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Dear Colleagues,
We hope this month’s newsletter helps keep you informed about important updates that may impact your research operations. As we navigate the evolving federal funding landscape and institutional challenges, we remain committed to supporting our research community and providing timely resources to assist you in sustaining your programs. The events over the last 9 months have brought attention to the importance and opportunities for researchers to diversify a funding portfolio. In this issue, we interview one of our faculty members, Jennifer Rosenbluth, on her path to successfully accessing foundation support.
We also want to ask your help on behalf of the Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) to put extra effort to follow the internal UCSF notification guidelines (below). It is better to notify OSR in advance, even if you are not 100% sure you will submit the grant, to aid in their planning. There are, of course, situations where it is not possible to adhere to these timelines when award announcements are made. In such cases, let OSR know the circumstances. From the data we have seen, it looks like we can do better in this area.
- Standard Solicitations (e.g., R03, R21, R01, fellowships): At least 30 calendar days prior to the sponsor submission deadline.
- Large Proposals (e.g., those with subcontracts, international components, or subcontracts to SBIRs/STTRs): At least 60 calendar days prior to the sponsor submission deadline.
- Complex Proposals (e.g., program projects, complex center grants, institutional training grants, cooperative agreements): 4-6 months prior to the sponsor submission deadline.
The RSC will provide an initial proposal development task list/timeline to the PI within 3 business days of notification and collaborate with the PI to finalize the timeline. The PI is expected to communicate any scheduling conflicts (e.g., travel, clinic, or work) during this period. Additional notice is requested during holiday periods. For last-minute sponsor requests, the PI should notify the RSC as soon as possible.
If the PI provides earlier notice than the outlined timeframes, the RSC and PI will agree on a timeline for proposal development. Internal review processes will be coordinated between the RSC and PI. For additional details, please see the RMS Service Partnership Agreement.
We greatly appreciate all the efforts of you and your research teams and the extraordinary impact your work is having as part of the UCSF research community.
Best,
Diane Havlir, MD
Associate Chair for Clinical Research
David Erle, MD
Associate Chair for Biomedical Research
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Franklin Huang, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the SFVAMC, co-directs a new U54 Disparities SPORE grant from the National Cancer Institute.
The SPORE grant supports three translational research projects that focus on three types of cancer with well-known differences in clinical outcomes: meningioma, prostate cancer, and breast cancer.
| | 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! | | Career Development Awards | | |
Sheri Weiser, MD, MPH, MA, Professor in the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine at ZSFG, received a K24 award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for a project entitled, "Extreme heat, pollution, wildfire smoke, and aging among people living with or at risk for HIV."
| | First-time R01s or Equivalent Awards | | Please let Ilona Paredes know if we inadvertently missed your K award, first R01, or equivalent award in this issue of the newsletter. We will make sure to feature your award in our next issue. | | DOM Spotlight Feature: Jennifer Rosenbluth | | |
Securing diverse funding sources is critical for advancing innovative research and fostering impactful discoveries—especially in today’s increasingly competitive federal funding climate. In this month’s feature, we highlight Dr. Jennifer Rosenbluth, Associate Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UCSF Health, who recently received support from the V Foundation for her project, “When Tamoxifen Fails: New Targets for Breast Cancer Prevention.” Dr. Rosenbluth shares her insights on the importance of exploring non-federal funding opportunities, the unique aspects of the V Foundation’s review process, and how this support is helping her team develop personalized approaches to breast cancer prevention.
Can you tell us briefly about the V Foundation and how you first learned about this funding opportunity?
The V Foundation is a remarkable organization that funds cancer research with its stated goal to achieve “Victory Over Cancer” and save lives. I first learned about it from colleagues who spoke highly of the foundation’s impact and reach.
Please describe the project very briefly and explain why it is a good fit for this funding mechanism.
Breast cancer prevention has tremendous potential to reduce morbidity and mortality by stopping cancer before it arises. However, progress is hindered by a lack of biomarkers that can assess response to preventive therapies. Our project links radiologic risk factors for breast cancer with their underlying molecular mechanisms in tissue to identify imaging markers that predict treatment response. Working within the RECAST DCIS adaptive platform trial, our multidisciplinary UCSF team of radiologists, surgeons, pathologists, and computational biologists is developing radiomic-guided strategies for personalized cancer prevention. This project aligns well with the V Foundation’s emphasis on translational research that has the potential to directly impact patients.
How did the application and review process differ from the process for NIH awards?
The V Foundation held applicant meetings to review their submission process, which was extremely helpful. Their focus on clear translational goals required conveying complex ideas concisely, which ultimately strengthened how we communicate the impact of our research.
What advice would you give to other investigators who are considering pursuing non-federal funding opportunities?
Just go for it! Many of the grants I’ve received were ones I initially doubted I’d win, but encouragement from peers and mentors made all the difference. If you’re excited about a project, take the leap—and tap into the collaborative environment here at UCSF to build the right team.
| | Research Support Programs | | |
PRE-Proposal Application REview (PREPARE) Program
Get expert NIH-style feedback on your R, K, and U proposals with the PREPARE Program, which provides free, high-quality application review services to help you strengthen your submission and achieve your funding goals.
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October Writing Focused Work Café
Tuesday, October 28
The UCSF CAPS Developmental Core will be hosting a Writing and Focused Work Café. The CAPS Writing Café is open to all researchers, regardless of their area of focus, and is not limited to those conducting research related to AIDS.
Faculty, trainees, and staff from any university are invited to join on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, from 9 AM-12 PM. A Zoom link will be provided to those who RSVP.
Please bring a work-related project you need to complete. We will briefly share what our goals are for this time and then follow the Pomodoro technique to keep us focused by working in intervals for a total of three hours with short and small breaks in between.
Please RSVP to Mireya Avila if you would like to attend.
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UCSF Program for Breakthrough Biomedical Research
Applications are due by Friday, October 24
The Program for Breakthrough Biomedical Research (PBBR) invites proposals for funding in two award categories:
- New Frontier Research (NFR)
- Technologies, Methodologies & Cores (TMC)
PBBR seeks to stimulate and support highly innovative basic science research at UCSF. Applications from both single Principal Investigators and multiple Principal Investigators are welcome. Principal Investigators can receive up to $25,000 - $150,000 for one year for NFR, and up to $50,000 - $500,000 for one year in matching funds for TMC.
See flyer here. To apply, please email the proposal documents as a single PDF to Matt Arnegard no later than Friday, October 24, 2025.
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A.P. Giannini Foundation
Applications are due by Thursday, November 6
The A.P. Giannini Foundation invites physician-scientists with 3 to 36 months of total postdoctoral experience to apply to the 2026 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship & Leadership Award. The Fellowship program supports innovative research in the basic sciences and applied fields and trains fellows to become established investigators. Research projects should advance the translation of biomedical science into preventions, treatments, and cures for human diseases.
Applicants must be United States citizens or permanent alien residents. They must hold or complete an MD/PhD, PhD, or equivalent degree before they activate the fellowship.
Applicants must arrange their research training before applying to the 2026 program. The research training program must be sponsored by an accredited California medical school and performed under the mentorship of a principal investigator who holds a full-time faculty or primary appointment at the sponsoring medical school.
To Apply:
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Applications are submitted through an online portal on the Foundation’s website.
The application deadline is Thursday, November 6, 2025.
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NIH Loan Repayment Programs Applications Cycle
Applications are due by Thursday, November 20
The NIH will begin accepting applications for the Extramural Loan Repayment Program (LRP) on Monday, September 1, 2025. Awardees can receive up to $100,000 in qualified educational debt repayment with a two-year award.
To learn more about eligibility requirements, application dates, and the benefits of receiving an LRP award, be sure to visit the LRP website, check out the overview video, and attend one of the upcoming events:
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October 7: LRP Technical Assistance Webinar
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November 6: LRP Ask Me Anything Session
The application deadline is Thursday, November 20, 2025.
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School of Medicine Bridge Funding
Applications are due by Friday, December 5
The UCSF School of Medicine is inviting full-time faculty in the School of Medicine to apply for the 2026 Winter Cycle of Bridge Funding. The Bridge Funding program provides up to 12 months of support for full-time faculty members, with independent research programs, who are experiencing a temporary loss of significant funding.
The program is intended to support applicants who face a funding gap between two extramural research grants (usually R01 or equivalent). Typically, applicants have been unsuccessful in a recent attempt to renew or replace a federal grant but are likely to be funded upon submission of a revised application, based on scores and reviewers’ comments.
Applicants must demonstrate that their research program is jeopardized due to lack of extramural funding, that they have one or more rounds of well-scored but unfunded federal applications, and that they will have exhausted all available discretionary or start-up funds within one year of applying for bridge funding.
The application deadline is Friday, December 5, 2025.
For questions, please contact SOMbridgefunding@ucsf.edu.
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UCSF's Second Ideathon
The UREKA student team (University Research and Entrepreneurial Knowledge Amalgamation) is excited to announce the second UREKA Ideathon at UCSF, designed to bring physicians and scientists together to tackle pressing clinical issues. The symposium will take place on Tuesday, November 18th, 2025, from 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM at the Rutter Center, Mission Bay.
What is the UCSF Ideathon?
- An all-day symposium wherein (1) physicians will present clinical problems, (2) attendees will network, form interdisciplinary teams to brainstorm potential solutions, and (3) develop and submit proposals for $5,000 awards.
- Attendees have the opportunity to join the UREKA student group - a community of students interested in exploring the entrepreneurial space.
Who is eligible?
- UCSF and UC-Berkeley trainees (students, post-doctoral fellows, technicians, etc.).
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Attendance will be limited to 100 participants – applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Registration required. To register, click here.
If you have any questions or need further information, please visit http://ucsfureka.com or contact Ieva Veya.
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Department of Medicine Promotion to Associate Professor for Researchers Town Hall
The UCSF Department of Medicine along with Associate Chair for Mentorship and Development, Lekshmi Santhosh, MD, MA, and Associate Chair for Faculty Experience, Urmimala Sarkar, MD, MPH, are hosting a Town Hall on Promotion to Associate Professor for Researchers. The event will take place on Monday, December 1, 2025, from 12 PM-1 PM. The session will provide an overview of the promotions process and answer questions for researchers.
For additional details, please visit the DOM Mentorship website.
Event Details:
In person location: 505 Parnassus Avenue, Moffitt Hospital, Room M1296 (12th Floor)
Virtual Option (Zoom):
Zoom webinar link, Meeting ID: 921 8484 2327, Password: 057575
For questions, please contact Samantha Santiago.
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Matchmaking Event to Connect Hiring Faculty with Postbaccalaureate Scholars
National PROPEL will be hosting a Matchmaking Event on Thursday, January 30, 2026, from 9 AM-1 PM. This event is a virtual hiring mixer attracting scholars from across the nation. If you plan to hire a junior specialist or a staff research associate next spring or summer, this is an excellent opportunity to meet talented young scientists.
At the event, you’ll have an opportunity to meet trainees at the postbaccalaureate stage who are interested in pursuing a career in research via a series of 10-minute interviews. In addition, trainees who come to UCSF through this mechanism can apply to participate in PROPEL, which is a UCSF postbaccalaureate program that augments the research experience they gain in your lab with scientific and career training, helping them become competitive applicants to top-tier research-based PhD programs.
If you are interested in attending the Matchmaking Event, please register here by Friday, December 5, 2025.
For questions, please contact propel@ucsf.edu or attend a faculty information session on Friday, November 14, 2025, from 10 AM-11 AM. Register here for the information session.
| | If you'd like to contribute to future newsletters, please send your items to Ilona Paredes. | | Informational Resources for the Research Community | | |
Copyright © 2025, 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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