Dear Colleagues,

UC Research Initiatives is pleased to issue the 2021 UC Multicampus Research Programs and Initiatives (MRPI) Request for Proposals. 

This opportunity includes two award types: 1) Planning/Pilot awards (1-2 years) and 2) Program awards (2-4 years).

Planning/Pilot awards are open only to new multicampus or systemwide collaborations. Program Awards are open to both new and established collaborations as well as prior recipients of MRPI Planning awards. Applicants may apply for only one of the two award types, and key personnel may participate in only one proposal. Both award types require the collaboration of at least three UC campuses, and may include collaboration with one or more UC-managed national lab. Funding allocations between the two award types will be based on proposal pressure as well as potential to diversify and enhance the systemwide portfolio in areas of key strategic importance.

The MRPI opportunity is open to UC faculty and researchers in any field of research and scholarship. Proposals require collaboration among at least three UC campuses to pursue pioneering research in thematic, multidisciplinary, or inter-disciplinary areas that enhance the UC research enterprise, strengthen UC's position as a leading public research university, and benefit California and its people. UC anticipates approximately $18 million in total funding available across all awards. 

Each proposal must have a minimum of three collaborators, each from a different UC campus. In addition to participation from the three campuses, proposals may include additional collaborators from the same or other UC campuses, or from other systemwide research entities. Examples of other systemwide collaborators include researchers from any of the UC-affiliated national labs, the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, any of the five UC medical centers, and Hastings School of Law. (UC medical center collaborators whose campus faculty are participating in the proposal are together considered a single location.)

For more information, visit: https://www.ucop.edu/research-initiatives/programs/mrpi/index.html

Instructions for submission are available in the Request for Proposals, and you may access SmartSimple (https://ucop.smartsimple.com) to submit the LOI.  For questions on program scope and application process, please contact us at: UCRI@ucop.edu.

Given disruptions to campus operations, including to both research and education, we are extending the LOI submission deadline to Thursday, May 14, 2020 at 12:00 Noon. 

Thank you.

Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)