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| School of Medicine Dean's Research Council Meeting |
| School of Medicine Dean Michael J. Stamos, MD, and Associate Dean for Research Administration William E. Bunney, MD, invite you to attend this quarterly meeting featuring two distinguished research presentations:
An Experimental Journey from Replication Mechanisms to Novel mRNA Vaccines for RNA Viruses, by Bert Semler, PhD, Distinguished Professor, Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Center for Virus Research, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Steps Towards Whole Eye Transplantation — Is There a Role for Electric Fields?, by Kimberly Gokoffski, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Tuesday, Aug. 11, 5 to 6 p.m. PT
Via Zoom
Meeting ID: 968 2620 4626 | Passcode: 109533 | |
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| Physician Scientist Pathways Certificate Course Accepting Applications |
| UC Irvine School of Medicine is currently accepting applications for the 2026 Physician Scientist Pathways Certificate course. This course will prepare physician-scientists to combine their clinical knowledge with skills in scientific investigation. The School of Medicine strives to advance individual and population health; this foundational certificate course will equip physician-scientists with the basic knowledge needed to address their research questions. There is no tuition fee to participate in the course. Applications are due Aug. 21, 2026.
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| Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) & Executive Leadership in Health Care (ELH) UC Irvine Internal Applicant Call |
| The UC Irvine School of Medicine Dean’s Office is requesting internal applicants for the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) and Executive Leadership in Health Care (ELH) programs, offered by Drexel University College of Medicine, for leaders in academic medicine or healthcare for the 2027–28 cycle. Learn more about eligibility and the UC Irvine internal application process. Internal applications are due Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, to Nadine Achkar.
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| School of Medicine Applications for Bridge Funding Due July 24 |
| Please note that the next UC Irvine Office of Research deadline for Bridge Funding is Monday, Aug. 3, 2026. Complete applications must include a signed letter of support by your department chair showing financial commitment. Bridge Funding applications are due to the School of Medicine Office of Research by Friday, July 24, 2026.
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| Restructuring of NIH Shared Instrumentation Grant (SIG) Program |
| NIH announced that the Shared Instrumentation Grant (SIG) Program (S10-PAR-27-022) has been restructured and consolidates three existing shared-use instrumentation programs, i.e., the Shared Instrumentation Grant program, the High-End Instrumentation Grant program and the Basic Instrumentation Grant program.
The NOFO invites applications from groups of NIH-supported investigators to purchase or upgrade a single state-of-the-art commercially available instrument or an integrated instrumentation system. The instruments purchased through the SIG Program are required to be optimally shared among the users to ensure efficient and cost-effective research operations, enable rigorous and reproducible measurements, and encourage collaborative research and that benefits broad research communities at large. The minimum award is $300,000. There is no cap on the instrument's total cost; however, the maximum award is $5,000,000. Due Dates: July 27, 2026, and July 1, 2027, and 2028.
The new NIH Seed Instrumentation Support (SIS) Program is further described in the Funding Opportunities section below.
The School of Medicine Office of Research requires SOM PI(s) to notify the Research Development Unit (RDU) of their intent to submit a proposal. This is to ensure coordinated institutional support and that the RDU can provide optimal support to all PIs. Please email the RDU to alert us of your plans to apply.
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| Call for Applications: School of Medicine Clinical Trialist Training Program |
| The UC Irvine School of Medicine Clinical Trialist Training Program is accepting applications for its next cohort. Applications are available on the website with a deadline of Sept. 15. Designed for physicians interested in clinical research, this two-year program provides coursework, mentorship and program support to help participants design, conduct and manage clinical trials.
Program Highlights:
- Mentorship from an experienced clinical trialist
- Participation in a structured clinical trials curriculum
- Program-supported professional development opportunities
Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend an informational Zoom session to learn more about the program, application process and what to expect. Info SessionWednesday, Aug. 5, 1 to 2 p.m.
Via Zoom | | Back to top | | | |
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| Liangzhong (Shawn) Xiang, PhD (Radiological Sciences), in collaboration with Yong Chen, PhD (OUHSC) has been awarded an NIH R01 titled "Protoacoustic Imaging for 3D Mapping the Bragg Peak in Real Time during Proton Therapy." This project will develop an innovative protoacoustic/ultrasound imaging system that enables real-time, three-dimensional localization of the Bragg peak during proton therapy.
The research team will evaluate the technology in preclinical models, develop a clinically deployable imaging system, and conduct early-phase clinical studies to validate its use in patients. By improving the precision of radiation delivery and enabling real-time treatment adjustments, this work aims to maximize the effectiveness of proton therapy while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
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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Beckman Young Investigator Program
Letter of Interest Deadline: July 31, 2026 | |
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| NIH Director's New Innovator Award |
| The NIH Director’s New Innovator Award (DP2- RFA-RM-27-002) supports early-stage investigators of exceptional creativity who propose bold and highly innovative research projects with potential for major impact across the biomedical sciences. Applications are welcome in any area of the biomedical sciences. No preliminary data are required. Instead, the review process emphasizes the investigator's creativity, the innovativeness of the approach, and the project's potential impact.
Deadline: Aug. 17, 2026
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| Arthritis National Research Foundation (ANRF) 2027 Career Development Research Grants |
| Applications open on Oct. 1, 2026, and are due Jan. 9, 2027.
2027 ANRF grants include:
- Arthritis and Related Autoimmune Disease Research Grant – For MD and/or PhD researchers approaching independence or in the early years of leading their own research program. Focuses on basic studies, or clinical studies with a translational component.
- Psoriatic Arthritis Research Grant – For MD and/or PhD researchers studying psoriatic arthritis or related mechanisms. Supports basic studies, or clinical studies with a translational component.
- Postdoctoral Physician Scientist Fellowship – For MD or MD/PhD investigators currently in, or who have recently completed, an ACGME-accredited rheumatology fellowship. Projects should be independently developed and may be basic or clinical research.
- Rheum for Kids: Pediatric Joint and Skin Disease Research Grant – For MD and/or PhD researchers within seven years of their most recent stage of training. Focuses on pediatric skin and joint disease, with strong mentorship support. Offered in collaboration with PeDRA.
For more about this opportunity, contact Kathleen Lago, School of Medicine Director of Development, UCI Health Advancement.
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| | All Faculty Funding Opportunities | |
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NIH Director's Transformative Research Award for Individual and Group ScienceThis award ( R01- RFA-RM-27-003) supports individual scientists or groups of scientists proposing bold, groundbreaking and unconventional research with the potential to create new scientific paradigms, establish new clinical approaches, or develop transformative technologies. Applications are welcome in any area of the biomedical sciences. No preliminary data are required, but projects must demonstrate a compelling potential for major impact based on the strength of their logic. Deadline: Sept. 3, 2026 | |
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| NIH Director's Pioneer Award |
| This award (DP1-RFA-RM-27-001) supports individual scientists of exceptional creativity who propose bold and highly innovative research projects with the potential to produce major impact on broad areas relevant to the NIH mission. To be considered pioneering, the proposed research must reflect substantially different scientific directions from those already being pursued in the investigator's research program or elsewhere. Applications are welcome across all NIH-relevant topics.
Deadline: Sept. 9, 2026
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| NIH Seed Instrumentation Support (SIS) Program |
| This program (S10-PAR-27-021) supports the purchase of a single commercially available biomedical research instrument that is currently unavailable at the applicant institution. The program aims to build new research capacity, enable reproducible data generation, encourage collaborative research and training, and strengthen long-term research capabilities.
Eligible instruments include, but are not limited to, mass spectrometers, cell sorters, bioimagers, DNA and protein sequencers, light microscopes, 3D printers, and high-performance computers dedicated solely to biomedical research. Awards range from $50,000 to $400,000 (no indirect costs), with a one-year project period. Instruments must be housed in a shared resource to maximize collaboration. Research-intensive institutions should focus on acquiring new or emerging technologies enabling innovative research.
Upcoming Deadlines: Sept. 25, 2026; July 1, 2027; July 1, 2028
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| Forecasted: Translational Centers Using Microphysiologic Systems for Infectious Diseases (RFA-AI-28-012) |
| This program will support the development of human microphysiologic systems (MPS) for infectious disease research and the development of therapeutics or biological products. MPS are in vitro platforms of cells or tissues maintained in microenvironments designed to mimic in vivo tissue or organ function. While MPS development has expanded across NIH and FDA regulatory pathways to reduce animal use, application to infectious diseases and product development has lagged. Approximately five cooperative agreement awards are anticipated, with total estimated program funding of $7 million. Learn more about this NIH opportunity.
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| Forecasted: Precision and Systems Biology to Uncover the Link Between Chronic and Infectious Diseases (RFA-IA-28-014) |
| The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is anticipated to solicit applications for a new consortium-based initiative that uses precision systems biology approaches to uncover links among chronic illnesses, infectious diseases and microbiomes. The initiative is expected to support research addressing how infections may lead to chronic lifelong health issues and how long-term illnesses might predispose individuals to or exacerbate acute infections. Learn more about this NIAID opportunity.
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| | | Upcoming Seminars & Events |
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| UC Irvine Center for Epigenetics & Metabolism Seminar |
| Gut Microbiome Interactions in Cardiovascular Diseases by Aldons Jake Lusis, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, and Human Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. Lecture hosted by the UC Irvine Center for Epigenetics & Metabolism. Tuesday, July 28, 2 p.m.
Location: Sprague Hall 1st Floor Conference Room, 839 Health Sciences Road, Room 105, Irvine, CA 92697
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| UC Irvine Center for Neuropolitics Lecture Series |
| The Hostility Habit: How Partisan Expectations Shape Political Conflict, by Alexa Bankert, PhD, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Georgia. Lecture hosted by the UC Irvine Center for Neuropolitics. Register today for this FREE, virtual lecture! Friday, July 31, Noon to 1:15 p.m. PT
Via Zoom
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| NIH Grant Proposal Workshop for Investigators at All Career Stages |
| This workshop, associated with the UC Irvine Center for Neural Circuit Mapping's 2026 Conference on “Neural Circuits in Health & Disease,” is designed for investigators at all career stages, with a focus on early-stage and junior investigators. A panel of NIH Program Officers and UCI faculty will provide career-focused guidance with topics including NIH funding mechanisms, peer-review expectations, common pitfalls in grant applications, and effective strategies for engaging with NIH programs. All discussions will be grounded in NIH policies, funding announcements, and review practices. There is a nominal registration fee.
Monday, Aug. 17, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Irvine Marriott, Irvine, Calif. (CNCM Main Conference Venue)
Parking: $20 | |
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| Rady Children's Health and UC Irvine Distinguished Lecture Series |
| Leveraging AI to Transform Evidence Generation in Gene and Cell Therapies, by Mohamed Abou-el Enein, MD, PhD, MSPH, Associate Professor, Medicine (Oncology), Pediatrics, Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC; Executive Director, USC/CHLA Cell Therapy Program
Wednesday, Aug. 19, Noon to 1 p.m. PT
Via Zoom
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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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| New Funding Opportunities and Topic Ideas |
| Check these resources often for the latest:
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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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