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Recently Announced NIH Highlighted Topics
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Consider NIH’s centralized list of highlighted topics for your next investigator-initiated grant application. Each topic represents a selected research priority area within one or more NIH Institutes, centers or offices (ICOs) that may or may not have dedicated funding.
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Database for UC Irvine School of Medicine Researcher Sharing - Cell Lines, Antibodies and Mouse Strains
REMINDER
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Would you like to use a new antibody, cell line, or mouse strain but expense is a barrier? The database for laboratory resources, specifically antibodies, cell lines, and mouse strains, is live at UC Irvine School of Medicine - Research Resources. You can see what is available and submit resources that your lab has available. The website is UCInetID-protected. If you need help with entering data, contact the Research Development Unit.
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Understanding NIH's Unified Funding Strategy: What the Research Community Needs to Know
NEXT WEEK
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This panel discussion with several NIH directors is intended to clarify NIH’s Unified Funding Strategy’s rationale, goals, and implementation, and address misconceptions. The live broadcast will be hosted via NIH Videocast and will be available to all viewers.
Friday, Aug. 14, 7 to 8 a.m. PT
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School of Medicine Dean's Research Council Meeting
NEXT WEEK
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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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Using Grants.gov to Subscribe to Opportunities and Create Searches
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Since some grants are forecasted and then not posted for months, it is useful to subscribe to the opportunity to receive updates. You can also create searches. You would use a Login.gov account; if you already have a Grants.gov username and password, you will be prompted to link your Grants.gov account to a Login.gov account. Get started at Grants.gov.
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Physician Scientist Pathways Certificate Course Accepting Applications
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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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Call for Applications: School of Medicine Clinical Trialist Training Program
THIS WEEK: INFO SESSION
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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 |
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Benjamin R. Uy, MD, PhD (Neurological Surgery), has received the 2026–27 B*CURED and Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation (NREF) Young Clinician Investigator Award for his project, "Armored Tri-specific CAR-NK Cells Against EGFR, IL-13Rα2, and CD155 for Glioblastoma Therapy." Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant forms of brain cancer. Uy’s research will develop an innovative "off-the-shelf" cellular immunotherapy using engineered chimeric antigen receptor natural killer (CAR-NK) cells designed to simultaneously target three receptors commonly expressed on glioblastoma cells.
By combining multi-target tumor recognition with localized delivery of immune-stimulating molecules, this approach aims to eliminate tumor cells more effectively while activating a broader anti-tumor immune response to prevent recurrence. This work has the potential to advance new immunotherapeutic strategies for patients with glioblastoma.
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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| | Postdocs & Early Career Faculty Funding Opportunities | |
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NIH Director’s New Innovator Award
Deadline: Aug. 17, 2026
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2027 NIH Director's Early Independence Award (DP5 - Clinical Trial Optional)
For Graduate Students / Early Postdocs
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The NIH Director's Early Independence Award (RFA-RM-27-004) helps talented new researchers begin their own independent research program soon after finishing their doctoral degree or clinical training, without first doing postdoctoral training. The award accepts applications on any topic fitting the NIH mission. It is part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research program. To be eligible, investigators, at the time of application, must have received their most recent doctoral degree or completed clinical training within the previous 15 months or expect to do so within the following 12 months.
UC Irvine may submit no more than two applications to this competition. Therefore, interested applicants are asked to submit a preliminary application to the Office of Research by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9, via the UCI Review application system. The full application is due to NIH on Sept. 10, 2026.
Deadline: Aug. 9, 2026, 11:59 p.m.
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Estée Lauder Epigenetics Fellowship, in honor of Paolo Sassone-Corsi
For Graduate Students
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UC Irvine School of Medicine’s Center for Epigenetics & Metabolism is pleased to announce the Estée Lauder Epigenetics Fellowship program in honor of the late Paolo Sassone-Corsi, PhD, who was UC Irvine’s Donald Bren Professor of Biological Chemistry and director of the campus’s Center for Epigenetics & Metabolism.
The Estée Lauder Epigenetics Fellowship supports the training of PhD graduate students who carry out groundbreaking research in epigenetics and the molecular mechanisms underlying human disorders/diseases. Research that seeks to establish new paradigms, develop innovative new technology and/or methodology, remove roadblocks that restrict progress in the epigenetics or metabolism fields, or answer intractable problems, is given priority. Each year, the Estée Lauder Epigenetics Fellowship will reward a promising graduate student and support future generations of scientists dedicating their careers to education, research and outreach.
Deadline: Aug. 28, 2026, 5 p.m. PT
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| | All Faculty Funding Opportunities | |
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ARPA-H Funding OpportunityThe goal of the Fast Assessment of Solutions, Therapeutics, Pharmaceuticals and Supplies (FASTPASS) program is to enable sampling of pharmaceutical shipments in minutes, without opening boxes, by building rapid, non-destructive screening tools that can verify drug quality and safety through packaging, in near real-time, at ports, warehouses and distribution centers. Virtual Proposer Day: Aug. 24, 2026
Registration: Required by Aug. 20, 2026, 9 a.m. PT
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Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center Seed Grants
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The Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center is soliciting applications for three seed grants of up to $50,000 each to support new and innovative research in stem cell and regenerative medicine. Projects should generate preliminary data that can strengthen future extramural funding applications. Awarded projects must include use of SCRC core services and shared resources as a required component. Additional program and eligibility details, and application materials are available through the Call for SCRC Seed Grants announcement and application site.
Deadline: Sept. 1, 2026
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NIH Director's Transformative Research Award for Individual and Group Science
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This 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
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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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UC Irvine NIAMS P30 Skin Biology Resource-based Center Seed Grants
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The UC Irvine NIAMS P30 Skin Biology Resource-based Center is inviting applications for three seed grants of up to $40,000 each to support new and innovative skin research projects within the NIAMS mission. The program is intended to help investigators generate preliminary data and advance projects to a stage where they are competitive for future extramural funding, particularly NIH support. Additional program and eligibility details, and application materials are available through the P30 Skin Center Seed Grant announcement and application site.
Deadline: Sept. 14, 2026
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Forecasted: Translational Centers Using Microphysiologic Systems for Infectious Diseases (RFA-AI-28-012)
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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)
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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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Forecasted: NCI Advanced Development and Validation of Emerging Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R33-RFA-CA-28-002)
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NCI is anticipated to solicit applications proposing exploratory research projects focused on further development and validation of emerging technologies for cancer research or clinical care, specifically applications where major feasibility gaps for the technology or methodology have been overcome, as demonstrated with supportive preliminary data, but still requires further development, enhancements, optimizations, and rigorous technical validation to encourage adoption by the research community. Learn more about this grant opportunity.
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| Upcoming Seminars & Events |
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Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics Dissertation Defense
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Uncovering the Species-Specific Innate Immune Responses During Rickettsia Parkeri Infection and Establishing Bioluminescent Strains for In Vivo Dissemination, by Jessie Anh Luu, Graduate Student, Burke Lab, Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Wednesday, Aug. 12, 12:30 p.m. PT
Location: Hybrid event at Plumwood House, Room 166, and Via Zoom
Contact Katrina Pagadayunan to join via Zoom.
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NIH Grant Proposal Workshop for Investigators at All Career Stages
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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
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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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Viral Targeting Reagents for Mammalian Brain Neural Circuit Analysis
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Hosted by the UC Irvine Center for Neural Circuit Mapping Viral Core & Vector Builder
This workshop is free and open to all those registered for the 2026 CNCM Conference. Individuals who are not registered for the main conference may attend for a nominal fee. Please register by Aug. 14.
Thursday, Aug. 20, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Location: Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building (FLFMIB), Room 2200
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Harnessing the Potential of Spatial Transcriptomics
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Hosted by UC Irvine Center for Neural Circuit Mapping & VIZGEN
This workshop is free and open to all those registered for the 2026 CNCM Conference. Individuals who are not registered for the main conference may attend for a nominal fee. Please register by Aug. 14.
Thursday, Aug. 20, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building (FLFMIB), Room 2200
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New Funding Opportunities and Topic Ideas
NIH
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Check these resources often for the latest from NIH:
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What kind of grant support does the School of Medicine Research Development Unit provide?
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE RDU
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What kind of grant support does the RDU provide to Physician Scientists?
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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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