From Vice Chancellor for Research Collard

Dear Colleagues,

As we begin 2026, I want to take a moment to reflect on the past year and outline the road ahead.

In 2025, UCSF faced extraordinary challenges, including widespread grant terminations and delays across federal agencies. These disruptions tested our resilience, and I am deeply grateful to all of you for your perseverance and commitment to advancing UCSF’s mission.

We have some recent wins to celebrate: Congress is poised to pass an appropriations bill that fully funds the NIH and preserves critical reimbursement for institutions, and the NIH has committed to moving delayed research proposals forward for decision-making and funding. These wins, achieved through tireless advocacy nationwide, will provide much-needed stability to our federally funded research efforts. 

However, uncertainties remain, including changes in the grant-making process, newly developing guidance for funding international collaborations, and a likely reduction in new NIH awards due to multi-year funding. 

In the year ahead, the Office of Research will continue to advocate for and advance science funding and policy changes that support our researchers. At the same time, we will continue to support and strengthen UCSF’s institutional research resources to help faculty, staff, and trainees navigate continued challenges. 

Thank you for your continued dedication and resilience. I am proud to stand with such an extraordinary community. 

Sincerely,

Hal

Harold R. Collard, MD, MS  

Vice Chancellor for Research  

Professor of Medicine and Health Policy

Federal Research Updates

Important: NIH Common Forms and Biographical Sketch Supplement Now Required

As of January 26, 2026, NIH and AHRQ require the Biographical Sketch Common Form, the Current and Pending (Other) Support Common Form, and a new NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement for all applications, Just-in-Time (JIT), RPPRs, and Prior Approval submissions.

Failure to comply with the common forms may result in withdrawn applications or delayed funding. Review relevant OSR resources and trainings.

Please note: OSR kindly requests that PIs consider submitting proposals a day or two before the upcoming February 5 deadline due to technical issues caused by NIH's quick implementation of these forms. Contact osrinfo@ucsf.edu with questions.

NEW: NIH Releases Funding Opportunity for International Collaborations  

The NIH has released a new Parent Funding Opportunity (PA-26-002) for the NIH Collaborative International Research Project (PF5) mechanism. This new opportunity uses a linked-award mechanism, with a (US) domestic prime award and separately issued project awards to the international partner(s). This eliminates the old model of issuing international subcontracts but requires extensive collaboration across institutions to submit proposals and manage awards successfully.  

The Institute for Global Health Sciences is working with the Office of Sponsored Research to develop additional resources for the community, including this newly updated FAQ document. The parent opportunity is open to new, renewal, resubmission, and revision applications, with standard NIH due dates beginning May 25, 2026. Contact OSR with questions. 

More From the Office of Sponsored Research (OSR)

Reminder: NIH Applications Must Be Complete and Compliant at Time of Submission

NIH is enforcing its policy requiring applications to be fully complete and compliant upon submission. Non-compliant submissions may be withdrawn prior to peer review. Learn more and contact OSR for assistance. 

Implementation of 2026 NIH Salary Cap 

The NIH salary cap has increased to $228,000, effective January 1, 2026. UCSF OSR is applying the new cap to proposal budgets immediately, at the discretion of the PI and Department, post-award. Learn more and contact OSR with any questions. 

NIH Retires NOSIs and Transitions to Highlighted Topics 

NIH has replaced Notices of Special Interest (NOSIs) with Highlighted Topics to inspire research aligned with NIH priorities. These are not funding opportunities and require investigators to identify the relevant Parent Funding Announcements. Learn more and subscribe to emails on highlighted topics. 

Now Launched: CoreHPC!

UCSF’s high-performance computing (HPC) service is now available to the UCSF community. CoreHPC brings state-of-the-art computational capabilities to support research and innovation across the university.

Built in partnership with the Gladstone Institutes, CoreHPC is designed to meet the advanced computing needs of UCSF researchers, including those working with protected data (UCSF P1-P4).

From the Office of Research Units

Clinical Trials Operations (CTO)

• View the 2026 CTO Training Schedules for Clinical Research Investigators and Clinical Research Staff

Human Research Protection Program (HRPP)

• Read Important IRB Guidance for Returning Research Results to Participants

Office of Clinical Trial Activation (OCTA)

• Now Live: Policy Compliance Dashboard

The new Tableau dashboard makes compliance visibility clearer and faster across UCSF research studies.

Campus Updates

UCSF Library

New 2026 Journal and Database Cancellations »

Real Estate

Parnassus Heights Monthly Construction Update | January 2026 »

Human Resources

Apply for the Career Wellness and Career Mobility Grants »

International Students & Scholars Office

Planning UCSF-related travel this year? Employees and students are reminded to review UCSF travel requirements, register all trips, and take advantage of available resources before departure. Access to the Crisis24 Horizon App for global travel guidance and 24/7 emergency support through Chubb-AXA Global Assistance. Learn more about requirements and resources for employees and students.

UCSF Research AI Day: Call for Posters and Save the Date!

Please join us for the second annual UCSF Research AI Day on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Mission Bay Conference Center.

Poster Session: We invite the UCSF and UCB research community to share innovative research that demonstrates the transformative potential of AI in the biomedical and health sciences. This is your chance to highlight your contribution to this game-changing field and connect with fellow researchers across disciplines.

Event Spotlight: 2026 Innovation Showcase

On January 13, the UCSF JP Morgan 2026 Innovation Showcase transformed the lobby of 350 California Street into a vibrant hub of scientific discovery and entrepreneurial energy.

Hosted by Innovation Ventures Executive Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Aenor Sawyer, MD, the event served as a powerful testament to UCSF’s role as a global leader in translating complex research into tangible healthcare solutions. Under the leadership of Chancellor Sam Hawgood, MBBS, Provost Catherine Lucey, MD, and Director of Innovation Ventures, Vice Chancellor David Morris, MD, the evening highlighted the university's drive to bridge the gap between the laboratory and the bedside.