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| Publish Your Profile on ScholarConnect |
| ScholarConnect, UC Irvine's new searchable database and set of profile websites for faculty and campus researchers, is launching campuswide this fall. ScholarConnect is an AI-powered platform that transforms faculty CVs into polished, searchable public profiles, making it easier for researchers, journalists and students to find the right expert.
Faculty can publish their own profiles. Log in at scholarconnect.uci.edu, review your profile, make any edits and click “Publish” to make it visible.
For questions or feedback, contact Roxane Silver, vice provost for Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning, or reach out to the ScholarConnect team at scholarconnect@uci.edu. Learn more about ScholarConnect in this article by the UC Irvine Office of Information Technology (OIT). | |
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| Highlighting UC Irvine’s Shared Core Facilities for Researchers — The Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center |
| Join this webinar to learn about the Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, 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. Its mission is to accelerate cutting-edge research, training and the clinical translation of new therapies. The center’s goals include: - Advance stem cell research to understand disease mechanisms and develop regenerative therapies.
- Promote interdisciplinary collaboration across faculty, clinicians, trainees, and external partners.
- Support state-of-the-art core facilities for cell culture, molecular analysis, imaging, and bioinformatics.
- Train the next generation of scientists and translate discoveries into clinical applications.
Presented by: Allia Fawaz, Microscopy/Imaging Core Manager
Tuesday, Sept. 22, Noon to 1 p.m.
Via Zoom | |
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| Focused Flexible Accelerated Studies (FFASt) Workshop: Accelerating Clinical Science with AI and Coding Agents |
| This interactive FFASt workshop led by Peter Chang, MD, Associate Professor of Radiological Sciences and Director of the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence Research and the Institute for Precision Health, equips faculty, scientists and trainees with the practical skills to integrate advanced AI into their daily research workflows. By leveraging coding agents like Kiro CLI and secure cloud platforms such as AWS Bedrock, participants will learn how to overcome traditional bottlenecks in medical research.
The session focuses on hands-on applications tailored to clinical science, demonstrating how AI can act as a collaborative partner to quickly process complex datasets, automate data cleaning pipelines, and draft high-quality scientific manuscripts. Whether you are generating novel hypotheses or navigating unstructured clinical data, this workshop provides a practical roadmap for deploying agentic AI to accelerate the path from raw data to publication. Hosted by the UC Irvine Institute for Clinical & Translational Science and the School of Medicine Physician Scientist Collective.
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 3 to 5 p.m.
Location: Sue Gross Auditorium, Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences Building, UCI Main Campus, 865 Health Science Road, Irvine, CA 92697
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| NIH Encourages Use of the PHS Assignment Request Form |
| NIH is encouraging applicants to make greater use of the optional Public Health Service (PHS) Assignment Request Form when preparing grant applications. The form allows investigators to provide information (i.e., preferred NIH Institute and study sections) that can help NIH staff assign applications to the most appropriate Institute, Center, Office, and peer review panel. NIH notes that information provided on the form is reviewed only by referral and review staff and is not shared with peer reviewers. Applicants may not nominate specific reviewers, and any such recommendations will not be considered. While not required, NIH indicates that this form can provide valuable information that helps staff make informed assignment decisions and facilitate a timely review process.
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| NIH Webinar: Understanding NIH's Unified Funding Strategy |
| The NIH has implemented steps toward a Unified Funding Strategy to support more consistent, transparent and flexible funding decisions across NIH Institutes and Centers. This webinar, which features Bruce Tromberg, PhD, Nora Volkow, MD, and other NIH leaders, provides an overview of the new funding strategy and discusses how NIH will consider scientific merit, peer review, NIH priorities, career stage, workforce sustainability and available resources when making funding decisions. Read the NIH announcement. The NIH is currently calling for public comments on peer review policy (see announcement below: “NIH Proposes Changes to Peer Review Outcome Reporting”).
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| NIH Proposes Changes to Peer Review Outcome Reporting |
| NIH has issued RFI NOT-OD-26-088 seeking public feedback on proposed changes to how peer review outcomes are reported, as part of its new Unified Funding Strategy. Under the proposal, NIH would no longer release final overall impact scores or percentile rankings; instead, applications would be placed into one of three categories:
- “Most Competitive” (top 25% of final scores),
- “Competitive” (26–50%), or
- “Not Discussed” (below the top 50%).
Reviewers would continue to provide individual scores, written critiques, criterion/factor scores, and discussion summaries, but the calculated final score would be used internally only to determine the application’s category. NIH believes this approach would reduce overreliance on numerical scores, place greater emphasis on qualitative peer-review feedback, and give institutes and centers more flexibility to consider scientific merit alongside programmatic priorities, strategic plans, portfolio needs and available funding when making award decisions. Public comments on the proposed changes are due Oct. 13, 2026. | |
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| NCI to Require Animal Model Justification and Human Validation Plans in Grant Abstracts |
| Beginning with the Oct. 5, 2026, application deadline, NCI applicants will be expected to include a brief justification in the project abstract explaining why animal models are necessary and why alternative approaches would be insufficient. NCI also requests that applications include a concise description of how findings from animal studies will be validated in human-relevant models. Examples include organoids, fresh tumor samples, patient-derived xenografts, or other systems derived from human tissue. While the validation work itself may fall outside the scope of the proposed project, applicants should describe a clear path for translating findings from animal models into human biology. For more, read the Guidance on Applications for Studies with Animal Models.
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| NSF Launches $1.5 Billion Foundational Research Portfolio with Revamped BIO Core Programs |
| NSF has released new funding opportunities totaling more than $1.5 billion to support foundational research across science and engineering disciplines. The Core Research in Biological Sciences (BIO CORE) includes numerous sub-programs and funds single- and multi-investigator awards. The portfolio of awards is anticipated to include a range of budgets and durations, including exploratory projects of smaller scope and long-horizon projects that benefit from longer-term commitment. Learn more about these funding opportunities on the BIO CORE website.
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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
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| Congratulations to Rongsheng Jin, PhD (Physiology & Biophysics), recipient of an NIH/NIAID R61 subaward distributed over two years for the project, “Next Generation Pan-Serotype Antitoxin for Botulinum Neurotoxin Exposures.” Jin will serve as MPI on the project, led by PI Charles Bix Shoemaker. The project aims to develop a next-generation, broadly protective antitoxin for botulinum neurotoxins using engineered nanobodies as an alternative to current antitoxin therapies.
Congratulations to Katherine Colcord, PhD (Neurology), on receiving the 2026 Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research. Colcord will conduct the project in collaboration with María M. Corrada, ScM, ScD (Neurology) and Luohua Jiang, MD, PhD (Epidemiology & Biostatistics). Her research examines how brain health influences physical and cognitive aging and healthcare needs among the oldest-old.
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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American Brain Foundation | 2027 Next Generation Research Grants
Deadline: Oct. 8, 2026 (for most programs) | |
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| The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program |
| The HHMI Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program supports exceptional postdoctoral scientists who demonstrate strong potential to become independent research leaders. Beginning with the 2028 competition, the program will be combined with the Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program in a single competition, with applicants reviewed according to career stage.
Eligible applicants must hold a mentored postdoctoral research position at an HHMI-eligible institution and have no more than seven years of research experience following their doctoral degree as of Dec. 15, 2026; independent research positions are not eligible. Fellows receive up to two years of salary or stipend support, additional funds for certain fellowship-related expenses, personalized professional development, and guidance during the faculty search. Application opens Nov. 3, 2026.
Award Amount: Salary or stipend commensurate with experience plus yearly funds for certain expenses; up to two years of support
Deadline: Dec. 15, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. PT | |
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| | All Faculty Funding Opportunities | |
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ARPA-H Funding OpportunitiesThe 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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| UC Irvine NIAMS P30 Skin Biology Resource-based Center Seed Grants |
| 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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| Collaborative Research Proposals in Applied Sciences with UC-UABC |
| Collaborative research proposals in applied sciences between the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC) and the University of California. This funding enables the establishment of new UC–UABC collaborative research projects that can grow and continue with the support of institutional and extramural funds. Proposals should promote scientific knowledge and technological advances in at least one of the following thematic areas, and preference will be given to proposals that foster interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Advanced manufacturing
- Biomedical technologies
- Energy cooperation in the U.S.-Mexico border region
For questions or to request assistance in connecting UC applicants with potential partners at UABC, contact Anaid Linares Rojas, research engagement coordinator, UC Alianza MX.
Deadline: Sept. 28, 2026 | |
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| Health Professions Pathways Program: Population Health Investment (HPPP Pop HI) |
| The Health Professions Pathways Program (HPPP) is designed to recruit and support students from underrepresented regions and backgrounds to pursue careers in health professions. HPPP provides structured pathways that create early exposure, hands-on experience, and preparation for entry into health career training programs.
This is a limited opportunity in that only one team from UC Irvine may apply. A team has stepped forward and notified the Office of Research of their plan to apply. If you are planning to apply, please email the Research Development Unit immediately so that a campus-wide limited competition is arranged.
Deadline: Oct. 16, 2026, at 3 p.m.
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| Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program |
| The HHMI Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program supports outstanding early-career tenured and tenure-track faculty, including physician-scientists, who demonstrate exceptional promise as scientific leaders and inclusive mentors. Scholars become HHMI employees while maintaining their academic appointments and laboratories at their host institutions and receive up to two five-year terms of support, contingent on a successful midpoint evaluation.
For the 2028 competition, applicants must hold or begin by May 1, 2028, a qualifying appointment at an HHMI-eligible institution and have no more than seven years of experience as a lab head or in any other independent post-training position as of Dec. 15, 2026. Application opens Nov. 3, 2026.
Deadline: Dec. 15, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. PT
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| Forecasted NIH Opportunities |
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| | | Upcoming Seminars & Events |
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| UCI High-End Mass Spectrometry Facility Astral Workshop & Symposium |
| The UCI High-End Mass Spectrometry Facility (HMSF), a shared resource for the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, is pleased to invite you to the upcoming Astral Symposium & Workshop, featuring an exciting scientific program highlighting state-of-the-art Astral MS technology, its latest advances, and cutting-edge applications in biomedical research. Lunch will be provided for those who pre-register. For questions, contact Clinton Yu, PhD, HMSF manager.
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building, Seminar Room 2200 | |
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| Monthly on Mondays | Faculty Development Series |
| Global Health Engagement Initiatives, presented by Rimal Bera, MD, Hao-Hua Wu, MD, and Theresa Chin, 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, Sept. 14, 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.
Via Zoom | |
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| NIH Loan Repayment Program Workshop |
| The UC Irvine Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS) is hosting a webinar for post-doctoral scholars and early-career faculty preparing to submit applications for the 2026–27 cycle of the NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP). The LRPs are a set of programs established by Congress designed to assist health professionals with repaying their educational debt who have doctoral-level degrees and are conducting biomedical, clinical or behavioral research at a minimum of 50% effort. Applicants may be eligible for up to $50,000 of loan repayment per year to repay their educational debt.
Friday, Sept. 18, Noon to 1:30 p.m.
Via Zoom | |
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| UC Irvine 4th Annual Down Syndrome Showcase |
| Join this inspiring event featuring stage performances and art exhibits by children and adults with Down syndrome, alongside the latest research findings from UC Irvine students and faculty on factors impacting the health and well-being of people with Down syndrome. This event brings together UC Irvine scientists, clinicians, faculty, graduate students, research staff, and laboratories working across the field of Down syndrome to share research focused on improving the health and well-being of individuals with Down syndrome across the lifespan.
This event is presented by the UC Irvine Center for Aging Research in Down Syndrome (CFAR-DS), the UC Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND), and in collaboration with the Down Syndrome Association of Orange County (DSAOC). Tickets are $18 for general admission. For questions, contact Diana Valencia.
Sunday, Sept. 20, 2 to 5 p.m.
Location: Irvine Barclay Theater, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine, CA 92612 | |
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| Center for Neural Circuit Mapping Seminar |
| Engineering Therapeutic Delivery to the Brain and Beyond, by Nitin Joshi, PhD, Assistant Professor, Director of Basic Science Research, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Hosted by the UC Irvine Center for Neural Circuit Mapping.
Tuesday, Sept. 22, 10 to 11 a.m.
Location: Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building, Room 2200 | |
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| Memorial for Stephen H. White, PhD |
| Friends and colleagues are invited to join together in celebrating the remarkable life and legacy of Stephen H. White, PhD, Distinguished Professor Emeritus and former chair of the Department of Physiology & Biophysics. Family, friends and colleagues will come together to share memories and celebrate Steve and the profound difference he made in our lives at UC Irvine and beyond. A reception will follow. Please RSVP by Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Tuesday, Sept. 22, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Hybrid event at Tamkin Hall F110 and Via Zoom | |
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| Noel Drury, M.D. Institute for Translational Depression Discoveries Monthly Seminar Series |
| Recent Advances in Reverse Translational Methods for Neuropsychiatric Medications Development, by Brian Kangas, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Director, Translational Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory, McLean Hospital. Hosted by the UC Irvine Noel Drury, M.D. Institute for Translational Depression Discoveries.
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 10 to 11 a.m. PT
Location: Thorp Conference Center (4001, Gross Hall) | |
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| Rady Children's Health and UC Irvine Distinguished Lecture Series |
| Mechanisms of Kidney Development and Stem Cell-Based Regenerative Therapies, by Stefano Da Sacco, PhD, Assistant Professor of Research Urology, Keck School of Medicine of USC
Thursday, Sept. 24, Noon to 1 p.m. PT
Via Zoom
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| Center for Neural Circuit Mapping Seminar |
| Subiculum and the Generation of Integrated Forms of Location and Orientation Tuning, by Douglas A. Nitz, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Cognitive Science, UC San Diego. Hosted by the UC Irvine Center for Neural Circuit Mapping.
Tuesday, Sept. 29, 10 to 11 a.m.
Location: Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building, Room 2200 | |
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| 2026 Fourth Annual Symposium for the Center for Neurotherapeutics: "Novel Targets and Technologies in Neurotherapeutics" |
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The 2026 Fourth Annual Symposium for the Center for Neurotherapeutics will feature speakers from across the country who will speak on different topics as they relate to translational neuroscience research. Register for this FREE symposium by Friday, Oct. 2.
Friday, Oct. 9, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences, Sue Gross Auditorium, 845 Health Sciences Quad, Irvine, CA 92697 | |
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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 from NIH:
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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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