent Care Travel Awards (DCTA).  The awards provide up to $1,000 to assist faculty parents with childcare beyond regular arrangements to enhance academic productivity. The summer 2023 call supports scholarly travel activities during the period of July 1, 2023-October 31, 2023. All qualifying Senate faculty members (parents of a child age six years or younger at the time of application) are invited to apply. These awards are designed to subsidize childcare costs associated with travel to a professional conference or research meeting; the awards may also be used for daycare costs incurred during an approved sabbatical leave that requires relocation. ​​​​​​​Read more and apply here.
​​​​​​​Deadline: Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 5 p.m.
 
2024 Pew-Stewart Scholars Program for Cancer Research
The UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (CFCCC) is among a select number of institutions invited to nominate a candidate for the Pew-Stewart Scholars Program in Cancer Research. This grant supports assistant professors of outstanding promise in science relevant to the advancement of a cure for cancer. The award provides $300,000 in flexible support—$75,000 per year for a four-year period. In line with The Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trust's mission to invest in innovative, cutting-edge, basic cancer research that may accelerate and advance progress toward a cure for cancer, applications are invited from nominees conducting cancer research. Qualified candidates should be conducting creative, interdisciplinary, basic, or translational cancer research. This program is not designed to fund clinical trial research. Strong proposals will incorporate particularly creative and pioneering approaches to basic and translational cancer research. Ideas with the potential to produce an unusually high impact are encouraged. ​​​​​​​The CFCCC may nominate one candidate. Please submit your internal application via the UCI Review application portal.
​​​​​​​Deadline: Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at 11:59 p.m.
 
ICTS Funding Opportunity for Junior Faculty
ICTS invites applications for the NIH Faculty Career Development KL-2 Award. There is one open position for a KL-2 Scholar. The appointment must begin by July 1, 2023. The KL-2 awards are intended to support a period of mentored or independent career development in preparation for a role as an independent researcher (mentored K), or to enable and expand the grantee’s potential to make significant contributions (independent K) in the biomedical, behavioral, and clinical sciences. Generally, K awards require the candidate to hold a full-time appointment at the applicant organization and devote a minimum of 75% of that appointment to the career award. The goal is to increase the quantity and quality of exceptionally gifted clinical researchers and translational scientists throughout the training pipeline. All application documents must be submitted online here. For more information about the program, see here.
​​​​​​​Applications due: Monday, May 8, 2023 by 5:00 pm.
 
Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials: Career Development Award (WINN CDA)
The Winn CDA is an innovative 2-year program, which includes a $240k award (i.e., $120k/yr), designed to support the career development of early-stage investigator physicians who are underrepresented in medicine, and physicians who have a demonstrated commitment to increasing diversity in clinical research, to become independent clinical trial investigators who are engaged in advancing health equity through their research and mentoring. The Winn CDA trains and develops a new generation of community-oriented clinical trialists (COCT) who have the knowledge, skills, and commitment to become effective partners with communities to design and conduct clinical trials that will yield new treatments that are effective in all populations. For more information about this program, please register for the next informational webinar. Read more about the program and application here.

Informational webinar: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 from 8 to 9 a.m.
​​​​​​​Deadline: Friday, May 12, 2023
 
Call for Cancer Research Proposals
The UCI Cancer Research Institute is pleased to announce that funds are available through the American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant. This institutional grant will fund several proposals for one year at a level up to $45,000 per award. All eligible faculty from each school at the University of California, Irvine are encouraged to apply, so long as the proposal has a clear link to some aspect of cancer research. The purpose of the seed grants is to provide pilot funds for research in both basic and clinical cancer-related problems.

Eligibility: Investigators within the first SIX years of their first independent faculty position and in the following series are eligible: In Line, In Residence, Adjunct, Clinical-X, Clinical and Researcher. Awardees may not hold a competitive grant from a national agency (e.g. NIH, ACS etc.) or be a previous recipient of an ACS-IRG seed grant. Questions regarding these criteria should be forwarded to Edward Nelson enelson@uci.edu and cc: cri@uci.edu. Read more and apply here.
Deadline: Friday, May 26, 2023 by 5:00 p.m.
 
Harrington Scholar-Innovator Award
Program goal: Recognizes outstanding physician-scientists whose work has potential to advance the standard of care. Seek breakthrough discoveries defined by innovation, creativity, and potential for clinical impact, including: Discoveries deemed to address unmet medical needs; Modulators of novel targets; Potential to be developed into a commercial program; Strong intellectual property (IP) or protection strategy; May be a small molecule, biologic, or other therapeutic modality; Diagnostics or devices only acceptable as part of a therapeutic development project. Eligibility: MD or MD/PhD (or equivalent) faculty member. ​​​​​​​Award Amount: $100K over two years with opportunity to qualify for up to $1,100,000. ​​​​​​​If you are interested in this opportunity, please reach out to Marianne Smith (mrsmith1@uci.edu) in the Corporate and Foundation Relations Group for assistance with your application! ​​​​​​​Read more here.
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Letter of Intent Due Date: Monday, June 5, 2023
 
Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science and Design
The Vilcek Foundation will award three prizes of $50,000 each to young biomedical scientists born outside of the US to non-American parents and who demonstrate outstanding early achievement. Eligible work may be in basic, applied, and/or translational biomedical science. Criteria for selection include demonstrated exceptional independence and creativity, and an ability to communicate the significance of their research to a general scientifically literate audience. Eligibility:  Applicants must have been born outside the United States and be no more than 38 years old (born after January 1, 1985). All applicants must have earned a doctoral degree (M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent), intend to pursue a professional career in the United States, and hold a full-time position at an academic institution or other organization. Eligible positions include assistant or associate professor. Read more here.
Deadline: Monday, June 12, 2023
 
BRAIN Initiative Fellows: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32) (RFA-MH-23-110)
The purpose of the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® (BRAIN) Initiative Fellows (F32) program is to enhance the research training of promising postdoctorates early in their postdoctoral training period, who have the potential to become productive investigators in research areas that will advance the goals of the BRAIN Initiative. Applications are encouraged in any research area aligned with the BRAIN Initiative, including neuroethics. Applicants are expected to propose research training in an area that clearly complements their predoctoral research. Formal training in analytical tools appropriate for the proposed research is expected to be an integral component of the research training plan. In order to maximize the training potential of the F32 award, this program encourages applications from individuals who have not yet completed their terminal doctoral degree and expect to do so within 12 months of the application due date. On the application due date, candidates may not have completed more than 12 months of postdoctoral training. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) does not allow applicants to propose to lead an independent clinical trial, but does allow applicants to propose research experience in a clinical trial led by a sponsor or co-sponsor. ​​​​​​​View the FOA here.
Next deadline: August 09, 2023
Expiration date: August 12, 2025
 
NIH Directors New Innovator Award Program (DP2 Clinical Trial Optional) (RFA-RM-23-005)
The NIH Director’s New Innovator Award Program supports early stage investigators of exceptional creativity who propose highly innovative research projects with the potential to produce a major impact on broad, important areas relevant to the mission of NIH. For the program to support the best possible researchers and research, applications are sought which reflect the full diversity of the research workforce. Individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups and from the full spectrum of eligible institutions in all geographic locations are strongly encouraged to apply to this Funding Opportunity Announcement. In addition, applications in all topics relevant to the broad mission of NIH are welcome, including, but not limited to, topics in the behavioral, social, biomedical, applied, and formal sciences and topics that may involve basic, translational, or clinical research. The NIH Director's New Innovator Award Program complements other ongoing efforts by NIH and its Institutes and Centers to fund early stage investigators. The NIH Director’s New Innovator Award Program is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) Program of the NIH Common Fund. View FOA here.
Deadline: August 18, 2023          
 
NIH Directors Transformative Research Awards (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) (RFA-RM-23-006)
The NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award Program supports individual scientists or groups of scientists proposing groundbreaking, exceptionally innovative, original, and/or unconventional research with the potential to create new scientific paradigms, establish entirely new and improved clinical approaches, or develop transformative technologies. Individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups (see, Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity, NOT-OD-20-031 ) are strongly encouraged to apply to this Funding Opportunity Announcement. In addition, applications are welcome from the full spectrum of eligible institutions in all geographic locations and in all topic areas relevant to the broad mission of NIH, including, but not limited to, behavioral, social, biomedical, applied, and formal sciences and topics that may involve basic, translational, or clinical research. No preliminary data are required. Projects must clearly demonstrate, based on the strength of the logic, a compelling potential to produce a major impact in a broad area of relevance to the NIH. The NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) Program of the NIH Common Fund. ​​​​​​​Towards the objective of funding the best possible science, the Office of Strategic Coordination and the Center for Scientific Review are piloting a process for initial peer review of applications received in response to this FOA in which the identity of the investigators and institutions are withheld until the last phase of review. Instructions for anonymizing components of the application are given in Section IV and must be carefully followed. A description of the review process is given in Section V. ​​​​​​​View the FOA here.
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Deadline: September 01, 2023  
Upcoming Seminars & Events
 
2023 UCI Gavin Herbert Eye Institute Community Lecture Series
Low Vision: How to improve your independence and quality of life by Karen C. Lin, OD, and Nilima Tanna, OT, low-vision specialists at the UCI Gavin Herbert Eye Institute. Join us for our free seminars where you will learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of eye-related conditions. All seminars are one hour and begin at 7 p.m. PT. Register below for this virtual events. After you register, you will receive an email containing the event link. For more information, contact ophthalmology@hs.uci.edu or 949-824-7243.


Virtual event, Tuesday, April 11, 7 p.m.
Register to attend
 
Department of Biological Chemistry Seminar Series
The F-box domain functions as a metal selective environmental sensor by Linda Lauinger, PhD, Associate Specialist, Dr. Peter Kaiser’s Laboratory, Department of Biological Chemistry, UCI School of Medicine.

Wednesday, April 12, 11 a.m. to Noon.
Plumwood House/Showa Denko Lecture Hall
 
MSTP 38th Annual Distinguished Lecture Series
Embodied Cognition, Diagnostic Reasoning, and Clinical Affiliation: Narrative Means toward Effective Health Care by Rita Charon, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair of Medical Humanities & Ethics, Professor of Medicine, and Executive Director of Columbia Narrative Medicine at Columbia University.


Thursday, April 13, 4 to 5 p.m., Reception to follow
Hybrid event: In person at Nelson Auditorium, 1003 Health Sciences Rd, Irvine, or via Zoom
View Zoom
 
Ophthalmology Research Seminar: Distinguished Speaker Series
Observations on the Alternate Visual Cycle for Regenerating Cone Visual Pigments by Gabriel H. Travis, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology and Biological Chemistry, UCLA School of Medicine

Friday, April 14, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Hybrid event:
In person on the 3 floor of the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute (GHEI) building, Cavanaugh Room or via Zoom

View Zoom
Meeting ID: 944 8366 9170, Passcode: 745306
 
CHOC Research Education Seminar
Bias and Ethics in Research by Nicole Martinez-Martin, JD

Nicole Martinez-Martin received her JD from Harvard Law School and her doctorate in social sciences (comparative development/medical anthropology) from the University of Chicago. Her broader research interests concern the impact of new technologies on the treatment of vulnerable populations. Her graduate research included the study of cross-cultural approaches to mental health services in the Latino community and the use neuroscience in criminal cases. Her recent work in bioethics and neuroethics has focused on the ethics of AI and digital health technology, such as digital phenotyping or computer vision, for medical and behavioral applications.

Wednesday, April 19, 3 to 4:15 p.m.
Register to attend

 
UCI Center for Neuropolitics
The Havana Syndrome: A Disorder of Neuropolitics?

In one of the most extraordinary cases in the history of science, the mating calls of insects were mistaken for a “sonic weapon” that led to a major diplomatic row. This lecture will trace the origins of the syndrome, the response of the U.S. government, the results of scientific investigations and opinions, the evolution of the syndrome over time and similar phenomena that have occurred in the past.
  
Robert W. Baloh, MD,  is Professor of Neurology and Head and Neck Surgery (Emeritus) at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Author of 14 books and more than 350 articles in peer reviewed journals, he is a pioneer in the study of the vestibular system and clinical neurotology. He has a recent book on Havana Syndrome co-authored with Robert Bartholomew, a sociologist from New Zealand. Two other recent books are: “Medically Unexplained Symptoms” and “Exercise and the Brain”.

Wednesday, April 19, at 5 p.m., Free Virtual Event
Register to attend
 
ICTS K-Club Grant Writing Series
The Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS) has coordinated a grant writing series, K Club, intended for junior faculty preparing to submit applications for the NIH Mentored Career Development Awards. These awards are designed to promote the career development of specific groups of individuals based on their past training and career stage.

The objective of these programs is to bring candidates to the point where they are able to conduct their research independently and are competitive for major grant support. This structured workshop series is designed to assist junior faculty and fellows who are preparing competitive career development grant applications for February or June 2024 NIH submission. The program is broken up into four grant writing workshops that will prepare applicants to submit a K award:
  • April 14, 9 to 11 a.m. Workshop 2: Specific Aims & Mentor Qualifications; Writing clear aims and assembling a qualified mentoring team
  • April 21, 9 to 11 a.m. – Workshop 3: Career Development Plan; Identifying yourself as a strong candidate & the NIH Loan Repayment Program
  • April 28, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. – Workshop 4: Panel Discussion; Prior applicants discuss the K Award submission process and answer questions
Register to attend
 
Engaging with ARPA-H: Program Managers in the ARPA Model
In anticipation of the continued growth of ARPA-H and the important role of program managers in their model, join UCLA and UCI for a panel discussion about the role of program managers at ARPA-model agencies. Former/current program managers from other ARPA-model agencies will provide insights on the function of program managers, important information for those considering a program manager role at ARPA-H and researchers who may engage with ARPA-H program managers in the future.
​​​​​​​Monday, April 24, 2023, 9 to 10 a.m.
Register to attend
 
ICTS Focused Flexible Accelerated Studies (FFASt) Program: Research Recruitment & Retention
​​​​​​The ICTS FFASt program aims to provide various training opportunities to graduate students, post- doctoral students, and junior faculty to ensure that they possess the core competencies to work effectively both in the broad discipline of translational science and in their specific area of research. To meet this goal the ICTS will provide a variety of trainings throughout the year through the FFASt Workshops.

Clinical trials are plagued by inaccurate estimates of sample size and ineffective accrual and retention of study participants. Researchers must be made aware that a realistic assessment of study feasibility must be done early in the clinical trial lifecycle. Dr. Josh Grill, PhD, is an expert in this area and leads the ICTS Accrual and Retention Consulting Service. He is also a well-known Alzheimer’s disease investigator and serves as the director of UCI MIND. Dr. Grill will discuss common problems in trial recruitment and retention such as: Inadequate estimates of eligible participants; Strategies to improve enrollment; How to increase diversity in clinical trials; Strategies to improve retention; Lack of trust between study staff and potential participants; Effective use of EHR to notify care providers of ongoing clinical trials

Monday, April 24, 2023, 9 to 11 a.m.
Register to attend
 
Cardiac Physiome Workshop with Edwards Lifesciences
Cardiac Physiome Workshop
  • Accounting for sex differences in cardiovascular physiology
  • Addressing health disparities in cardiovascular data integration
  • Multi-scale, mechanistic modeling of cardiac and vascular function
  • Building inclusive digital twins for cardiovascular health
Monday – Wednesday, April 24-26, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Edwards Lifesciences Corp., One Edward Way, Irvine, CA 92614
Register to attend
 
Special Lecture and Reception with Fan-Gang Zeng, PhD
Lessons from Cochlear Implants: What Leadership Do We Need in Basic and Translational Research? by Fan-Gang Zeng, PhD, Member of the National Academy of Engineering; Professor, Departments of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, and Anatomy & Neurobiology, UCI School of Medicine; Professor of Biomedical Engineering, UCI Samueli School of Engineering. Professor of Cognitive Sciences, UCI School of Social Sciences; Director, UCI Center for Hearing Research (CHR).

The events will celebrate Dr. Zeng's election to the National Academy of Engineering.  We will also celebrate collaborative achievements of the Schools of Medicine, Biological Sciences, Engineering, Social Sciences, Information and Computer Science, Pharmacy and other academic units.

Co-hosted by: The Center for Neural Circuit Mapping, the Center for Hearing Research and the Departments of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, and Anatomy and Neurobiology.

Tuesday, May 2, 2023, 3 to 6:30 p.m.
Lecture: 3 p.m.– ISEB, Room 1010, 419 Physical Sciences Quad, Irvine, CA 92697
Reception: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Please RSVP by April 24, 2023.
Register to attend
 
Statistics Workshops, presented by Insight Research Services Associated
Insight Research Services Associated (an Australia-based company) is proud to be presenting six workshops online in May-July 2023 at a time suitable for participants in North America.
  • May 2-5: Introduction to Survey Design A
  • May 30, June 2: Introduction to Survey Design B
  • April 24-25: A Gentle Introduction to Statistics in SPSS and R
  • June 5-8: Introduction to Linear and Logistic Regression
  • June 12-15: Introduction to Longitudinal Data Analysis
  • July 17-20: Introduction to Structural Equation Modelling
Please note that these workshops will be held between 1pm and 4pm each day. There is a registration fee. These workshops are aimed at non-statisticians as well as statisticians new to these fields. For questions please contact Mark at m.griffin@insightrsa.com. To keep up to date with the training programs being delivered by Insight please consider joining our email list at https://www.insightrsa.com/join-our-email-list.

To register and learn more: https://www.insightrsa.com/workshop-topics-and-dates.
 
Register now! Networking Opportunity: Clinical Research for Health Sciences (HS) faculty.
Hosted by the School of Medicine Mentoring Committee, this event is a great opportunity for junior faculty who are interested in getting involved in clinical research.  Join us for an informal gathering to hear from and network with peers who are conducting clinical research at UCI. Representatives from institutional committees will be available to answer your questions about research protocols and resources.

Thursday, May 4, 2023, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
UCI Samueli College of Health Sciences, 2nd floor terrace.
Refreshments will be provided.
Register to attend
 
Structural and Social Drivers of Health and Cancer Health Disparities Research, presented by the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
We are increasingly aware of the impact of structural and social determinants as fundamental drivers of health inequities, but how do we design and implement population-level studies to investigate the role of these factors? This presentation will present a framework and example of "cells to society" studies utilizing this framework.

Speaker: Scarlett Lin Gomez, MD, PhD, is Professor and Vice Chair for Faculty Development in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Co-Leader of the Cancer Control Program of the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, at the University of California, San Francisco. She is Director of the Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry, a participant in the NCI SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, End Results) program and the California Cancer Registry. Her research focuses primarily on cancer health disparities and aims to understand the multilevel drivers, particularly the structural and social determinants of health, of those disparities.

Wednesday, May 10, 2023, 10 to 11 a.m., Thorp Conference Center, Gross Hall, 4th Floor
Register to attend
 
UCI Gavin Herbert Eye Institute's Ninth Annual Bench to Bedside Symposium
You’re invited to attend a free one-day symposium focusing on exciting advances in translational vision research.   We welcome all those who are interested in applying innovative methodologies to ocular and vision disorders, including everyone from undergraduate students to full-time professors, and experts in private industry. If you are interested in eye research, we encourage you to attend.
  
Poster Presentation:
  
Posters will be presented throughout the day to encourage interactions between post-doctoral fellows, scientists, and industry experts. The top three outstanding post-doctoral posters, selected by a panel of judges, will be awarded:
   • $500 First Prize
   • $300 Second Prize
   • $200 Third Prize
   *Registration required to participate in poster presentations.
  
Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Registration fees have been waived.

Topics:

   • Keeping Up with Artificial Intelligence
   • Nanotechnology and Novel Therapies
   • Common Features of Eye and Brain Diseases
   • Advances in Imaging
Speaker information coming soon.
  
Thanks to the generous support of the Discovery Center for Eye Research, Research to Prevent Blindness, and UCI Center for Translational Vision Research the registration fees have been waived. For more information, email Dana Collinson at dana.collinson@hs.uci.edu.

Saturday, May 13, 2023, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center
100 Academy Way
Irvine, CA 92617
Register to attend
 
Career Development Opportunity: Planning and Writing Successful NIH Proposals
The School of Medicine Office of Research invites School of Medicine faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and career researchers to attend a full-day workshop, “Planning and Writing Successful NIH Proposals,” presented by the AtKisson Training Group (ATG). Registration is required.

Wednesday, May 17, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sue Gross Auditorium, 854 Health Sciences Quad, Rm 1800, UCI main campus
Lunch will be provided.
The deadline to register: Monday, May 1.
See here for more details and to register.
 
Grand Rounds and CME Symposia
For Continuing Medical Education (CME) opportunities, view the weekly Grand Rounds and CME Symposia email.
Research Resources
 
New FY 2022 Categorical Spending Data Are Now Available
NIH recently updated its annual categorical information with fiscal year (FY) 2022 actual spending data and estimates for FY 2023 and 2024. Read more here.
 
Are you considering applying for a Limited Funding Opportunities?
In most cases, interested applicants submit a pre-proposal to the Office of Research where a committee reviews all submissions and makes a recommendation to the Vice Chancellor for Research about which proposal should go forward from UCI. Limited opportunities are advertised on fundopp.uci.edu with a link to apply. However, if you do not see a limited opportunity listed, please contact the Research Development Unit (somrd@hs.uci.edu).  We can relay your application plans to the UCI Office of Research so they are aware of the number of interested PIs/units on campus and, if necessary, coordinate PIs or create a review process.
 
NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy Resources
NIH has released a new Data Management and Sharing Policy, effective Jan. 25, 2023, which requires the submission of a Data Management and Sharing Plan as part of all proposals for research that will generate scientific data. The NIH expects that the data generated will be shared broadly at the conclusion of the research. Researchers should plan now for the rollout of these requirements and develop Data Management and Sharing Plans that meet NIH expectations.

The following resources are available now for developing your plan:
  • The UCI School of Medicine Office of Research held an informational webinar on Tuesday, November 8th.  View the recording and slides.
  • The UCI Office of Research recently held an informational webinar on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. View the recording here. The OR also released human subjects research consent language for the DMS policy.
  • The NIH held a two-part webinar series. View the recordings and slide decks here
  • Learn more about this new NIH policy here and in their recent posts here, here, and here. NIH also recently released sample DMS plans and information on how to budget for this new requirement.
  • NIH released a number of blog posts-
    • Post about how to comply with the Policy through eRA System Validation.
    • Post about how to budget for personnel effort whose duties are part of the DMS plan.
    • Post with information and resources on how to protect participant privacy.
  • UCI Libraries has a wealth of resources on their page including the DMPTool and is available for 1:1 consultations.
 
NIH P & U Mechanism Info Session recording
The School of Medicine Office of Research recently held a panel on the NIH P & U award mechanisms. Please see here for the panel recording. Please note that the School of Medicine Office of Research has an Incentive Program for NIH Multi-Component Grant (P or U) Submissions. Contact the Research Development Unit (somrd@hs.uci.edu) if you have any questions.
 
Updated Grants Preparation Material Request Form
This Grants Preparation Material Request Form (previously the Boilerplate Request Form) has been updated to include numerous NIH templates and checklists (e.g., diversity supplements, RCR, K applications, and the PEDP). Save yourself time by taking advantage of these documents. Please view the form here, spread the word amongst your colleagues about this resource, and contact the Research Development Unit (somrd@hs.uci.edu) if you have any questions or suggestions.
 
What is Research Development?
Research Development encompasses strategic, proactive, and capacity-building activities designed to support individual faculty and teams of faculty in obtaining extramural research funding and also increase institutional competitiveness. The UCI School of Medicine Research Development Unit (RDU) meets individual faculty to provide information regarding research resources and assistance with grant proposals.

Do you want funding opportunities matching your research program automatically emailed to you? The RDU can also help you set up a Pivot account in minutes via Zoom and answer any questions you may have. Read more about Pivot and other funding search tools here. Reserve a slot here!
 
Intramural & Foundation Funding Opportunities Lists
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, please do not hesitate to email at somrd@hs.uci.edu.
COVID-19 Information
 
COVID-19 Reminders
With California’s COVID-19 state of emergency having ended on February 28, 2023, employees and students are reminded to continue to report their COVID-19 cases to Contact Tracing and Vaccine Navigation Services, which continues to investigate and contact trace cases. Free face coverings and antigen tests continue to be available on campus.

Please note that the end of the emergency does not mean the end of COVID-19, so individuals should continue to gauge their risk and take steps to protect themselves and their communities by staying up to date with vaccinations and boosters, staying home if sick, testing, washing hands and wearing masks when appropriate.

For the latest COVID-19 information, please visit the UCI Forward Website.
For UCI Health updates, please visit UCI HEALTH COVID-19 Updates
Contribute to Research Insider!
 
Submit your funding opportunities and events to next week's email here: Seminar/Event or Funding Opportunity.

For a complete list of submitted events and funding opportunities, please see the SOM Office of Research Events Calendar and Funding Opportunities Calendar.
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