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Dear Colleagues,
This edition of the research newsletter features several updates relevant to the Department's research community. We provide an overview of recent NIH funding trends, recognize our 2026 Department of Medicine Cohort Grant recipients, congratulate faculty with new research awards, and highlight the NIH Request for Information on a proposed cap for Research Project Grants.
We also remind investigators to engage OSR early as proposal activity is expected to increase during the upcoming NIH submission cycle.
Thank you for your continued contributions to advancing research at UCSF.
All the best,
Diane and David
Diane Havlir, MD
Associate Chair for Clinical Research
David Erle, MD
Associate Chair for Biomedical Research
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Proposal volumes are increasing! Notify OSR early to make sure yours is supported!
Members of our productive and resourceful research community continue to submit more proposals each year. This fall, NIH is implementing a major change to its application schedule by eliminating the separate AIDS application deadlines and aligning them with the standard NIH due dates. In addition, this will be the second submission cycle for the new PF5 mechanism (due September 25), which supports large, complex awards with international components. Together, these changes are expected to result in an unusually high volume of DOM submissions around the standard NIH deadlines.
Early notification to OSR is critical. OSR requires notification by specific deadlines before your submission date, which vary by grant type. For NIH R01 proposals without subcontracts, OSR requires formal notification at least 30 days in advance, meaning PIs should notify their OSR grants specialist no later than September 5 for an October 5 submission; more complex proposals require 60 days or more advance notice as described here. Without sufficient lead time, OSR may not be able to provide the support required to submit your application by the NIH deadline.
Please contact Natalya.Maisel@ucsf.edu if you need assistance working with OSR to ensure your submission stays on track.
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NIH Current Funding Trends
We recognize that the delays in NIH funding continue to be challenging for researchers. After a very slow start to the federal fiscal year that began in September with a government shutdown, recent months have seen an uptick in NIH awards nationally and in the UCSF DOM.
For the September 1-June 30 period, total NIH new and competing renewal awards in FY26 were 17% above the same period in FY25 but 22% below FY24. UCSF DOM outperformed the national average: we received 37 new and competing NIH awards in this period of FY26, representing a 68% increase over FY25 and a 14% decrease compared to FY24. As usual, only about half of the annual NIH budget was allocated during the first 9 months of the fiscal year (AAMC Report). We expect to receive many more awards by the end of the fiscal year, although there is still substantial uncertainty about how policy changes will impact funding decisions. We will share updated metrics as they become available.
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NIH Proposal to Cap the Number of Simultaneous Research Project Grants
Feedback due Monday, August 3
The NIH is requesting public feedback on a proposal (NOT-OD-26-086) that would limit the number of Research Project Grants (RPGs) per PI. The proposal contemplates potential caps of 2, 3, or 4 RPGs per PI. This is a Request for Information (RFI) only and does not establish a new policy.
To better understand the potential impact, we conducted an internal analysis of DOM NIH awards. Among DOM investigators who currently serve as PI on at least one active NIH award, we estimate that approximately 14% have 3 or more RPGs, 4% have 4 or more, and 2% have 5 or more. Looking retrospectively over the past five years, approximately 25% of DOM investigators had 3 or more RPGs at some point, 12% had 4 or more, and 6% had 5 or more.
While the NIH's stated objective is to broaden the distribution of research funding, one important consideration is the potential impact on team science, as the proposed cap includes both PI and MPI (Multiple Principal Investigator) awards. Because many major scientific advances arise from collaborative, multi-investigator research, including MPI awards in the cap could discourage collaboration and limit opportunities for team-based science. Concerned individuals are encouraged to share their personal perspective on the proposal through the NIH RFI page (due August 3, 2026).
| Career Development Awards | | |
Amir Munir, MD, HS clinical instructor in the Division of Cardiology at UCSF Health, received a K08 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for a project titled "Role of CXCR6+ T-cells in ICI myocarditis.”
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Rebecca Sugrue, PhD, postdoctoral scholar in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Sleep Medicine at ZSFG, received a K99 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences for a project titled “Analyzing the Distribution, Effectiveness, and Implementation of Wildfire Smoke Exposure Reduction Strategies on Respiratory Health."
| | First-Time R01s or Equivalent Awards | | |
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Congratulations to Charlotte Huriabelle Claverie, MD, PhD, assistant professor, in the Division of Rheumatology at UCSF Health, and Sheiphali Gandhi, MD, MPH, assistant professor, in the Divisions of Occupational, Environmental, and Climate Medicine and Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy Medicine at UCSF Health, on receiving the Department of Medicine's 2026 Cohort Grant awards.
Dr. Huriabelle Claverie's project, "Humoral and Molecular Profiling Across Clinical Presentations of Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies: A Longitudinal Cohort Study," and Dr. Gandhi's project, "Beyond Silicosis: Characterizing Airway Disease in Artificial Stone Dust-Exposed Workers Through a Longitudinal Cohort Study," were selected for funding to support the development and expansion of patient cohorts over a two-year period.
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We’re excited to celebrate the accomplishments of our faculty. If you know of recent awards, honors, or recognitions that we should highlight in future newsletters, please share them with Ilona Paredes—we’d love to spread the word!
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Junior Scientist Seminar Series
Next session is Wednesday, August 26, at 4 PM
The Junior Scientist Seminar Series is a career development opportunity exclusively for Junior Scientists (Junior Specialist and Research Associate tracks). We provide Junior Scientists with a platform to participate in science communication outside of their own labs. They practice presenting their research in a supportive environment, develop the ability and confidence to ask questions when others are presenting, and have an opportunity to meet their peers.
We meet monthly at UCSF, with seminars alternating between the Mission Bay and Parnassus campuses (see the events page for more details). We accept four volunteers a month to present their work for 12 minutes, followed by questions. To encourage networking, build interdepartmental relationships, and increase a sense of community, we host a reception. Please encourage the Junior Scientists in your laboratories to participate!
For questions, please contact Rachel Abrams or Henriette Macmillan.
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AI in Grant Preparation: Reviewing and Refining Your Proposal
Wednesday, September 9, at 3 PM via Zoom
Building on the first workshop in the AI in Grant Preparation series, this session will focus on using AI to review draft applications, identify gaps and inconsistencies, evaluate alignment with review criteria, and strengthen proposals prior to submission. This workshop series is being piloted for Department of Medicine researchers.
If you have not yet completed our brief AI in Grant Preparation survey, we invite you to do so. The survey will help inform future AI-related programming and provide an opportunity to indicate your interest in attending the September workshop. If you already completed the survey during our initial outreach, there is no need to complete it again.
For questions, please contact Danielle Mizuiri.
| Research Support Programs | | |
Summer Writing Café
Friday, July 24
Join colleagues for dedicated writing and focused work time in a supportive community setting. Participants can use the session to work on manuscripts, draft grant sections, prepare presentations, catch up on reading, analyze data, or make progress on other professional projects.
The UCSF CAPS Developmental Core and Visiting Professor Program are teaming up to offer multiple writing events this summer! Writing Café is open to all researchers, regardless of their area of focus, and is not limited to those conducting AIDS-related research.
The summer writing Café will take place on Friday, July 24, from 10 AM-1 PM. Bring a work-related project you need to complete, and RSVP to Mireya Avila if you would like to attend. A Zoom link will be provided to those who RSVP.
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PRE-Proposal Application REview (PREPARE) Program
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Get expert NIH-style feedback on your R, K, and U proposals with the PREPARE Program.
For additional information, click here. To request a concept sheet, full proposal, or summary sheet review, click the button below.
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Conference Registration and Small Grants for Researchers
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
The UCSF Academic Senate conference registration and small grants for researchers from the Chancellor's Fund are now being accepted through the Senate Service Portal. Grants of up to $1,000 per individual faculty will be awarded on a rolling basis to applications that meet the criteria.
The Chancellor's Fund Awards aim to benefit faculty within their academic life at the University. UCSF Faculty in any series (ladder rank, in residence, clinical, health sciences, and adjunct) at all ranks (assistant professors, associate professors, and full professors) are eligible to apply. Applicants may receive no more than one conference registration/travel grant within a 12-month period.
Click here to access the online application. For questions, please contact Liz Greenwood.
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Nancy E. Adler Seed Grant Program
Applications are due by Wednesday, September 9
The Center for Health and Community in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is pleased to share a request for pilot research proposals. The Nancy E. Adler Seed Grants Program (ASG) will support projects focused on social and behavioral determinants of health. Annual budgets should not exceed $25,000, and total budgets should not exceed $35,000. Proposals will be considered on a competitive basis through Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
UCSF-appointed assistant professors from any academic series and postdoctoral fellows with faculty mentorship are eligible to apply for internal funding.
Proposals should be submitted via email to Dina Dudum Freij by 5 PM on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. View the full call for proposals here.
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UC-HBCU Initiative
Applications are due by Tuesday, January 5, 2027
The Office of the President is pleased to announce the 2026–27 Request for Proposals (RFP) for the UC-HBCU Initiative.
Please note: Beginning this cycle, the UC-HBCU will be operating under a new timeline:
- RFP Release: July 1, 2026
- Proposals due: January 5, 2027, at 12 PM
- Awards announced: May 2027
The UC-HBCU Initiative is a systemwide faculty grants program that highlights the University of California’s recognition of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their critical contributions to higher education, research, and public service. The initiative supports faculty partnerships between UC and HBCUs, with grants that enable research collaborations and HBCU students to conduct summer research with faculty at a UC campus. Building relationships and cultivating greater engagement between the UC and HBCU communities is a long-term investment in academic excellence. Please see the RFP for more information.
Please see the FAQs and tutorials for more information.
| | If you'd like to contribute to future newsletters, please send your items to Ilona Paredes. | | Informational Resources for the Research Community | | |
Copyright © 2026, University of California, San Francisco, All rights reserved.
Please send comments, suggestions, and questions to:
diane.havlir@ucsf.edu and david.erle@ucsf.edu
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