How to Apply
The University of California is pleased to announce a funding opportunity for multicampus pilot research programs.
Multicampus Research Programs and Initiatives (MRPI) Pilot Awards are multicampus or systemwide research collaborations that go beyond individual Principal Investigator (PI)-driven projects to launch pioneering research in multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary areas; benefit the UC research enterprise; strengthen UC’s position as a leading public research university; enhance education and training; and benefit California and its people.
Pilot Award
The competition is open to all fields of scholarship. Proposals must be submitted by UC PIs. Pilot proposals require the participation of at least three UC campuses and may also include collaboration with one or more UC-affiliated sites, including UC-affiliated national laboratories, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, and UC Law San Francisco. Eligibility criteria and application information are detailed in the Request for Proposals (RFP) below.
Key Dates
- RFP Release and Announcement Tuesday, February 3, 2026
- Required Letters of Intent (LOIs) due Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 12:00 Noon Pacific Time
- LOIs and applications must be submitted using SmartSimple
- Applicant webinars (see below for dates and details)
- Full Applications Due Thursday, August 6, 2026 at 12:00 noon Pacific Time
- Award Start Date Tuesday, December 1, 2026
Request for Proposals
Applications must be submitted in compliance with the RFP and application instructions below:
Applicant Webinars
We encourage all applicants to attend one of the following webinars:
- Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 11:30am Pacific Time Register Here
- Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 1:00 pm Pacific Time Register Here
Questions?
For additional program information or guidance, please contact UCRI@ucop.edu.