UCR Research and Economic Development Newsletter

Michael Pazzani

Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development

http://research.ucr.edu

Back Issues of Newsletter: http://research.ucr.edu/vcr/newsletters.aspx

Grant Opportunity Search: http://pivot.cos.com

NSF released data recently on the acceptance rate and award sizes in FY17. A total of 49,424 proposals were received and 11,456 funded for an overall rate of 23% percent. The data is available at https://dellweb.bfa.nsf.gov/awdfr3/default.asp. One can drill down to find acceptance rates and award sizes of directorates, divisions and programs as the tables below show.

Since its inception thirty years ago with voter approval of Proposition 99, the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP), which is based in the office of Research and Graduate Studies (RGS) at the UC Office of the President, has funded research into cannabis use as it relates to tobacco use. While TRDRP will continue to prioritize support for tobacco-related research, the passage of Proposition 56 in 2016 expanded both the budget and scope of health-related research supported by TRDRP. Investigators seeking to understand the contribution of cannabis use to, or medical use of cannabis with, different cancers, cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, and oral health and disease, are eligible to submit applications. 

In its most recent call for applications, TRDRP received thirty-two applications that are cannabis-related, totaling over $23 million in requested funds. Fourteen of these proposals are categorized as social behavioral, 6 as policy research, 5 as environmental toxicology, 4 as neuroscience, 2 as pulmonary, and 1 as cancer. Peer reviews of these proposals are pending, but it is anticipated that the program could fund up to $10 million in cannabis-related research over its two funding cycles during the 2017-18 fiscal year. Researchers interested in conducting health-related cannabis research should consider this source of funding.

Required letters of intent (LOI) for the upcoming TRDRP funding cycle can be submitted between December 15, 2017 and February 2, 2018 with applications due on February 28, 2018.

Questions may be directed to the Program Officer specific to the area of research as listed on the TRDRP website contacts page. 

Additional information including application details: http://trdrp.org/funding-opportunities/index.html

Please note that Cannabis or THC cannot be brought to any UC campus without a DEA license, even after January 1, 2018.

The passage of Proposition 64 in 2016 will provide additional funding for cannabis research. Once funding arrangements have been established for these resources, research areas beyond health-related concerns, such as economic and environmental impacts and public safety, can also be supported. 

California and Mexico have a long shared history of traditions, cultures, people, geography, and issues. In the past 30 years, these regions have experienced and continue to be impacted by migrations, increased labor market integration, natural disasters and environmental challenges, among other things. This, combined with a complex political relationship between our nations, has created a dynamic and unique moment in time, and an opportunity to address these challenges in a responsive manner.

Recognizing the need to respond to these dynamic relations and situations, the UC-Mexico Initiative is providing opportunity funds to address them. These resources are intended to take advantage of special opportunities or emerging issues that require a responsive approach, and that would benefit from collaborative research or scholarly activity between UC and Mexican counterparts. These funds are to be a flexible source of financial and technical assistance, and will support emerging, high-impact, and time sensitive opportunities.

The UC-Mexico Initiative will make available opportunity funds to support proposals that meet the following criteria:

Because proposals are time sensitive, they may be submitted at any time and will be reviewed by a subcommittee of the UC Mexico Initiative Leadership Council. Proposals must include a clear statement that explains why the proposed activity should be considered particularly dynamic, high risk or high impact, and the nature and significance of its potential impact on the field. In addition, the proposal needs to identify deliverables or outcomes, a timeline, and budget with related justification.

It is strongly encouraged that applicants contact the UC-Mexico Initiative at ucmexicoinitiative@ucr.edu or 951-827-4558 before submitting an opportunity fund proposal. This will help ensure that applicants meet the requirements.

[1] If funding needs exceed $10,000, please contact the administrative office of the UC-Mexico Initiative by email at ucmexicoinitiative@ucr.edu, or by phone at 951-827-4558.

The UC-Mexico Initiative provides a strategic framework for development of research, education, and outreach programs on issues of critical importance to California and Mexico. These efforts are carried out in collaboration with academia, government, and industry in Mexico and, as appropriate, with partners in California and the US as well.

Today, the California- Mexico relationship is more important than ever. The UC-Mexico Initiative invites the submission of one-page pre-proposals on topics of critical importance to both California and Mexico that define priority areas of research for the UC system in collaboration with Mexican partners. Pre-proposals should have the potential for development into proposals that would also have a policy dimension. Criteria that will be considered include the following:

Topics should be focused on a specific issue of opportunity, and not a broad domain. Examples of topics that have been suggested for support by the UC-Mexico Initiative include:

Pre-proposals should be limited to two pages, or approximately 1000 words. Pre-proposals should outline the project or activity, highlight deliverables/outcomes, and provide a high level timeframe and budget. Please submit by January 15, 2018 to: ucmexicoinitiative@ucr.edu. 

Pre-proposals will be reviewed by members of the UC-Mexico Initiative Leadership Council. A subcommittee will review submissions to select 3 to 5 priority issues that leverage unique expertise across the university system. These will be invited to submit full proposals of up to $250,000.