Initiatives | Office of Research | UC Davis School of Medicine

In light of the current national funding climate, and uncertainties surrounding the availability of bridge funding support from the Office of Research, the Vice Dean for Research and Vice Dean for Basic Sciences have prioritized allocating resources for bridge funding. The updated program will provide one-time funding to School of Medicine Principal Investigators who have lost, or are about to lose, their primary extramural funding. 

School of Medicine and Department Matching Commitment Form (docx)

Deadline to apply for current funding period: July 1, 2026

The UC Davis School of Medicine is inviting new pilot project applications to investigate clinical and pathophysiological aspects of COVID. Collaborative applications between clinical, translational and basic biomedical researchers are highly encouraged. Competitive projects will be innovative, will have a potential for high impact and will provide crucial preliminary data for new extramural grant applications.

Deadline to apply for current funding period: TBA

See a list of past winners

The School of Medicine Convergence Research Award is intended to incentivize collaborative science by new research teams. Awardees submit bold ideas that will open new areas of investigation between UC Davis schools and colleges and have a multiplicative effect on extramural research funding in the near future. The program will provide one year of support for six multi-school department teams to fund planning, preparation, and submission of team-based applications. The team must include representatives from at least one UC Davis School of Medicine department and at least one department outside of the School of Medicine. The budget should not exceed $50,000 per team. Staff and/or graduate student support is permitted as well as expenses related to eventual extramural submissions.

These will be made to projects that eventually will be submitted for funding by a School of Medicine contact/lead principal investigator; three awards will be made to projects with a non-School of Medicine contact/lead principal investigator.

See a list of past winners

The Cultivating Team Science Award aims to incentivize collaborative science by new research teams. Awardees will have bold ideas that will open new areas of investigation between departments/schools and have a multiplicative effect on extramural research funding in the near future. The program provides two years of support for two multi-department teams to fund the planning, preparation, and submission of large team-based applications. At least two UC Davis School of Medicine departments must be represented on the team. The budget should not exceed $100,000 per team per year (total award is $200,000). Staff and/or graduate student support is permitted as well as expenses related to eventual extramural submissions.

2027 Due Date

See a list of past winners

2026 Due Date: TBD

2027 Due Date TBA

See a list of past winners

This initiative aims to provide resources, logistical support, and services to research teams consisting of faculty from the UC Davis School of Medicine and UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine to host high quality symposia that advance our research mission and potentially bring one or more external thought leaders to campus for fruitful discussions. At least one person from the UC Davis School of Medicine and UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine must be represented on the proposing team. 

Recognizing that many of today’s most important problems are layered and complex, the inclusion of faculty from other schools and colleges is encouraged.

2027 Due Date TBA

2027 Due Date: TBA

See a list of past winners

Prospective applicants who have questions or would like support for symposia and conferences should contact Assistant Dean for Research Anuurad Erdembileg by email at anuerdem@health.ucdavis.edu

Email subject line: Support request for symposia and conferences

Complete the Support for Symposium & Conferences Request Form request form (PDF). Draft versions for attachments are acceptable.

School of Medicine and Department Matching Commitment Form (docx)

• The requester will receive an email confirmation within 1-2 business days. The request will be reviewed and processed in 14 business days. Support decision will be emailed to PI.
• Funding will be determined by need and justification. The funding decision will be based on the following: Impact on the School of Medicine, fit with research priorities, investigators/diversity, cross-campus/UC collaboration, and prior commitments to the department.

See a list of past winners

This program provides funding from the School of Medicine Office of Research for the purchase of shared equipment. The goal of this program is to support multi-user equipment purchases that foster collaboration and advance School of Medicine research priorities. Up to three proposed equipment purchases may be awarded.

2026 Deadline: May 31, 2026

Inspired by the Diamond Doc Awards that recognize clinical excellence, these awards shine a spotlight on research excellence across UC Davis School of Medicine. They celebrate individuals whose work, leadership, and ideas are shaping the future of science. By recognizing outstanding contributors from across research domains, the awards both honor those pushing the boundaries of discovery and inspire the next generation of researchers to aim high.

• 2026 Deadline for nominations: TBA

See a list of past winners

The School of Medicine Research Image Competition celebrates the art of UC Davis lab and field research, whether it is a tapestry of cell division patterns, a cluster of neurons that look like an abstractionist painting, the unique design of a laboratory with its glassware and specialized instruments, or the inquisitive excitement of fellow researchers. We hope to foster a sense of community and shared purpose and further break down the silos in which we have historically worked.

This initiative is always open, prizes awarded every quarter.

See a list of past winners

Read the full RFA

See a list of past winners

2027 Deadline TBA

Read the full RFA

See a list of past winners