Funding Opportunities

CCMBM Pilot Grant Program RFA

- Established Investigators - $50,000 max
- Early Career Investigators - $40,000 max

Fall 2025 Cycle Key Dates
- Deadline: Monday, September 29, 2025, 2:00 PM PT
- Award Notifications - End of December 2025
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The UCSF Core Center in Musculoskeletal Biology and Medicine (CCMBM) provides shared facilities and services to investigators addressing scientific problems in musculoskeletal biology and medicine to improve efficiency, accelerate the pace of research, and ensure greater productivity.

The UCSF CCMBM will accept applications for its Pilot Grant Program via RAP Portal. Research topics should be translational in nature and related to musculoskeletal disease. If you have any research questions in regards to applying, please email Pui Yee Law.

Use of funds are to be utilized in at least one of three CCMBM Research Cores: 1) Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Study Design, 2) Imaging, and 3) Skeletal Biology and Biomechanics.  Kindly consult the appropriate Core(s) contacts for guidance on the appropriateness of your application idea within the framework of the overall Center, and if you require a quote for Core consultation and/or service. 

Applications are to be submitted through the UCSF Resource Allocation Program (RAP) portal. Established investigators may be awarded up to $50,000. Early Career Investigators may be awarded up to $40,000. All applications are due Monday, September 29, 2025, 2:00 PM PST. You must be a member to be eligible to apply. If you have questions regarding CCMBM membership, please email Pui Yee Law.

Applications can be found for the following categories: <<Early Career Investigators>> and <<Established Investigators>>.

Junior Investigator Grants
 

JUNIOR INVESTIGATOR TRAVEL AWARDS RFA

JUNIOR INVESTIGATOR GRANT DEVELOPMENT AWARDS
 


Musculoskeletal Focused Opportunities
 

Pilot Grant Program RFA


CCMBM Tools and Technology Grant Program RFP

- Maximum Award Amount: $7,500

Key Dates
- Deadline: Thursday, October 24, 2025, 9:00 PM PT
- Award Notifications - End of November 2025
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Eligibility
- Affiliate, Associate, and Full CCMBM Members are eligible. If you are not currently a member, please see how to become a member.
- T/T funds may not be used for personnel salary/benefits or travel.
- T/T Grants cannot be used to supplement a current P/F award.
- Affiliate members may only use T/T funds for recharges within the CCMBM.
 
The UCSF Core Center in Musculoskeletal Biology and Medicine (CCMBM) is accepting applications for its Tools and Technology (T/T) Grant Program. Research topics should be within the musculoskeletal field. The goal of this grant mechanism is to encourage members from any UC site to customize and utilize cutting edge technologies or computational resources available in other centers to meet MSK-specific research needs. Priority will be to early career investigators to expand the research field and drive innovation by supporting the collection of preliminary data to test new ideas or develop novel protocols. Proposals requesting funds to support new project ideas should, instead, apply to the CCMBM Pilot and Feasibility Grant Program that will open August 2026.
 
Applications should consist of the following sections:

1. Cover page with applicant contact and membership info.

2. Clear research plan that is no more than 2 pages, including the innovative features and potential impact (references not included).

3. Detailed budget page with justification ($7,500 maximum) – specifying which core technology or service to be accessed with the T/T grant funds. Please note award funds MUST be used by March 31, 2026. No cost extensions will be given.

4. Other research support document including current and pending support, particularly in relation to possible overlap.

Use of T/T grants will be restricted to: generate preliminary data; incorporate the use of new technologies into existing, funded projects; or generate data for resubmission of extramural grants with promising prior review (please include a copy of the grant’s pink sheet).

The completed application should be submitted as a single PDF file and saved with your name (John_Smith-2024_TT_grant_app.pdf) to Tom Sullivan no later than Thursday, October 24, 2025, 9:00 AM PT.


CCMBM Junior Investigator Travel Award RFP

Apply Online

- Award maximum is up to $250 for economy airfare

Key Dates
- Application Window: September 2, 2025, to December 19, 2025, 12:00PM (PST)
- Proposals reviewed and funded on a rolling basis
- Travel must occur by March 31, 2026

This award aims to alleviate financial barriers such as travel and registration costs, especially for conferences that provide valuable opportunities for networking, skill-building, and career transition, even in the absence of a formal abstract presentation. If you're eager to engage with peers in your field, gain exposure to cutting-edge science, or explore potential next steps in your research journey, this award can help you get there.

Restrictions: Travel awards may only be used to cover economy airfare for up to $250 per award and travel to be completed by March 31, 2026. Funds will be issued after the awardee completes their travel to the relevant meeting and provides deliverables.

Eligibility: All postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, assistant researchers, and specialists who are members of the CCMBM are eligible for this award. If you are not a member, you are invited to become one. Please visit https://msk.ucsf.edu/become-member and follow the appropriate instructions for Student Membership or Associate Membership (for postdoctoral fellows).

Deliverables: Awardees will be asked to provide the following: 

A short summary of your experience from attending the conference or workshop (600 words or less).
• 1-2 pictures from your conference or workshop to compliment your summary.

Apply soon to ensure your opportunity to receive one of the available awards. Eligible applicants must not have received CCMBM Junior Investigator Travel Grant within the past year.

If you have any questions about this program, please email Gurcharan Kaur
.

 


Junior Investigator Grant Development Awards


Apply Online

We have three more awards available in this grant year and will be awarding them on a rolling basis until all funds have been used.

The Junior Investigator Grant Development Award provides funding for a junior CCMBM member to host a meeting (e.g., lunch or dinner) with 1–3 UCSF faculty members who are outside of the trainee’s current lab to:

1) brainstorm/solicit informal feedback on a study idea or research direction;

2) learn about the latest methods and techniques used in related fields;

3) identify potential collaborators;

4) promote inter-disciplinary MSK research; and

5) expand the trainee’s professional network.

If you are not a member, you may concurrently apply for membership while your Grant Development application is being reviewed.

Apply via the online application form today! Contact Noah Bonnheim for questions on this funding opportunity.


Several mechanisms at UCSF support investigators who have musculoskeletal research questions, whether basic, computational, or clinical. One of the primary mechanisms to apply is through the UCSF Resource Allocation Program (RAP) resource.


Research funding, travel awards, and other opportunities

Grant feedback and mentorship

Grant review opportunities


Past Opportunities