June 9, 2026  
Announcements
Celebrating Excellence: The Sixth Annual School of Medicine Research & Faculty Mentoring Awards
NEW
The sixth annual event celebrating the winners and honorable mentions of the 2026 Research & Faculty Mentoring Awards took place on June 4. Read a recap of the event here

Be on the lookout for the calls for nominations for the 7th annual School of Medicine Research Awards and Faculty Mentoring Awards in early January 2027.
 
Recharge Rate Workshop
NEW
Interested in creating a recharge facility or updating your rates? The School of Medicine Office of Research in partnership with the finance team is hosting a recharge rate workshop where we will go over what it means to have a recharge facility and answer any questions that you may have in advance of the August submission deadline. Designed for faculty and staff who work with a recharge facility. Please register in advance!

Tuesday, June 30, Noon to 1 p.m. 
Via Zoom
 
Implementing SimplerNOFO at NIH: A Clearer, Simpler Path for Applicants
NIH has released its first Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under the new Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) SimplerNOFO initiative, which aims to make funding opportunities more accessible, understandable and actionable for applicants.
 
Highlighting UC Irvine’s Shared Core Facilities for Researchers — The UC Irvine Transgenic Mouse Facility
THIS WEEK
Join this webinar to learn about the UC Irvine Transgenic Mouse Facility (TMF). The 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, UCI TMF

Note: The presentation on the Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center has been postponed. 

Wednesday, June 10, Noon to 1 p.m.
Via Zoom
 
Accepting Applications for the School of Medicine Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP)
DEADLINE THIS WEEK
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
 
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)

Wednesday, June 24, Noon to 1 p.m.
Via Zoom
 
Research Security Training Requirement for Federal Researchers (Effective May 25, 2026)
REMINDER
Beginning May 25, 2026, all personnel listed on federally sponsored proposals — including federal flow-through proposals — must complete Research Security training. The training must be completed within 12 months of proposal submission.

Along with many other federal agencies, NIH has implemented the research security training requirement. If you have completed the Research Security training within the past 12 months, you do not need to retake it until it expires. If you have not yet completed the training, we recommend doing so now to avoid potential delays in proposal submission or award processing. The Research Security Training is available on the UC Learning Center.

Questions? Email or-rsie@uci.edu. For more information, visit Research Security Program.
 
Good News!

Virginia Kimonis, PhD (Division of Genetic & Genomic Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology), received an NIH R21 titled, “Correction of VCP Disease Pathology with Antisense Oligonucleotides.” Valosin-containing protein (VCP) multisystem proteinopathy is associated with muscle wasting, weakness and early demise. Preliminary studies indicate that antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) correct VCP gain of function variants. The Kimonis team proposes to correct pathology, and improve muscle function with ASOs in patient myoblasts and the VCPA232E.

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.
 
Funding Opportunities

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.
 


All Faculty Funding Opportunities



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. Solution Summary Deadline: June 29, 2026
 
Upcoming Seminars & Events
Department of Biological Chemistry BC Seminar Series
Mechanisms and Consequences of Tissue Damage and Repair, by Piotr Konieczny, PhD, Assistant Professor of Developmental and Cell Biology, UC Irvine Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences

Wednesday, June 10, 11 a.m. to Noon 
Location: Plumwood House / Showa Denko Lecture Hall

 
Physiology & Biophysics Seminar Series
Programming Macrophages with Synthetic Biologyby 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.
 
Experimental Pathology Research Conferences
Revelations Learned from the Irradiated Brainby Charles Limoli, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair of Research, Department of Radiation Oncology, UC Irvine School of Medicine

Monday, June 15, 11 a.m. to Noon PT
Via Zoom

Meeting ID: 955 3602 9351 | Passcode: 998046
 
Noel Drury, M.D. Institute for Translational Depression Discoveries Monthly Seminar Series
Transcriptional and Epigenetic Mechanisms of Depression, by Eric Nestler, MDPhD, Nash Family Professor of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Hosted by the UC Irvine Noel Drury, M.D. Institute for Translational Depression Discoveries

Wednesday, June 17, 10 to 11 a.m. PT
Location: Hybrid event at Thorp Conference Center (4001, Gross Hall), and Via Zoom
 
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
 
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

 
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
 
Grand Rounds and CME Symposia
For Continuing Medical Education (CME) opportunities, view the weekly Grand Rounds & CME Symposia email.
 
Open Research Positions

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.
 
Research Resources
Helpful Reminders to Ensure Integrity of NIH-Supported Research When Using Artificial Intelligence
NIH
Alongside NIH-supported scientific advances and priority research areas involving AI, NIH has also occasionally observed challenges with the use of these tools that affect the integrity of the science we support. NIH has shared some helpful reminders on the appropriate use of AI tools when applying, managing awards and conducting the research process itself. Read more
 
Sign up for the Office of Research Listserv & Keep Updated
OFFICE OF RESEARCH
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.
 
What kind of grant support does the School of Medicine Research Development Unit provide?
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE RDU
 
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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Submit your funding opportunities and events to next week's email here: Seminar/Event or Funding Opportunity.