Core Funding Opportunities
Updated on October 9, 2026
The Research Core Facilities Program helps to support the operation and maintenance of many multi-user instruments on campus by promoting and developing best practices for instrument and facility operation and management. Before applying for funding for a new instrument, review the dynamic inventory of shared campus resources in our searchable Research Core Directory.
**New Funding Opportunity
Research Core Central Investment Program FY2028
Request for Application
The Provost and Vice Chancellor for Research are pleased to announce the Research Cores Central Investment Program (RCCI) for fiscal year 2028, an outcome of the START Committee for Increasing Our Research Excellence. The Research Cores Central Investment Program will provide $1 million in FY2028 to support strategic investments in UC Davis research cores and shared research facilities.
The Research Cores Central Investment Program will provide one-time funding to retain and maintain critical capabilities. The RCCI Program invites applications for one-time investments in core operational expenses, including salary for technical staff, and equipment and instrument upgrade, maintenance, service and repair costs. Operational costs must be related to anticipated expenses in FY2028. Deficit recovery is not an eligible expense. Funds will be provided as reimbursement for expenses in the fiscal year of the award: expenses must be incurred between July 1, 2027 and May 15, 2028.
Research cores eligible for central funding include any organized shared research facility or resource that provides access to technologies, equipment, services, and expert consultation to enable, facilitate, and enhance the research mission of the university. Research cores must provide support for the development, collection, processing, and analysis of primary research data or scholarship and not primarily serve a compliance, regulatory, or administrative role. Eligible cores must be professionally managed by dedicated personnel, serve a substantial user base and have established and approved and current (within the past three years) recharge rates for users. Evidence of strong financial stewardship and robust administrative oversight is required. Priority will be given to research cores not currently supported by central funding.
Awardees will be expected to submit status reports at the end of the award period and at 1-year post-award. The awards are for FY2028 only and do not imply any continuing commitment.
Applicants are required to submit a letter of intent to apply by October 23, 2026 through completion of a short Google form [RCCI Intent FY2028]. The intent to apply is required but non-binding: estimates for the type and extent of support can change for the full application. The letter of intent information will be used to align school and college priorities.
The deadline for submission of the full RCCI application is November 23, 2026, at 5:00 pm PST. The full application will be available via Limited Submissions on InfoReady on October 9, 2026. Please contact Isabelle Girard ([email protected]), Director, Research Core Facilities Program, with questions.
Awarded Funding
The Office of Research supports UC Davis research cores through funding opportunities that help maintain critical services, strengthen shared research infrastructure, and advance research excellence. These programs provide investments in equipment, instrumentation, personnel, and operational needs that enable research cores to serve the campus research community. The Office of Research supported UC Davis research cores through two funding programs: the Research Cores Central Investment (RCCI) Program and the Research Cores Continuity Funding Program.
Research Cores Central Investment (RCCI) Program
[FY2026 & FY2027]
The UC Davis Office of Research is pleased to announce the initial round of recipients of the Research Cores Central Investment (RCCI) Program awards, committing $1.25 million in fiscal year 2025-26 and an additional $1 million in fiscal year 2026-27. This first round provides one-time funding aimed at retaining and enhancing critical capabilities at 20 campus research cores.
The program emerged from a recommendation developed through the Sustaining Teaching and Research Task Force (START), an initiative launched by UC Davis Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Mary Croughan in 2023. START’s focus is to strengthen the university’s education, research and service mission through strategic, actionable initiatives. Applications are now closed and was previously accepted through the InfoReady site.
Submissions were due by April 13, 2026, at 5:00 PM PST and decisions were announced on June 16, 2026.
RCCI FY2026 & FY2027 Call For Application Announcement
Research Cores Continuity Funding
[FY2024 & FY2025]
The Research Cores Continuity funding program’s primary goal is to maintain critical services that cores offer to researchers by supporting the operations and instrumentation in high-performing cores. Eligible units include any organized shared research facility or resource that provides access to technologies, equipment, services, and expert consultation to enable, facilitate, and enhance the research mission of the university.
Applications are now closed and was previously accepted through the InfoReady site. Last submissions were due by September 16, 2024, at 5:00 PM PST and decisions were announced on December 11, 2024.
Research Cores Continuity Awardees (FY2025)
The FY2025 Research Cores Continuity funding program is supported by an investment of $500,000 from the Office of Research. These exceptional research cores demonstrated their commitment in advancing the university’s research mission, and the Office of Research is honored to provide one-time funds to support their operations. The Office of Research appreciates all applicants for their commitment to advancing research at UC Davis. Learn more about the awardees and the FY2025 Research Cores Continuity funding program’s impact–
FY2025 Research Cores Continuity Awardees
Research Cores Continuity Awardees (FY2024)
The FY2024 Research Cores Continuity funding program is supported by an investment of $500,000 from the Office of Research. These exceptional research cores demonstrated their commitment in advancing the university’s research mission, and the Office of Research is honored to provide one-time funds to support their operations. The Office of Research appreciates all applicants for their commitment to advancing research at UC Davis. Learn more about the awardees and the FY2024 Research Cores Continuity funding program’s impact–
FY2024 Research Cores Continuity Awardees
Archive: Funding Opportunities and Calls for Applications
Search a Comprehensive Funding Database (GrantForward)
UC Davis faculty, researchers, and staff have access to GrantForward, a comprehensive database designed to help discover grants and other funding opportunities. Access is free and available to everyone with a UC Davis Kerberos login.
Find GrantForward Resources:
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- Watch a GrantForward Video Tutorial: Find Grants
- Watch a UC Davis GrantForward Workshop Recording
- GrantForward Search Template for Core Facility Funding
Note: Using keywords such as “core facilities,” “user facilities,” “equipment,” “instruments,” “shared facilities,” “instrumentation,” and “user core”. You can also use the Grant Type filter to target opportunities such as Capital and Equipment/Facility/Organization grants.
If you have any questions or feedback about GrantForward, please reach out to our team at [email protected].
Core-Related Funding: Equipment, Instrumentation, Training Grants
The Office of Research Proposal Development Services team has developed resources for UC Davis researchers to prepare equipment and instrumentation grants such as those to the NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program, the NIH S10 Instrumentation Grant Programs, and the USDA-NIFA Equipment Grant Program. These resources include proposal checklists and suggested timelines, templates and samples of proposal sections, and information on best practices for developing these proposals. Many federal agencies offer specific funding opportunities to support the acquisition or development of instrumentation or equipment.
To learn more information on key funding opportunities, proposal development strategies, and best practices for equipment instrumentation grants, explore the resources below:
For more information, go to Proposal Development: Resources for Non-Research Grants: Equipment and Instrumentation Grants
View Equipment and Instrumentation Grants
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