Research Cores Central Investment Program: Request for Applications
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 2028]. 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 8, 2026. Please contact Isabelle Girard ([email protected]), Director, Research Core Facilities Program, with questions.
