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Upcoming Events

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Belonging, Equity and Empowerment (BEE) Scene

Accepting Nominations! Learning about each other cultivates an inclusive environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute and succeed. Nominate a colleague for a spotlight showcasing their unique stories beyond their roles at the CFCCC. Faculty, staff, and self-nominations are encouraged.

Announcements

UCI Office of Research New Web Resource for Updates on Federal Research Agency Changes! For more information >>

Questions? Contact Nancy Lewis (nrlewis@uci.edu) or Jeff Warner (warnerj@uci.edu)

NEW! From the Office of Research: Federal Certifications and Acknowledgments

Due to shifts in the federal agency funding landscape, do not sign any certifications or acknowledgments regarding grant compliance or project activities. Instead, forward such communications to Jeff Warner, Senior Director, Sponsored Projects Administration. Authorized Organizational Representatives (AORs) in the Office of Research will handle these matters. If you have trouble getting in touch with your Sponsored Programs offices/Contracts and grants office, contact Nancy Lewis, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Administration. Learn more about the impact of federal executive orders and directives on federal grants and contracts.   

For other questions or concerns, contact Paul Lekutai, Director, Federal and Non-Federal Sponsored Projects, or Jeff Warner.

NEW! Attention Researchers! Our Contract with DNASTAR for Lasergene Software is Expiring Soon – Respond to Survey by March 25

The School of Medicine’s subscription for Lasergene software is expiring soon and will be canceled if we do not have evidence that it is being used. Our subscription is shared with the UC Irvine Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences. 

We are in the process of determining usage and whether we should renew the contract. The usage data is not definitive though there is indication that there is very limited usage of this software among School of Medicine researchers. Is this software a necessity for your work or is there software that is better suited to current needs? The subscription will be canceled if we do not get sufficient response to this survey by March 25. Respond to the survey here >>

NEW! 2025 SITC Fellowships



Stage one of the 2025 SITC Fellowship application period — a Letter of Intent — is due in less than two weeks. This year, SITC is offering three fellowships totaling $300,000 in funding. Submit your Letter of Intent by March 12, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

• 2025 SITC-Genmab Cancer Immunotherapy in Hematologic Malignancies: DLBCL, FL, and CLL Translational Fellowship - Learn More and Apply >>
• 2025 SITC-Merck Cancer Immunotherapy Clinical Fellowship - Learn More and Apply >>
• 2025 SITC Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Cancer Immunotherapy Fellowship - Learn More and Apply >>

NEW! Master Your Proposal: Strategies for Success

Unlock the secrets to crafting a winning proposal with this two-part informational seminar series!

Presenter: Caron Miller, Director of Contracts & Grants, UC Irvine School of Medicine

Why You Should Attend: Gain vital insights for your next successful proposal submission and learn directly from an expert in grant submissions.

Who Should Attend: All researchers at the School of Medicine looking to boost their proposal success rate. Register Now!

• Part 1: Best Practices for Building Strong and Convincing Budgets | Wednesday, March 19, Noon to 1 p.m. 
• Part 2: What Can Strengthen or Weaken Your Proposal Submission? | Wednesday, April 9, Noon to 1 p.m. 

NEW! UCI UROP Research Symposium, Call for Judges!

UROP is hosting the 2025 UC Irvine Undergraduate Research Symposium, and we would like your support in celebrating undergraduate research and creative activities. We are seeking judges to score a variety of student presentations. Your contribution will give undergraduate students the opportunity to win prizes such as the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research, a $100 gift card, and a medal. We are asking all UC Irvine faculty, graduate students, postdocs, staff, and alumni to participate as judges! Learn More about the UCI Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Register to be a Judge by March 24!

NEW! MS-BATS Program Now Open: Excel as an Effective Clinical Researcher with a Degree in Biomedical and Translational Science



The Master of Science in Biomedical and Translational Science (MS-BATS) program trains students to conduct high-quality multidisciplinary clinical research at the intersection of basic science and clinical medicine. Learn more and apply.

Deadline: May 30, 2025

NEW! Launch of the UCI Biospecimen Repository



This initiative, led by Maheswari Senthil, MD, is a collaborative effort between the School of Medicine, the Institute for Clinical & Translational Science (ICTS) and the Center for Clinical Research (CCR).

The UCI Biospecimen Repository is an IRB-approved study that will enable investigators to enroll patients treated at UC Irvine to a research-directed biological sample collection protocol. The biospecimen initiative represents a significant addition to the existing resources at UC Irvine as it allows for the collection of clinically annotated, high-quality biological samples utilizing stringent collection protocols. Furthermore, the ability to longitudinally collect samples during clinically meaningful timepoints, offers a unique advantage to future translational research discoveries. The overarching goal of this initiative is to facilitate the collection of precious biological samples to promote translational research and encourage multidisciplinary collaborations between clinical researchers and basic scientists. The initiative will be launched in phases over the next two years across clinical departments in the School of Medicine.

For more information, please contact Dr. Senthil at m.senthil@uci.edu.

Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials: Career Development Award (Winn CDA)

The Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials: Career Development Award (Winn CDA)* for Early-Stage Investigator Physicians is now accepting applications for its fifth cohort of scholars. Please visit the website for more details on eligibility and the program. 

*Formerly known as the Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials: Career Development Award.

Register for an upcoming informational webinar to learn more about the Winn CDA:

• Thursday, March 13, 8 a.m. PT | Register

NEW! SOM Announcement: Call for Applications: Center for Clinical Research Medical Director

We are seeking applications for the medical director of the Center for Clinical Research (CCR), our multispecialty centralized clinical trial administration in the School of Medicine. We would like to thank Magi Senthil, MD, for her leadership over the past three years. She will be stepping down from this role as of June 30, 2025, to devote more time to her own research projects. To learn more about the position and to apply, please refer to this call for applications. 

NEW! NIH Career Development Grant Writing Workshop K-Club

The Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS) has coordinated a K-Club grant writing series intended for early-career faculty and postdoctoral scholars preparing to submit applications for NIH Mentored Career Development awards (i.e., K grants). These awards are designed to promote the career development of scholars looking to transition to research independence. This structured workshop series is intended for scholars preparing competitive grant applications for the June or October 2025 NIH K deadlines, but all interested applicants are welcome to register. Scholars looking for informational insight to determine if the K award mechanism is right for them are also encouraged to attend. The workshop series is broken up into four informational sessions.

Register Now!

Thursdays, April 3, 10, 17 & 24, 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Location: UCI Campus, Hewitt Hall, Large Conference Room, Room 1042

NEW! UCI Division of Continuing Education Healthcare and Public Health Analytics Online Program

The Healthcare and Public Health Analytics specialized studies program is ideal for individuals who want to pursue or advance their career in the healthcare, public health, and information and digital technology fields. The program is designed for those looking to gain analytical skills to transform data into valuable insights to support evidence-based decision making. Using data analytics in healthcare and public health settings can improve patient and population health outcomes, lower costs, improve the quality, safety, and equity of care, enhance system performance for healthcare delivery and population health management, and optimize business operations.

Learn health informatics and advanced analytics while discovering data sources and assets, digital health strategy, and data acquisition and management. Develop data mining applications for healthcare and public health to visualize, analyze, and implement informatics solutions for healthcare delivery and population health management. Study and deploy artificial intelligence and machine-learning solutions to improve patient care, population health, and business outcomes. Additional topics include clinical decision support systems, security and privacy, data governance, digital health, telehealth, and wearable devices.

Learn More and Register >>

Cultivating Undergraduate Research Excellence in Cancer (CURE-Cancer)

The Cancer Research Training and Education (CRTEC) team is now accepting applications for Cultivating Undergraduate Research Excellence in Cancer (CURE-Cancer). This year-long program (June 2025 - May 2026) equips undergraduate students across Orange County with critical research skills and professional development to succeed in cancer research areas.

The program begins with a paid 10-week mentored research experience (in basic, clinical, or population sciences) during the summer (June 16 - August 22, 2025), followed by ongoing mentorship support and activities throughout the academic year.

Apply Here >>

Applications due: March 17, 2025

Call for Nominations: 2025 UCI School of Medicine Research Awards

The School of Medicine Office of Research is pleased to announce our 2025 call for nominations for our fifth annual research awards to recognize research excellence and outstanding academic achievement in the UCI School of Medicine. Each awardee will receive a monetary award and an individual plaque of recognition, and their names will be added to an enduring plaque on display in Irvine Hall.

This year, we are happy to announce a new annual research award category. The new award category will recognize faculty for excellence in mentoring research trainees. There will be two awards: one for faculty in basic science research and one for faculty in clinical/translational research. In honor of our late colleague Gina Lee, PhD, we have named the award for faculty excellence in mentoring basic science research trainees “The Gina Lee Award for Excellence in Mentoring Basic Science Research Trainees.” Click here for more information.

Submit your nominations to Emily Dawidoff, edawidof@hs.uci.edu.

Deadline for Nominations: Monday, March 24, 2025

Call for Nominations: 2025 UCI School of Medicine Faculty Mentoring Awards

The Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to announce the 2025 call for nominations for our fifth annual faculty mentoring awards to recognize excellence and innovation in mentoring at UCI School of Medicine — specifically in the domain of faculty mentoring other faculty (not students). Each awardee will receive $1,500 and a plaque. Winners’ names will be added to enduring plaques displayed in Irvine Hall.

Department chair and/or mentee nominations for each award category are due by Monday, March 24, to Associate Dean Brian Cummings, cummings@hs.uci.edu, and Sophie Wong, snwong1@hs.uci.edu. Click here for more information. 

Deadline for Nominations: Monday, March 24, 2025

Trainee Membership & Travel Awards

Cancer Research Training & Education Coordination (CRTEC) is excited to introduce Trainee Membership - a trainee community for those involved in oncology-focused clinical training or cancer research (basic, population science, and clinical). Learn More >>

Please encourage your trainees to complete the application to unlock benefits that enhance their education and training, including eligibility for Travel Awards.

Travel Awards application deadlines: 

• January 21: For conferences between February 1 and April 30
• April 1: For conferences between May 1 and July 31
• July 1: For conferences between August 1 and October 31
• October 1: For conferences between November 1 and January 31

*Only one trainee per CFCCC member per conference may receive an award; a Letter of Support must be included in the application. 

Questions? Contact cfcccadmin@hs.uci.edu

Oncology Summer Internship (OSI) - Now Accepting Applications

CRTEC is accepting applications for the OSI, a comprehensive 4-week program that offers first-year UCI medical students an immersive exploration of oncology-related specialities through clinical shadowing, networking, mentorship, and more. Learn More >>

Questions? Contact Kimberly Castellanos, Program Coordinator, Training & Education

NEW! NIH Biosketch Changes!

Starting May 25, 2025, there will be the following changes:

•Mandatory Use of SciENcv: NIH will require SciENcv for completing and certifying Common Forms (Biosketch, Current & Pending Other Support, etc.) to produce digitally certified PDFs for submissions.

•New Biographical Sketch Supplement: NIH will release a Biographical Sketch Supplement but has not published information for this supplement yet.

•ORCID Requirement: All Senior/Key Personnel must use an ORCID ID to access SciENcv and eRA Commons. For more details, visit the eRA ORCID ID FAQ page.

What you can do now to prepare:

•Log in to SciENcv: Use your eRA Commons profile from the SciENcv portal page or log into MyNCBI via PubMed. 

•Obtain an ORCID ID: Sign up at ORCID and create your profile. If you already have an ORCID ID, remember or recover your ORCID password, log into your account, update your profile, and check your publications. You can use your ORCID profile to populate your biosketch in SciENcv.

•Link ORCID ID & Add Delegates: In MyNCBI, go to Account Settings. Here you can Link Accounts: Connect your ORCID and other accounts & Add Delegates: Assign delegates to help manage your bibliography and SciENcv profiles.

•Add Publications: Import publications into your biosketch in SciENcv via MyBibliography (for PubMed publications) or ORCID (for non-PubMed publications). Learn about My Bibliography and how to add publications to your ORCID record.

•Start Early: Use the NSF format in SciENcv to create a biosketch now. You can import it into SciENcv as an existing document once the new NIH template is available.

Stay tuned — additional details to come! If you have any questions, contact the School of Medicine Research Development Unit (somrd@hs.uci.edu).

Resources: UCI Libraries page on SciENcv and ORCID | NIH’s page on the May 25, 2025 changes

UCI Health Clinical Research Website Launch

We're excited to announce the launch of the new UCI Clinical Research website! This platform marks a significant step forward in advancing medical knowledge and providing valuable resources to patients, researchers, healthcare professionals and sponsors.

Visit the website at clinicalresearch.ucihealth.org

Experimental Tissue Shared Resource (ETR) Offers Custom Tissue Microarray and Brightfield Whole Slides Scanning

The ETR is excited to discuss your project’s study design and tissue needs. We can now create custom tissue microarrays (TMA) with tissue you provide or human tissue remnants and scan whole histology slides at 40X. Selection of optimal representative tissue regions can be performed by our pathologist. 

We can provide histology support for special transcriptomics platforms supported by GTH Share Resource

Questions? Contact Delia Tifrea, ETR Core Manager, 714-872-1093

Biobehavioral Shared Resource (BBSR) Consultation & Comprehensive Project Request

The BBSR is excited to discuss your project’s study design and needs, as well as see how our new menu of services can best support your project goals.

During our “Consultation Meeting” we’ll learn more about your project and how the BBSR can support your team. Ready to schedule? Complete the "Consultation Request" on iLab.

Questions? Contact Jose Lechuga, BBSR Core Manager

Biostatistics Shared Resource (BSR) - In-person Walk-in or Zoom Consultations Available

Informal statistical in-person walk-in or via Zoom consultations are available to discuss your study design and statistical needs. 

With Wen-pin Chen, MS, Senior Statistician & Manager for BSR:

• Every Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from 2:00 - 4:00 PM | Book your meeting here
• Location: 200 S Manchester Ave, Orange, CA 92868, Suite 400, Room 433 OR Zoom

New Staff & Promotions

None to report!

Funding Opportunities

For a curated list of internal, federal and foundation funding opportunities, please refer to CFCCC's Funding Opportunities webpage. Highlighted funding opportunities are listed below.

UCI & UC FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

DUE SOON! School of Medicine New Investigator Faculty Research Grant

The School of Medicine Research Committee is pleased to announce the School of Medicine New Investigator Faculty Research Grant competition. It is the policy of the Committee to support seed research projects from new investigators that have a high probability of obtaining extramural funding as a result of this award. To qualify, the applicant must have the NIH “Early Stage Investigator” status and not yet competed successfully as a PI to receive substantial independent NIH funding. Please submit inquiries to somrd@hs.uci.edu.

Deadline: March 6, 2025

Learn More and Apply >>

NEW! UCI Beall Applied Innovation Proof of Product (PoP) Spring 2025 Request for Proposals

UCI Beall Applied Innovation (BAI) has launched the Spring 2025 round of its Proof of Product program. Through this program, BAI competitively awards up to $100K for faculty researchers to advance their discoveries towards market to measurably improve lives.

Questions? Contact Matt Li, Manager, BAI Scalable Ventures (matt.li@uci.edu).

Letter of Intent: March 21, 2025

Learn More >> | Submit LOI >> | Download RFP >>

NEW! School of Medicine Applications for Bridge Funding Due March 25

Please note that the next UCI Office of Research deadline for Bridge Funding is Tuesday, April 1, 2025. 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 Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute (SSIHI) Pilot Studies Program

Eligible Projects: Integrative health research projects currently not funded and aimed at obtaining preliminary results for a full application for extramural funds will be given priority. Emphasis will be placed on innovation and transformative potential of submitted proposals. The content of proposals, while linked to applicants’ current research, should demonstrate a clear evolution towards novel, relevant, and untested research areas. An integrative health research project is defined as any project aimed at gathering evidence related to integrative approaches or therapies.

Integrative approaches can be multimodal and address lifestyle related interventions (e.g., nutrition, etc.) and behaviors. Integrative therapies, as defined by NIH, include use of natural products (e.g., botanicals, dietary supplements, and probiotics); mind/body approaches and mind/brain-focused practices (e.g., meditation, hypnosis); body-based approaches (e.g., acupuncture, massage); meditative exercise (e.g., yoga, tai chi); and art and music therapies. In addition to integrative health research studies, these awards are also open to proposals that pilot new methodologies to assess a multimodal approach to integrative or whole person care.

Owing to the short timeframe of the awards, no projects requiring an IND or an IDE will be considered for funding.

Eligibility: Principal Investigators (PIs) must be full-time UCI faculty from any school or discipline. Junior and mid-career faculty, as well as established investigators, pursuing novel research lines are encouraged to apply. Investigators must be eligible to be a Principal Investigator (PI) on a UCI IRB-approved protocol, as defined by the UCI Office of Research (Lead researchers with sponsor PIs will not be accepted). For more information on eligibility, please refer to this site.  Learn More about Eligibility >>

Deadline: May 1, 2025

Learn More and Apply >>

UCI CFCCC: A1 Bridge

Up to $20k in bridge funding to investigators who have received scores on NIH grant applications (i.e., not triaged) that have missed the funding pay line and will be resubmitted.

Applications: Due on a rolling basis

Learn More and Apply >>

FOUNDATION FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

DUE SOON! California Breast Cancer Research Program: Californians Linking Action With Science For Prevention Of Breast Cancer (CLASP-BC): Phase 2 Full Awards 

Purpose: To advance the primary prevention of breast cancer by developing, disseminating, implementing, and evaluating high-impact population-based primary prevention interventions.

Proposals due: March 6, 2025

Learn More and Apply >>

DUE SOON! 2026 Breast Cancer Alliance: Exceptional Project Grant

Breast Cancer Alliance invites clinical doctors and research scientists at any stage of their careers, including post docs, whose current proposal is focused on breast cancer, to apply for an Exceptional Project Grant. This award recognizes creative, unique and innovative research and is open to applicants at institutions throughout the contiguous United States. This is a one-year grant for a total of $100,000. The grant provides salary support and project costs. Indirect costs, which are included in the $100,000 award, must be limited to 8% of total direct costs.

Applications: March 7, 2025

Learn More and Apply >>

DUE SOON! 2026 Breast Cancer Alliance: Young Investigator Grant

Breast Cancer Alliance invites clinical doctors and research scientists who are in the early stages of their careers, including post docs, whose current proposal is focused on breast cancer, to apply for funding for the Young Investigator Grant. This grant is intended to help advance the careers of young researchers who do not yet have their own major grant support, but who design and conduct their own independent research projects. The term of the Young Investigator Grant is two years, beginning on March 1, 2026. The grant provides salary support and project costs for a total of a $125,000, distributed over a two-year period. Indirect costs, which are included in the $125,000 award, must be limited to 8% of total direct costs.

Applications: March 7, 2025

Learn More and Apply >>

DUE SOON! The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research: Early Detection Award. Solving the Early Detection and Early-Stage Diagnosis of Recalcitrant Cancers.

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the Lustgarten Foundation, and The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research announce this Request for Proposals for projects focused on accelerating the development of effective new approaches to the early detection of cancer.

Letter of Intent: March 10, 2025

Applications: June 17, 2025

Learn More and Apply >>

2026-2027 Tina's Wish Team Science Grant 

The Honorable Tina Brozman Foundation (“Tina’s Wish”) is requesting Letters of Intent (LOI) for the Tina’s Wish Team Science awards for 2026-27. Tina’s Wish awards grants to researchers proposing new ideas and concepts specifically for the early detection or interception of ovarian cancer. The 2026-27 Team Science Grants are now funded at $250,000/year for two (2) years, total grant award: $500,000.

Letter of Intent: March 31, 2025

Applications: June 30, 2025

Learn More and Apply >>

2026-2027 Tina's Wish Rising Star Grant

The Honorable Tina Brozman Foundation (“Tina’s Wish”) is requesting Proposals for the Tina’s Wish Rising Star Grants for 2026-27. Tina’s Wish is committed to supporting early career researchers who bring fresh approaches to the study of the early detection or interception of ovarian cancer. The goal is to assist and support promising researchers in the ovarian cancer field and to encourage them to take risks and develop innovative projects. The 2026-27 Rising Star Grants are now funded at $100,000/year for two (2) years, total grant award: $200,000.

Applications: June 2, 2025

Learn More and Apply >>

FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

The Metastasis Research Network (MetNet): MetNet Research Projects (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Purpose: to provide support to promote research efforts on the use of integrative systems-level approaches to address a defined gap in metastasis research.

Letter of Intent: May 20, 2025

Applications: June 20, 2025

Learn More and Apply >>

Newsroom

Neuroscientist awarded $4.6 million for promising pan-cancer immunotherapy

The grant was awarded to Michael Demetriou, MD, PhD, to accelerate his lab’s groundbreaking work on genetically modified chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. Read More >>

Oliver Eng, MD (Surgery, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center member), and collaborators, Eric Hanse, PhD, and Mei Kong, PhD, received the Lisa Kurtz Luciano Appendix Cancer and Pseudomyxoma Peritonei Clinical Investigator Award from the Society of Surgical Oncology for their project titled, “Metabolic Therapy for Pseudomyxoma Peritonei.” The project is aimed at exploring a potential novel therapeutic approach for this disease and understanding the metabolic nature of PMP and tumors of the peritoneum.

Cancer researcher joins chorus of UC experts opposing federal funding cuts



Earlier this month, the White House announced significant cuts to federal funding that academic and industry researchers alike rely on for essentials like lab space, equipment, safety and compliance. “These cuts are a major hurdle to moving cancer research forward,” said Selma Masri, (above) an associate professor of biological chemistry in the UC Irvine School of Medicine, and whose research could grind to a halt if the current administration cuts funding for biomedical research. Read More >>

Study finds possible links between PFAS and childhood cancers

A study led by the Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health reveals possible links between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water and an increased risk of certain childhood cancers. “Our findings indicate suggestive associations between predicted prenatal PFAS exposure and certain childhood cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia and Wilms tumors,” said Natalie Binczewski, a Ph.D. candidate in environmental health sciences. “While these results do not confirm that PFAS exposure directly causes childhood cancers, they add to a growing body of evidence highlighting potential health risks.” Read More >>

More Upcoming Events

Questions? Contact us at cfcccadmin@hs.uci.edu