Changes to NIH Fellowship Application and Review Process Now in Effect

To increase the likelihood that the most promising fellowship candidates will be consistently identified by scientific review panels, NIH has revised the fellowship review criteria used to evaluate fellowship applications and modified the PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form to align with the restructured review criteria. These changes will impact both the development and review of fellowship applications.

Applicants developing F30, F31, and F32 proposals should be mindful of the changes in required documents. We recommend carefully reviewing NIH's summary webpage and the RAD Unit's updated checklists with your sponsor(s). If you have any questions, please email the Research Development Team at bio-research@uci.edu.

Assistant Professors: Apply to the 2025 UCI NIH Boot Camp

Boot Camp is a School of Medicine (SOM) program that allows assistant professor mentees, who have yet to secure an R01-equivalent NIH award, to work with experienced NIH-funded faculty mentors and are provided support throughout the grant-writing process. Since 2017, 109 mentees from the College of Health Sciences and the Schools of Biological Sciences, Engineering, Physical Sciences, Social Ecology and Social Sciences have participated in the program. Numerous boot camp mentees have been awarded R01 and other grants, with additional proposals in the review pipeline.

Boot Camp details and application information can be found at the 2025 UCI NIH Boot Camp website.

Experienced PIs with NIH funding who are interested in coaching an NIH Boot Camp team should email SOM at somrd@hs.uci.edu. All questions can be directed to the School of Medicine Research Development Unit (RDU) at somrd@hs.uci.edu.

Extended Deadline: Tuesday, February 18, 2025

February

Developmental and Cell Biology

Dr. Soledad Reyes De Barboza, University of California, San Diego

Cellular senescence is defined as an acquired state cells enter in response to environmental stressors or as a mechanism of tumor evasion. Senescent cells lose their proliferative capacity but enhance their ability to regulate and respond to the surrounding microenvironment through the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Despite growing evidence of the dynamic, and pleiotropic nature of the SASP, our understanding of how it alters tissue microenvironments, contributes to injury-specific responses, and can be manipulated for therapeutic benefit in remains limited.

4201 Natural Sciences II

February

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

Dr. Nina Steele, Wayne State University

Dr. Steele's lab investigates disrupted signaling pathways in pancreatic cancer, aiming to understand how different cells communicate to drive tumor growth. They utilize multi-omic data analysis, mechanistic mouse models, and in vitro systems to explore the roles of pathways like Slit-Robo and the tumor microenvironment's immune suppression. A key goal is to leverage these findings to develop more effective treatments, including immunotherapies, for this deadly disease.

1114 Natural Sciences I

February

Neurobiology and Behavior

Sarvia Aquino Argueta
Bianca Leonard
Gimarie Irizarry Martinez
Neda Razi Morakabati
Gautam Narayan
Dana McDonnell Parker

Herklotz Conference Room, Qureshey Research Lab

February

Developmental and Cell Biology

Dr. Yongdeng Zhang, Westlake University 

Super-resolution microscopy plays a crucial role in elucidating the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying diverse biological processes. Here, we present the development of a highly efficient multicolor 4Pi-SMS technique that enables the acquisition of 3D super-resolution images of whole mammalian cells with a resolution of approximately 10 nm. When combined with expansion microscopy, molecular-level resolution (<5 nm) can be achieved. Additionally, notable progress has been made in attaining high-quality 3D super-resolution imaging of biological tissue samples. 

4201 Natural Sciences II

NIH Webinar: An Introduction to the NIH Fellowship Program for Prospective Candidates

This webinar is designed for individuals preparing their first NIH fellowship or those seeking a refresher on the process.

Applying for an NIH fellowship requires advance planning with one’s mentor and a comprehensive application that addresses research training and broader career development plans. Putting together a strong application can seem like a daunting task for both new and experienced candidates. So, to help you navigate this process, NIH experts will host a live virtual event where they will:

• Provide a general overview of NIH fellowship programs
• Briefly explain the fellowship application and the peer review process
• Offer practical guidance on preparing a competitive application
• Address attendee questions during live Q&A sessions

Date:

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Time:

7:00 – 8:30 a.m. PT

CFCCC Pilot Awards funded by the Anti-Cancer Challenge

Increases the number of extramural peer-reviewed grant awards, particularly collaborative and multi-PI grants; Supports the development of investigator-initiated early phase clinical trial protocols by clinical investigators, particularly interventional trials; Advances novel diagnostic or screening technologies, therapeutic molecules or devices, and bio-behavioral interventions from bench to bedside; Advances research on cancer control, cancer population science, and pediatric cancers.

Deadline: February 21, 2025

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Alzheimer’s and Alzheimer’s-related Dementias (AD/ADRD) Focused Competitive Revisions to Existing NIH Grants that are not focused on AD/ADRD

Invites Competitive Revision applications to existing single research project grants that are not focused on AD/ADRD. Revisions may not extend beyond the term of the current award period. Active awards with project end dates in FY 2026 or later are eligible. The award may not be in a terminal no-cost extension or going into a no-cost extension in FY 2025.

Research grants may also qualify if the current research is on a topic related to AD/ADRD (e.g., cognitive decline in aging, caregiving, the biology of neurodegeneration, genetics, imaging, computational methods, pain perception, biostatistical tools that have application to research on AD/ADRD). 

Deadline: March 6, 2025

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Common Mechanisms and Interactions Among Neurodegenerative Diseases

Encourages research to enhance our understanding of how different neurodegenerative diseases interact clinically and physiologically. There is a need to identify, more precisely, which neurodegenerative process, or processes, are active in individuals. At the same time, there needs to be better understanding of how different neurodegenerative diseases resemble and differ from one another at the molecular, cellular, and organismic levels. Cellular and animal models for investigating concurrent neurodegenerative processes need to be developed if these questions are to be answered.

Deadline: March 11, 2025

NIA Predoctoral Fellowship Award to Promote Broad Participation in Translational Research for AD/ADRD (F31)

Promotes diversity in the translational research workforce for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRD). This postdoctoral fellowship supports research training of promising postdoctoral candidates from diverse backgrounds, and emphasizes the development of translational research skills and their application to various aspects of AD/ADRD research (from populations studies to research that can lead to new treatments and diagnostics, including all aspects of behavioral and social research). The long-term goal of this program is to develop a diverse translational workforce that can effectively participate in and/or lead a team-science, interdisciplinary approach to studies of AD/ADRD treatment, prevention, early detection, and disease management and care.

Deadline: April 8, 2025

NIA Postdoctoral Fellowship Award to Promote Broad Participation in Translational Research for AD/ADRD (F32)

Promotes diversity in the translational research workforce for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRD). This postdoctoral fellowship supports research training of promising postdoctoral candidates from diverse backgrounds, and emphasizes the development of translational research skills and their application to various aspects of AD/ADRD research (from populations studies to research that can lead to new treatments and diagnostics, including all aspects of behavioral and social research). The long-term goal of this program is to develop a diverse translational workforce that can effectively participate in and/or lead a team-science, interdisciplinary approach to studies of AD/ADRD treatment, prevention, early detection, and disease management and care.

Deadline: April 8, 2025