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| Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series |
| Robert C. Green, MD, MPH, Professor, Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Director, Genomes2People Research Program, Harvard Medical School
- Community Lecture - June 2, 7 to 8 p.m.: "Finally! Genomics is Delivering Massive Health and Longevity Benefits”
- Scientific Lecture - June 3, Noon to 1 p.m.: "Empirical Findings on the Path to Genomic Medicine in Newborns and Adults"
Learn more about the Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series.
June 2–3
Location: The Beckman Center, Irvine, Calif. (June 2); UCI Medical Center, Building 54, Podlich Family Conference Center, Orange, Calif. (June 3) | |
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| Highlighting UC Irvine’s Shared Core Facilities for Researchers — The Center for Neural Circuit Mapping and Good Manufacturing Practice |
| The UC Irvine Center for Neural Circuit Mapping (CNCM) is a multidisciplinary hub advancing understanding of brain circuitry in health and disease. It brings together experts across neuroscience, engineering, physical sciences and computational fields to foster collaborative research. The center drives technology development and training to investigate neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders. Speaker: Michele Wu, Viral Core Manager The UC Irvine Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Facility is a state-of-the-art resource enabling FDA-compliant production of cell and gene therapies. It supports internal and external investigators in advancing regenerative and immunotherapy treatments for neurological diseases, cancer and other complex conditions. The facility drives translational research by providing manufacturing, regulatory and training support for clinical applications. Speaker: Chih-Min Lin, PhD, Director of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
Via Zoom | |
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| Sponsored Projects: Award Lifecycle, Effort Commitment, Clinical Trials, and the Evolving Federal Funding Landscape | Physician Scientist Collective 2025-26 Distinguished Speaker Series |
| Representatives from UC Irvine's Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) office, led by Senior Director Jeff Warner, will present on committing effort to research projects, including requirements for specific funding opportunities. The session will also cover the full lifecycle of an extramurally sponsored award at UC Irvine, recent developments in the federal research funding landscape and their potential impact on the award lifecycle, and an overview of UC Irvine's extramural funding portfolio. A portion of the presentation will provide an overview of clinical research and trials at UC Irvine, highlighting the role of Sponsored Projects in supporting Principal Investigators conducting these activities.
Speakers: Jeff Warner, Senior Director; Tam Tran, Director, Clinical Research; Shabana Durrani, Principal Contract Lead – Clinical Trials; and Garrett Larsen, Principal Contract Lead – Clinical Trials
Friday, May 29, Noon to 1 p.m. PT
Via Zoom | |
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| 2026 Core Facilities Survey |
| | UC Irvine School of Medicine and the UC Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center are partnering on a survey regarding core research facilities in the School of Medicine. Your answers are helpful and important; all responses will be factored in to optimize our research support structure. After answering a few basic questions, you will only be asked questions pertaining to the facilities and services used by you and the researchers under your supervision. This survey is anonymous. For questions, contact Alondra Garcia. Please complete the survey by May 29, 2026. | |
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| The School of Medicine Research Development Unit is hosting a virtual workshop designed for trainees interested in applying for NIH fellowship funding opportunities, specifically the Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Individual Predoctoral (F30, F31) and Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32) awards. This session will highlight best practices for developing a competitive application, provide an overview of the application components, and offer an overview of application resources and support available through the School of Medicine. This workshop is ideal for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars considering NIH fellowship opportunities.
Tuesday, June 2, Noon to 1 p.m. PT
Via Zoom | |
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| New Tool that Maps Gene Variants to Health Traits Launched by the All of Us Research Program |
| Announcing the launch of the All by All Browser, a new interactive tool for exploring genotype–phenotype associations using data from the All of Us Research Program.
With the All by All Browser, you can:
- Explore gene-based and single-variant associations across 3,500+ phenotypes
- Analyze data from nearly 400,000 participants with exome and whole genome sequencing (All of Us curated data repository version 8)
- Quickly navigate between genes, variants, and phenotypes
- Explore results by mutation class (e.g., predicted loss-of-function, missense, synonymous)
- Generate hypotheses, validate findings, and investigate understudied conditions
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| Highlighting UC Irvine’s Shared Core Facilities for Researchers — The Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center and the Transgenic Mouse Facility |
| Join this webinar to learn about these two shared core facilities: The Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center and the UC Irvine Transgenic Mouse Facility (TMF)
The Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center is a leading interdisciplinary hub advancing stem cell science and regenerative medicine. The center brings together experts from medicine, biological sciences, engineering, pharmacy, public health and the arts to drive innovation. Speaker: Allia Fawaz, Microscopy/Imaging Core Manager
The UC Irvine Transgenic Mouse Facility (TMF) provides expert services for sourcing, designing, generating, analyzing and preserving genetically modified mice. It supports the development of cutting-edge genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) for cancer, immunology, neuroscience and biomedical research. Speaker: Grant MacGregor, PhD, Scientific Director, UC Irvine Transgenic Mouse Facility
Wednesday, June 10, Noon to 1 p.m.
Via Zoom | |
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| Accepting Applications for the School of Medicine Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP) |
| The Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP) is a two-year structured program providing physician-scientists with intensive mentorship and opportunities to apply for their first independent, federally funded awards (K08, K23) or other equivalent external career development awards. Learn more about the PSTP program and application requirements.
Deadline: Friday, June 12, 2026 | | Back to top | | | |
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| James Jester, PhD (Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences), received an NIH R21 titled, “Exploring Novel Mechanisms of Obstructive Meibomian gland Dysfunction.” Obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction (O-MGD) is a common eyelid disorder having a widespread prevalence of 39-50% in the U.S. population and is a major cause of evaporative dry eye disease. The long- range goal of this study is to test the novel hypothesis that alterations in meibum lipid synthesis cause an obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction (O-MGD) leading to duct dilation and a psoriasis-like epithelial inflammatory disease.
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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MAXIMUS T32 Training Program
Deadline: May 29, 2026 | |
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| Limited: Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr. Foundation Grant Program |
| The foundation’s mission is to support early-stage investigators engaged in basic and translational research that has the potential to significantly advance biomedical science. Applicants should be in their first to fourth year of a tenure-track faculty position as of July 1, 2026, and not have current R01 funding. Grants are usually $75,000/year for three years. Previous UC Irvine awardees include Maxim Plikus and Cholsoon Jang.
The campus may submit no more than one proposal. Interested applicants are asked to submit a preliminary application to the Office of Research via UCI Review.
Deadline: June 1, 2026 | |
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| | All Faculty Funding Opportunities | |
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Limited: Harold S. Geneen Charitable Trust Awards Program for Coronary Heart Disease
The Harold S. Geneen Charitable Trust Awards Program for Coronary Heart Disease Research supports research into the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease or circulatory failure. The program focuses on basic and translational scientific research. Clinical studies are ineligible. In 2025, Cholsoon Jang’s project, “Defining the role of circulating bile acids in coronary heart disease,” was funded.
UC Irvine is one of only 14 institutions invited to participate in this program; three grants of $250,000/2 years (inclusive of 10% indirect costs) will be awarded. All full-time faculty with combined federal and non-federal funding totaling $500,000 or less are eligible; junior faculty are encouraged to apply.
UC Irvine may nominate only one candidate; therefore, interested applicants are asked to submit a preliminary application to the Office of Research via UCI Review.
Deadline: June 8, 2026
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| Limited: The G. Harold & Leila Y. Mathers Foundation |
| The mission of The G. Harold & 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 applications is central to this goal and fundamental to their operating principles. The Mathers Foundation welcomes research in immunology, structural biology, cancer biology, microbiome, genetics, genomics, structural biology, cellular physiology, neuroscience, and microbiology & infectious diseases.
The total funding for this award is $600,000-$700,000 over three years, including 10% indirect costs.
UC Irvine may submit only three applications for this award opportunity; therefore, interested applicants are asked to submit a preliminary application to the Office of Research via UCI Review.
Deadline: June 8, 2026 | |
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| ARPA-H Funding Opportunities |
| The Intelligent Generator of Research (IGoR) program aims to empower scientists to eliminate long-standing inefficiencies and accelerate biomedical breakthroughs through a more nimble, reliable and interoperable research ecosystem for the 21st century. Solution Summary Deadline: June 25, 2026
The HEARING (Hearing Enhancement through ARtificially Intelligent NeurotechnoloGy) program will advance three technical areas: intracortical device(s), dynamic sound modulation and auditory read & write algorithms. Proposers’ Day: June 8, 2026. Register by June 3 for in-person attendance (Washington, D.C.); virtual registration closes June 5. Solution Summary Deadline: June 29, 2026
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| | | Upcoming Seminars & Events |
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| Department of Biological Chemistry Research in Progress Seminars |
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Christy Nguyen
Graduate Student
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Mingqi Zhou
Graduate Student | 
Noah Wechter
Graduate Student | |
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Systems Genetics Approaches to Dissect Signaling Mechanisms and Adipocyte–Endothelial Crosstalk in Metabolism, by Mingqi Zhou, Graduate Student, Marcus Seldin, PhD, Lab, Department of Biological Chemistry
Atlasing the Healthy Human Breast, by Noah Wechter, Graduate Student, Kai Kessenbrock, PhD, Lab, Department of Biological Chemistry
Wednesday, May 27, 11 a.m. to Noon
Location: Plumwood House / Showa Denko Lecture Hall
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| Experimental Pathology Research in Progress |
| Understanding How Female Sex Hormone Signaling Shapes Naive CD4+ T Cell Glycosylation Patterns and Function, by Luna Witchey, Graduate Student, Haik Mkhikian Lab, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Monday, June 1, 11 a.m. to Noon PT
Location: Hybrid event at Plumwood House / Showa Denko Lecture Hall and Via Zoom
Meeting ID: 955 3602 9351 | Passcode: 998046 | |
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| Stata: Introduction to Survey Statistics |
| This free noontime workshop (75 minutes) will review the concepts of probability and nonprobability sampling, sampling with and without replacement, and introduce the finite population correction factor. We introduce the major sampling designs, how to calculate sample weights, and how to use Stata's "svyset" command to prepare data for analyses that account for the sampling design. We will then demonstrate how to analyze data with these characteristics. Instructor: Chuck Huber, PhD
Wednesday, June 3, Noon to 1:15 p.m. PT
Via Zoom
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| Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) - BTO Innovation Opportunity Fair |
| This event for is for prospective proposers. The BTO Innovation Opportunity Fair’s aim is to familiarize participants with BTO’s mission and interest areas, facilitate discussions with potential proposers, increase efficiency of proposal preparation and evaluation, and foster new performer networking opportunities. The registration deadline is May 28 at 2 p.m. PT. Space is limited.
Friday, June 5, 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. PT
Location: In-person at Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center, 7901 Tysons One Place, Tysons, VA 22102, and a virtual option via ZoomGov | |
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| Energizing Discovery: Advancing Translational Research in Depression |
| Join the newly formed UC Irvine Noel Drury, M.D. Institute for Translational Depression Discoveries Depression Institute for their first formal launch event! We are excited to welcome campus faculty, researchers, trainees, community partners and distinguished guests for a day of scientific exchange and celebration. This event will feature updates on the progress of the new Depression Institute at UCI, a keynote speech by Conor Liston, MD, PhD, professor at Cornell University, UCI faculty presentations to highlight emerging work in depression research, and a networking hour to foster collaboration.
Tuesday, June 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Beckman Center of the National Academies of Science & Engineering, 100 Academy Way, Irvine, CA 92617
Breakfast & Lunch Provided | |
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| Center for Neural Circuit Mapping Seminar |
| Imaging the Brain at High Spatiotemporal Resolution, by Na Ji, PhD, Professor, Departments of Neuroscience and Physics, UC Berkeley
Tuesday, June 9, 10 to 11 a.m.
Location: Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building, Room 2200 | |
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| Physiology & Biophysics Seminar Series |
| Programming Macrophages with Synthetic Biology, by Barbara Jusiak, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology & Biophysics, UC Irvine School of Medicine Wednesday, June 10, 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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| Monthly on Mondays | Faculty Development Series |
| How to Prepare a Merit or Promotion File and AP-10 Form for 2026, presented by Kyoko Yokomori, PhD, and Mohammad Helmy, MD. 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, June 22, 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.
Via Zoom | |
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| Rady Children's Health and UC Irvine Distinguished Lecture Series |
| Distinguishing Translational Research and Translational Science, by Orfeu M. Buxton, PhD, Professor of Biobehavioral Health, Associate Director, Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), Pennsylvania State University, and Alyson Eggleston, PhD, Associate Research Professor, Director of Evaluation, Penn State CTSI, Pennsylvania State University
Wednesday, June 24, Noon to 1 p.m. PT
Via Zoom
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| AI for Genomics & Data Science with Operon |
| A one-day, hands-on workshop where you’ll go from zero to running real bulk RNA-seq, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics analyses — with Claude driving Operon on your laptop and on the HPC. No prior AI-agent experience assumed. Bring a laptop. macOS is strongly preferred; Windows is supported but with a slower install path.
Thursday, June 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Natural Sciences II, Room 4201, UC Irvine
Lunch & Refreshments Included
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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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| Clinical Research Navigator |
| | The Clinical Research Navigator serves as a centralized expert resource for faculty conducting investigator-initiated clinical trials across UC Irvine School of Medicine. The Clinical Research Navigator provides resource navigation, regulatory training, audit readiness preparation, policy guidance, and operational coordination for the School’s IIT portfolio. This individual ensures study team awareness of — and operational planning for — federal regulations (FDA, OHRP), University of California policies, and institutional standards, while facilitating high-quality, efficient trial conduct. The Clinical Research Navigator works in close collaboration with Principal Investigators (PIs), Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs), and other research support services to promote compliant and streamlined trial execution. | |
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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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| Sign up for the Office of Research Listserv & Keep Updated |
| | To keep up to date with the latest updates from the Office of Research amidst all of the federal funding changes, be sure to subscribe to the CG-News listserv. You can sign up by sending a blank email to: cg-news+subscribe@uci.edu. Also, bookmark the Office of Research Impact of Federal Executive Orders and Directives on Federal Grants and Contracts. | |
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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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