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NIH Launches Bio Genesis Mission to Accelerate AI-Driven Biomedical Discovery
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NIH has launched the Bio Genesis Mission, a major initiative aimed at doubling the pace of biomedical innovation, from scientific discovery to health impact, within the next five to 10 years. As part of the broader federal Genesis Mission, the effort will leverage artificial intelligence, advanced computing and public-private partnerships to accelerate biomedical research and improve health outcomes.
The initiative focuses on six priority areas:
- Predicting complex biological systems using AI
- Advancing biomanufacturing and biotechnology innovation
- Strengthening detection of biological threats
- Accelerating pediatric cancer research
- Speeding drug discovery and clinical translation
- Investigating the root causes of chronic disease
While NIH has not yet announced specific funding opportunities tied to the initiative, the Bio Genesis Mission signals a significant federal investment in AI-enabled biomedical research and may influence future funding priorities, research infrastructure and collaborative programs.
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NIH Replacing Letters of Support with Letters of Collaboration
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Beginning with the implementation of Forms J in Fiscal Year 2027, NIH will replace Letters of Support (LOS) with Letters of Collaboration (LOC) as part of an effort to reduce administrative burden and streamline application requirements. This approach aligns NIH's requirements with the letter format already used by NSF, so LOCs will be used only to document a collaborator's intent to participate in the project or provide material support. Letters that simply endorse a proposal without a defined collaborative role will no longer be permitted. NIH also notes that letters should not be submitted by senior/key personnel, other significant contributors, or trainees and staff within the PI's laboratory. LOC will be limited to 100 words and should only confirm the commitment described in the application. Applications containing LOS after the Forms J implementation may be returned without review. Learn more in the NIH notice.
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NIH Provides Implementation Update on Data Management and Sharing Plan Requirements
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Beginning with the implementation of Forms J in Fiscal Year 2027, NIH has announced details for its updated Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan format, which will be required for all applications and awards subject to the NIH DMS Policy. The revised format is intended to standardize DMS Plans across NIH while reducing administrative burden and improving reporting efficiency. Researchers with active awards or pending applications may need to transition previously approved DMS Plans to the new format, depending on the stage of their award. NIH has also eliminated the requirement for prior approval when modifying an approved DMS Plan. Instead, investigators will report DMS Plan updates and data sharing progress through the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR). Researchers should review the transition timelines and reporting requirements to ensure compliance with upcoming implementation deadlines. Learn more in the NIH notice.
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NIH Highlights Centralized Review Process for Fellowship, Career Development and Training Applications
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NIH has published updated guidance to help applicants understand how fellowship (F), career development (K), and institutional training (T) applications are assigned and reviewed under its centralized peer review system. All T, K and F applications are now reviewed through Center for Scientific Review (CSR)-managed study sections, which assign applications based on both scientific area and grant mechanism.
NIH also highlighted its recurring Special Emphasis Panels (SEPs), which group applications by scientific topic and activity code and provide publicly available descriptions to help applicants better understand where their applications may be reviewed. Learn more in the NIH announcement.
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Recently Announced NIH Highlighted Topics
UPDATES
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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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Understanding NIH's Unified Funding Strategy: What the Research Community Needs to Know
THIS 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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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
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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
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Elizabeth Head, PhD, (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine) and collaborator Vivek Swarup, PhD (UC Irvine Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences), have received a National Institute on Aging (NIA) RF1 award for their project, "Neurobiological Basis for Dementia in Adults with Down Syndrome." The research will investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying cognitive decline and dementia in individuals with Down syndrome, who are at significantly increased genetic risk for Alzheimer disease (AD).
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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Estée Lauder Epigenetics Fellowship, in honor of Paolo Sassone-Corsi
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 OpportunitiesThe 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. PTThe goal of the Accelerating Safe Clinical Evaluation of Novel Treatments: Ibogaine for Better Outcomes in Opioid Use Disorder (ASCENT-IBO) is to expand limited treatment options for OUD. ARPA-H is exploring the promising new frontier of psychedelics and other rapid-acting neuroplastogen-based interventions, such as ketamine. These compounds may promote lasting, beneficial changes in brain function and mental health that can be useful in promoting recovery. One such compound, ibogaine, has shown early potential in anecdotal reports from medical clinics around the world, with patients reporting dramatic reductions in opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Despite this promise, no active clinical trials with the required federal authorization currently exist to rigorously study ibogaine's safety and effectiveness. Proposers’ Day: Sept. 15, 2026
Registration: Required by Sept. 7, 2026, 2 p.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 NIH Opportunities
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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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Irvine Center for Addiction Neurosience (ICAN) Seminar
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Join the ICAN seminar featuring Jun Wang, PhD, professor in the Department of Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics at Texas A&M University. Wang’s research focuses on understanding the brain circuitry involved in neuropsychiatric conditions, including alcohol and opioid use disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.
Thursday, Aug. 20, 1 to 2 p.m.
Location: 4201 Natural Sciences II
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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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