Office of Research News
If you are planning a T32, P-, or ARPA-H grant submission and would like assistance with the organization, data collection and/or writing, please reach out to com-lspds@uiowa.edu. Our Large-Scale Proposal Development Service (LSPDS) supports CCOM faculty and staff in preparing, writing, and submitting complex, large-scale grant proposals, with the goal of reducing the administrative burden and enhancing the competitiveness of these applications. Visit our website for more information.
Federal News and Reminders
The Research Security Training requirement for principal investigators and co-investigators proposing to NIH, NSF, and/or Department of Energy goes into effect September 20, 2025. The UI Proposal Routing form will check if the training has been complete. If the training is not complete, the routing form cannot be submitted until it is. Please see the Research Integrity and Security Office website for more information and how to take the CITI training.
The NIH will no longer email notices of funding opportunities in the weekly NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts (aka NIH TOC), as of October 1, 2025. UI researchers, faculty and research administrators can utilize Pivot to explore new avenues for funding, view funding opportunities uniquely matched to their scholar profile, collaborate with colleagues, and build a funding strategy that supports both immediate and long-term funding needs. For more information on Pivot, please visit the OVPR’s Research Development Office website.
NIH Loan Repayment Programs Application Cycle Opened September 1. Awardees can receive up to $100,000 in qualified educational debt repayment with a two-year award. To learn more about eligibility requirements, application dates, and the benefits of receiving an LRP award, be sure to visit the LRP website, check out our overview video, and attend one of our upcoming events:
- October 7 – LRP Technical Assistance Webinar
- November 6 – LRP Ask Me Anything Session
Please note that the deadline to apply is November 20, 2025.
Events
“The remarkable mechanistic breadth by which HLA class I polymorphism can impact human disease”
September 18, 2025 | 4:00pm | Prem Sahai Auditorium 1110 MERF | Add to Calendar
Co-Sponsored by The Department of Microbiology and Immunology
"Computing with Second Messenger Signals in the Awake Brain"
October 16, 2025 | 4:00pm | Prem Sahai Auditorium 1110 MERF | Add to Calendar
The 2025 DMA Celebration will be held on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 3:00pm in the Prem Sahai Auditorium (1110A MERF).
Distinguished Mentor Awardee, Val Sheffield, MD, PhD
Dr. Sheffield is Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. He has an outstanding record of selflessly mentoring students, post-doctoral trainees, and faculty. He is an exceptional mentor whose focus on the advancement of his mentees has enabled them to progress to distinguished careers of their own. He is also nationally and internationally recognized for his pioneering research in molecular genetics including Bardet-Biedl syndrome and glaucoma.
Distinguished Mentor’s Lecturer, Jeffrey M. Drazen, MD
Dr. Drazen is Parker B. Francis Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the New England Journal of Medicine from 2000 to 2019. His contributions to medical practice, research, and education have advanced medical knowledge and patient care. His current work is addressing the applications of AI to medical practice and patient care.
December 4, 2025 | 3:00pm | Prem Sahai Auditorium 1110 MERF | Add to Calendar
The Distinguished Biomedical Scholars Lecture Series features top-tier scientists and physicians performing high-impact research in a variety of areas.
The seminars will be of broad interest and are open to all University of Iowa faculty, staff, students and the public. UI Carver College of Medicine departments, institutes, centers, and programs may nominate speakers.
Open Dates: November 20, 2025 | February 19, 2026 | April 23, 2026
Core Updates
The Central Microscopy Research Facility and Nikon are hosting a microscope demonstration the week of October 20, 2025. Two instruments will be available to book demos using your own samples. One system is a super resolution spinning disk confocal microscope, the Nikon W1 SoRa, the other an iLas2 TIRF (Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence) system. The CMRF does not currently offer spinning disk confocal microscopy, and the existing TIRF system is antiquated. Data acquired during these sessions could potentially be used for submission of a grant to acquire an instrument.
Please contact Jared Evatt at jared.evatt@nikon.com to discuss your project and schedule demo sessions on the two instruments.
On September 11, 2025, at 1 pm (CST) Spectral Instruments Imaging will provide an informational, online seminar regarding the capabilities of their optical imaging systems. As you may know, optical imaging remains an important, non-invasive imaging technique that is used by many UI researchers to study fundamental biological questions. Further, given the NIH's latest directives regarding the use of animals in research, non-invasive imaging is poised to play a greater role in the research of many investigators.
The Small Animal Imaging Core Facility invites you to attend the seminar and provide feedback. Your feedback will be invaluable as we continue to execute our strategic plan to improve infrastructure and investigator support.
Thank you in advance and we look forward to seeing you at the seminar!
Add to Calendar | ZOOM LINK
The Iowa Institute of Human Genetics (IIHG) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Dr. Patrick Breheny in the Department of Biostatistics. Dr. Breheny is joining the IIHG as a part-time member. He will be working closely with Dr. Michael Chimenti, Director of the Bioinformatics Division, to foster closer integration of biostatistics with bioinformatics analysis support. This new collaboration will provide improved core support for investigator projects where advanced biostatistics experience is crucial. The Division of Bioinformatics is also being renamed to the Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics to reflect this new arrangement.
Open Writing Sessions for Graduate Students and Postdocs
The SERCC is introducing monthly open writing sessions to support CCOM graduate students and postdocs who are writing grant proposals and research articles as part of a course assignment or for submission.
The writing sessions will provide a welcoming space and dedicated time for writing. A scientific editor will be on hand to answer questions, provide one-on-one consultation, and share scientific writing resources. Participation is on a walk-in basis—no appointment is needed.
The open writing sessions will be held 2:00–4:00 p.m. in CMAB 106 on the following Fridays:
- September 19
- October 17
- November 7
- December 12
More Information | Contact: heather-widmayer@uiowa.edu
New Resource for Preparing Large-Scale, Complex Grants
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The SERCC has made an institutional purchase of the book: Strategies for Planning, Developing, and Writing Large Team Grants, by Mike Cronan
This e-book provides guidance for faculty and research professionals writing center-level proposals in a team environment
Sections include:
- Introduction to Team Grants
- Strategic Planning
- Proposal Planning and Production
- Writing the Project Description
- Writing Key Narrative Sections
- Characteristics of Successful Narratives
- Red Teaming and Writing for Reviewers
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More Information | For an electronic copy of this book, contact: COM-ScientificEditing@uiowa.edu
For questions on the program or application, please contact jamie-thrams@uiowa.edu.
