Research Cores Central Investment Program: Call for Applications
The Vice Chancellor for Research is pleased to announce the launch of the Research Cores Central Investment Program, an outcome of the START Committee for Increasing Our Research Excellence with the support of the Provost. The Research Cores Central Investment Program will provide $1 million in ongoing funds and $250,000 in additional one-time funds for FY2026 plus $1 million in ongoing funds for FY2027 to support strategic investments in UC Davis research cores and shared research facilities.
In the initial round of funding for FY2026 & FY2027, 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 current expenses in FY2026 and anticipated expenses in FY2027. Deficit recovery is not an eligible expense. Funds will be provided as reimbursement for expenses in the appropriate fiscal year.
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 FY2026 and/or FY2027 only and do not imply any continuing commitment.
Applicants are required to submit a notice of intent to apply by March 31, 2026 through completion of a short Google form [RCCI Intent 2026]. The intent to apply is required but non-binding: estimates for the type and extent of support can change for the full application. The notice of intent information will be used to align school and college priorities.
The deadline for submission of the full RCCI application is Monday, April 13, 2026, at 5:00 pm PST. The full application will be available via Limited Submissions on InfoReady on March 13, 2026. Please contact Isabelle Girard ([email protected]), Director, Research Core Facilities Program, with questions.
