| | | Updates from the UCI Office of Research |
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| 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. | |
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| 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.
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| From Idea to Impact: Why Storytelling Matters |
| In a time of shrinking research dollars and growing public skepticism, a good idea isn’t enough. It needs a story. Read how UC Irvine Beall Applied Innovation is helping researchers bridge the gap between discovery and real-world impact through communication-forward programs like Proof of Product (PoP), I-Corps, SBIR/STTR support, and Born in California in the feature article “Why Science Needs a Story.”
Have a project that needs support? Reach out to Matt Hanson, Director of New Ventures.
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| School of Medicine Dean's Research Council Meeting |
| School of Medicine Dean Michael J. Stamos and Associate Dean for Research Administration William E. Bunney invite you to attend this quarterly meeting featuring two distinguished research presentations:
Decoding Melanoma’s Morse Code: Mutation, Signaling, and State Shifts in Tumorigenesis by Anand K. Ganesan, MD, PhD, Professor, Departments of Dermatology and Biological Chemistry; Associate Dean, Physician-Scientist Development, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Bridging Imaging and Physiology: Non-Invasive CT-Based Quantification of Cardiovascular Disease by Sabee Molloi, PhD, Professor, of Radiological Sciences, Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Vice Chairman of Research, Department of Radiological Sciences, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Tuesday, Aug. 12, 5 to 6 p.m.
Via Zoom
Meeting ID: 968 2620 4626 | Passcode: 109533 | |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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. | |
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| 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 | | | |
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| Lavanya Manjunath (graduate student, Rémi Buisson's Lab), was awarded the Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Fellowship. The Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Fellowship aims to increase dissertation and thesis completion among doctoral and MFA students. This award is intended for students in their final year of graduate study who have a realistic expectation of completing their degree during the 2025–26 academic year.
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 | | | |
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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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ICTS T32 Postdoctoral Scholar Appointment
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.
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| 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 | |
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| A.P. Giannini Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship and Leadership Award |
| The A.P. Giannini Foundation invites physician-scientists and junior researchers with three to 36 months of postdoctoral research experience to apply to the 2026 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship & Leadership Award. Postdoctoral researchers are eligible to apply to the 2026 program if they have completed no less than three months and no more than three years in their mentor’s laboratory as of Dec. 31, 2025.
The Fellowship and Leadership Award supports innovative research in the basic sciences and applied fields and trains fellows to become established investigators and to pursue scientific leadership positions in academia, industry, public and non-traditional career pathways. Research projects should advance the translation of biomedical science into preventions, treatments and cures for human diseases.
For questions about the application process, reach out to Dr. Leslie Thompson.
Deadline: Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, 3 p.m. | |
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| | All Faculty Funding Opportunities | |
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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 | |
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| 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 | |
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| ARPA-H Functional Repair of Neocortical Tissue (FRONT) |
| The Functional Repair of Neocortical Tissue (FRONT) program aims to restore brain tissue, enabling individuals with brain damage to recover cognitive functions. The program seeks to develop methods to make non-specialized cells form into normal tissue. After these cells are grafted, FRONT will measure how well they integrate with the surrounding healthy neocortex tissue, proper layered structure of normal cortical tissue, and functional recovery. The program’s goal is to alleviate the personal and financial burdens of previously ‘permanent’ brain damage.
Solution Summary Deadline: Aug. 18, 2025 | |
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| Forecasted Federal Funding Opportunities |
| While the number of federal funding opportunities decreased over recent months, there has been an uptick in forecasted NIH and other federal opportunities. Forecasted opportunity postings provide applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. Below are some examples. Go to Grants.gov to view the complete list.
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| | | Upcoming Seminars & Events |
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| 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 | |
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| Utilizing QIAGEN IPA for Biological Interpretation of Omic Data and In-silico Research |
| QIAGEN Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) is a powerful tool that allows you to visualize complex omics data and interpret your experimental results in the context of biological systems with evidence-backed insights. Predict pathway and molecular activity and analyze regulatory networks to discover deep insights and actionable hypotheses in your data. With IPA, you can also search for targeted biological information, build your own biological models, and refine your hypothesis so you can test them at the bench.
Speaker: Araceli Cuellar, PhD, Senior Field Application Scientist, Qiagen Digital Insights
Hosted by the UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and the UCI Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health
Thursday, July 17, 8 to 9 a.m.
Location: Sue Gross Auditorium, Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences
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| The Impact of Big Data on Cancer Research & Treatment |
| Cancer therapy has long benefited from genomic data and the resulting so-called “personalized” or targeted therapies. However, the increasing amount of multifaceted patient data and the impact of artificial intelligence have converged to potentially revolutionize cancer research and treatment in the future. In this presentation, Dr. Van Etten will summarize some of these areas with an emphasis on both opportunities and potential barriers to success.
Speaker: Richard A. Van Etten, MD, PhD, Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Depatments of Medicine and Biological Chemistry, UC Irvine School of Medicine; Director, UC Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Hosted by the UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and the UCI Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health.
Thursday, July 17, 1 to 2:15 p.m.
Location: Sue Gross Auditorium, College of Health Sciences
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| Exploring AI in Medical Education: Biweekly Conversations |
| No Code, No Fear: Empowering Educators to Build AI Chatbots for Medical Education, with Judy Sng, PhD, MMSc, Associate Professor, Education Director, National University of Singapore. Hosted by Medical Education. For questions about this series, contact Harinder Singh.
Friday, July 18, Noon to 12:45 p.m. PT
Via Zoom | |
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| 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
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| Experimental Pathology Dissertation Defense |
| PET and Fluid Biomarkers of Tau Pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease of Down Syndrome, by Nazek Queder, Graduate Student, Elizabeth Head Lab, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Friday, Aug. 8, 2 p.m. PT
Location: Hybrid event at Gross Hall, Thorp Conference Center Room 4001, and via Zoom
Meeting ID: 919 6442 8338
Passcode: 363341 | |
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| The Art of Science — Register by this Friday! |
| 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 | |
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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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