October 31, 2025

New Research Support Tools and Funding Opportunities

Office of the Vice President for Research Affairs

 

Announcements

 

Loma Linda University Health Awarded $9 Million from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Congratulations to Dr. Abdel Azim and his team on their recent $9 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to establish a Community Care Center of Excellence at Loma Linda University. More information on the grant is found at https://news.llu.edu/patient-care/loma-linda-university-health-awarded-9-million-california-institute-regenerative-medicine

 

Researcher's Town Hall: New AI Tools and Online Appointments

Dear Researchers,

We’re continually exploring new ways to better serve our research community. As part of this effort, we’re excited to introduce two new offerings: AI Agents powered by Microsoft Copilot to assist the grant application process and online appointments for direct access to Research Affairs expertise.

To learn more about these new tools and services, please join us for a Researcher's Town Hall held virtually on Friday, December 5th, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. Calendar invitations with meeting details will be shared soon. For any questions, please contact Sunny Han at sunnyhan@llu.edu.

 

AI Agents for Researchers

Our AI Agents are designed to help researchers craft stronger proposals, diversify funding opportunities, and elevate the competitiveness of their work. 

To get started, log in to Microsoft Copilot with your LLU email credentials, then use the links below to access each AI Agent.

Funding Finder

Find open funding opportunities that match your research aim. The Funding Finder analyzes your project aim or existing proposal to locate active, relevant calls.

Use cases:

  • Find funding opportunities that fit your research scope, budget, and timeline.
  • Repurpose one proposal into multiple high-fit opportunities.
  • Receive targeted edits to better align your draft with additional funders’ priorities.

Click here to access the Funding Finder.

Directions: Upload your existing proposal or project aims to the Copilot agent, then try this prompt:

"I have a research proposal focused on [research topic]. I’m seeking federal and California state funding opportunities that align with this project. Include only opportunities with posted future deadlines or rolling acceptance. Below are our abstract and aims. Please find active grants or programs that match."

 

Grant Application Reviewer

Strengthen your proposals before submission. The Grant Application Reviewer acts as a critical reader, helping you refine clarity, logic, and alignment with funder priorities.

Use Cases:

  • Improve grammar, tone, and readability for a professional finish.
  • Identify vague or weak sections and suggest improvements.
  • Ensure your proposal meets the expectations outlined in NOFOs or RFAs.
  • Refine arguments to clearly convey significance, innovation, and feasibility.

Click here to access the Grant Application Reviewer.

Directions: Upload your draft proposal and NOFO, then try this prompt:

“Please review this draft grant proposal and provide comprehensive line-by-line edits to improve its competitiveness. Focus on clarity, grammar, persuasiveness, and how well it meets the requirements. Also, compare the draft against the NOFO structure and evaluation criteria to identify any gaps or missing requirements, and recommend specific revisions to ensure full compliance.”

 

Online Appointments with Research Affairs Personnel

We’re now offering online consulting appointments with Research Affairs personnel to encourage open communication and provide more direct support. These sessions are an opportunity to ask questions, request demonstrations, or discuss how our new tools can best support your research projects.

To schedule an appointment:

  1. Identify the appropriate contact person in the table below and click their Calendly link.
  2. Choose the date and time that work best for you.
  3. Complete the short form to confirm your appointment.

 

Topic

Name

Title

Appointment Link

Pre Award

Fanny Miranda

Manager, Pre Award

https://calendly.com/fmiranda-llu/30min

 

Kelly Dean

Pre Award Specialist

https://calendly.com/kdean-llu/30min

 

Cindy Hernandez

Pre Award Specialist

https://calendly.com/cihernandez-llu/30min

Post Award

Mariah Mendez

Manager, Post Award

https://calendly.com/mmendez01-llu/30min

 

Laura Maloof

Post Award Specialist

https://calendly.com/lamaloof-llu/30min

 

Deanna Gameros

Post Award Specialist

https://calendly.com/dgameros-llu/30min

 

Lory Albano-Duarte

Post Award Specialist

https://calendly.com/laduarte-llu/30min

 

Ruth DeVries

Post Award Specialist

https://calendly.com/rdevries-llu/30min

Contracts & Patents

Zoran Zivanovic

Director, Industrial Relations

https://calendly.com/zzivanovic-llu/30min

 

Tracy Lozano

Industry Relations Analyst

https://calendly.com/tlozano-llu/30min

IRB

Tami Terry

IRB Administrator

https://calendly.com/tterry-llu/30min

Clinical Trial Center

Rajesh Rao

Director, Clinical Trial Center

https://calendly.com/rkrao-llu/30min

IACUC, IBC, ISCROC

Emily Hyatt

Research Safety Administrator, IACUC, IBC, ISCROC

https://calendly.com/ehyatt-llu/30min

 

Our goal is to make the grant application process smoother for researchers. If you’d like hands-on help using the AI tools for your grant proposal, please reach out to your assigned Pre Award Specialist.

For questions or feedback about using the AI agents or booking an appointment, please contact Sunny Han, Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Research Affairs, at sunnyhan@llu.edu.

 

 

Funding Opportunities

If you're considering applying for grants, whether it's research, community-focused, technology-related, or something else, below you will find Funding Opportunity information to help guide you.

 

NIH

Tobacco Regulatory Science Small Grant Program for New Investigators (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) RFA-OD-25-008-Aim to support new biomedical, behavioral, and social science investigators who are in the early stages of establishing independent careers in tobacco research.

Ruth L. Kirschtein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31) PA-25-422-To enable promising Predoctoral students to obtain individualized, mentored research training from appropriate faculty sponsors while conducting biomedical research in scientific health-related fields.

Community-Partnered Nursing Research Centers (P20 Clinical Trial Optional) PAR-25-439-The purpose of this initiative is to support the development of innovative research centers to foster nursing-led programs that promote community-partnered research to address persistent health challenges.

NIA Expanding Research in AD/ADRD (ERA) Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (R25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) RFA-AG-26-010- To support educational activities that compliment and/or enhance training opportunities to ensure a workforce that is well prepared to meet the nation’s biomedical. Behavioral and clinical research needs.

For more NIH funding, click on the following link:https://grants.nih.gov/funding/nih-guide-for-grants-and-contracts

 

American Cancer Society

Discovery Boost Grant- Support high-risk, high-reward exploratory cancer research across the research continuum. Investigators may focus on developing research methodologies, establishing feasibility, or leading pilot tests.

Research Scholar Grant -Provide support for independent, self-directed researchers. Applicants' institutions must provide space and other resources customary for independent investigators.

Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant- Support new investigators in research training programs to position them for independent careers in cancer research. As part of their evaluation, peer reviewers consider how well the fellowship will broaden the applicant’s research training and experience.

  • Application deadline: December 1, 2025.
  • 3-Year Project Period
  • Progressive stipends of $66,000, $68,000, and $70,000 a year. Fellows will receive $4,000 a year to help defray costs such as health insurance, workshop costs, and expenses associated with presenting at a domestic scientific meeting. In the last year, an additional $1,500 is added to the fellowship allowance for PFs to attend either the ACS Postdoctoral Fellows Symposium or a domestic scientific meeting. 
  • https://www.cancer.org/research/we-fund-cancer-research/apply-research-grant/grant-types/postdoctoral-fellowships.html

 

American Heart Association

Career Development Award-Supports highly promising healthcare and academic professionals, in the early years of one’s professional appointment, to explore innovative questions or pilot studies that will provide preliminary data and training necessary.

  • Application Deadline: December 2, 2025
  • Award Budget: $77,000 per year, including 10% of IDC.
  • 3 Years-Earliest Project Start Date: April 2026

https://professional.heart.org/en/-/media/PHD-Files/Research/Funding-Opportunities-Media-Folder/2026-Career-Development-Award.pdf?sc_lang=en

Innovative Project Award- Supports highly innovative, impactful research that could ultimately lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate the field of cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular research.

 

CA Health and Human Services Agency

Doctoral Student Representative Precision Medicine Research-Aims to support doctoral student representative research within California that uses a precision medicine framework, includes underrepresented populations, who have been underrecognized or excluded as research participants, and reduces health disparities.

 

Pfizer

CanAge-To explore innovative approaches to persistent challenges impacting older adults living with rare diseases.

 

Alkermes Pathways

Research Awards-Opened to early-career investigators committed to advancing research in schizophrenia and bipolar 1 disorder, including sleep and circadian disturbances.

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