An Encouraging Start to 2026

After a year when mention of the federal government often heralded bad news for research, I’m pleased to highlight positive news from our partners in the UC Office of Federal Government Relations.

With the passage of the FY 2026 appropriations package on February 3, Congress signaled its support for science by keeping funding levels at, or just below, FY 2025 levels despite the cuts proposed by the administration in 2025.

The appropriations bills included provisions that prevent any changes to the F&A rate within this cycle for most agencies that fund university research, including NIH, NSF, DOD, DOE, NASA, NOAA, and NIST. While stable for now, we expect discussions to continue for future enhancements to indirect cost recovery, including the FAIR Model.

The bill includes increased funding for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) – including Hispanic-Serving Institutions, a designation for which UC Davis became eligible in 2025 – despite previous threats to eliminate these grants.

A provision limits NIH from fully obligating funds to out-year commitments (rather than NIH’s current practice of obligating most awards one year at a time), which would have drastically reduced the number of awards made in any single year. Rather, the current provision directs the NIH to fund as many new awards as possible based on meritorious applications.

We are very grateful for the support from our representatives and senators and the bipartisan efforts of the leadership of the House and Senate, who recognized the importance of robust funding for research. Your advocacy over the last year has made a difference.

While the overall outcome is encouraging, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to pursue opportunities and promote the world-changing contributions UC Davis delivers through our research and innovation. Your engagement and resilience over this last year have been a powerful testament to our shared passion for creating a brighter future for all.

For ongoing updates on federal actions related to research, visit our tracking page.

Federal Agency Updates

NIH Common Forms

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) are encouraging all submissions (proposals, JIT, RPPR) to use the SciENcv Common Forms to create certified Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support (see NOT OD 26-018 and the associated FAQ). While the old NIH Biosketch and Other Support format pages will continue to be accepted through May 2026, current system validations in Cayuse424 and ASSIST will generate a warning (but not prevent submission) if the Common Forms are not used. The Proposal Development Services team created a detailed NIH SciENcv Resource to assist researchers with this transition.

NSF Data Management and Sharing Plans

In spring 2026, the National Science Foundation (NSF) will require all Data Management and Sharing Plans (DMSP) to be created using a tool implemented on Research.gov. The tool will be released on April 27, 2026. Proposals submitted before that date should continue preparing the DMSP as a PDF upload (see Policy changes to PAPPG 24-1, Supplement 2).

NIH Funds for Foreign Components

NIH applications that request funds for foreign components must be submitted using the PF5 funding mechanism. The PF5 activity code structures all collaborative international projects as multi-component applications. While applications will be submitted with a domestic organization as the lead, and reviewed as a whole, the components will be disaggregated at the time of award (see Collaborative International Research Project (PF5)).

From Labs to Lives

To mark the one-year anniversary of the From Labs to Lives campaign, Strategic Communications is inviting all of campus to participate in a takeover on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Know of anyone who has benefited from UC Davis research? Nominate them as a From Labs to Lives champion. Share or post a video about the campaign, or create a social media post specific to your discipline. Incorporate From Labs to Lives messaging and logos — found here in this toolkit — on your websites, Zoom backgrounds, social media accounts and email signatures. Strategic Communications welcomes additional suggestions through this form.

Funding Opportunities

For help identifying the best funding opportunities for your work, please reach out to the Strategic Initiatives & Research Funding team. They’re available to consult and help you navigate options aligned with your goals. Please subscribe to the funding newsletters for timely alerts and updates beyond the opportunities listed below.

USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, Strengthening Agricultural Systems (AFRI SAS) - due March 26 (for A9201) or April 23 (for A9231)
UCOP Multi-campus Research Programs and Initiatives (UC MRPI) – LOI due March 19, full applications due August 6
NSF Fire Science Innovations through Research and Education (FIRE) – due April 7
NASA Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES) - 2025 – program specific deadlines in February-April

Events

Wearables, Agentic AI and Living Labs: The Future of Health Innovation

Chancellor's Colloquium: Debate on Public Funding for Research

Diving Under Ice: What Lives Under the Glacial Lakes of Antartica

Vital Relations: Rethinking Trans Health and Medicine

UC Davis Industry and Materials Decarbonization Symposium

5th Annual Transit Research Center Symposium

Save the Date: 2026 Research Expo

Highlighted Grants and Contracts

Extracting Rare Earth Elements from U.S. Wastewaters

A new federally funded research project at the University of California, Davis, endeavors to extract valuable components for magnets, lasers and other modern technologies from an unlikely source: acidic wastewater from mines and industrial processes.

Announcements

Karen Bales Appointed Director of the California National Primate Research Center

UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May has named Professor Karen Bales as director of the California National Primate Research Center. Bales, a professor in the Departments of Psychology and of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior has served as interim director of CNPRC since January 2024.