Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP): New Investigator Award Grant

Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP): New Investigator Award Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Regents Of The University Of California, Office Of The President
Amount: Up to US $400,000
Last Updated: September 15, 2025

Summary

The Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP) offers the New Investigator Award to support hypothesis-driven research aimed at reducing tobacco use and related diseases. With a maximum award of $200,000 per year for up to three years, this program encourages new investigators to gather preliminary data for future funding. Applicants must hold PI status at their institution and commit significant effort to the project, ensuring impactful contributions to tobacco control and public health.

Overview

NOTE: Applicant Webinar will be held Tuesday, July 17, 2025. You can register here. The Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP) transforms tobacco taxes into cutting edge research to reduce commercial tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases and to inform public policy that benefits California’s diverse populations. TRDRP is committed to supporting critical research needed to inform the state’s tobacco control activities and to improve the care for Californians stricken with tobacco-related diseases. Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP): New Investigator Award Purpose: Conduct hypothesis-driven research to gather preliminary data for proof-of-principle projects, or projects based on promising preliminary data gathered through prior pilot research. The goal is to support new investigators on independent research projects within the focus areas covered under TRDRP research priorities. New investigators may use this award to generate pilot data for future funding or they may use it to for an established line of research that is supported by preliminary evidence. Award overview Maximum award amount per year: $200,000 (direct costs) Maximum duration: 3 years Allowable direct costs: Salaries, fringe benefits, supplies, publishing, sub-contracts*, equipment (costing more than $5,000), and travel.Travel: Project-related travel: As needed (must be fully justified) Travel to TRDRP conference: $750 (mandatory) Scientific conference travel: Up to $2,000 per year (excluding a mandatory allocation of $750 in one year of the project for travel to the TRDRP conference) Indirect costs: Full indirect costs are allowed to non-UC institutions. Indirect costs to UC campuses are capped at 35 percent, or 25 percent for projects conducted off-campus. All out-of-state sub-contracts, collaborations, and expenditures must be well-justified; please note that funding for out-of-state expenses is extremely limited and TRDRP does not encourage such expenses.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. TRDRP New Investigator Award applicants must have PI-status at the sponsoring institution at the time of award start date. Please note that the New Investigator awards offered by the NIH are different from those offered by TRDRP. TRDRP New Investigator Awards are not mentored awards and require an independent PI status at the sponsoring institution. Applicants who do not currently have PI status are required to submit a letter from their Department Chair stating that the applicant will be granted PI status by the award start date. Awardees are required to commit at least 50 percent effort to activities supported by this award for the first year. Awardees may reduce effort to not less than 10 percent in years 2 and 3 pending successful milestone completion.  At the time of award start date, no more than five years should have elapsed since an applicant completed formal postdoctoral training, or since the doctoral degree if no postdoctoral training. Some applicants may have lapses in their research or research training, or may have periods of less than full-time effort. TRDRP will consider requests to extend the new investigator eligibility period for reasons that may include but are not limited to: medical conditions, disability, family care responsibilities, clinical training, natural disasters (e.g., pandemics), or active-duty military service. These exceptions will be determined on a case-by-case basis at the sole discretion of TRDRP. Please briefly describe the reason for the requested extension and the number of months for the requested extension in your Letter of Intent. If a New Investigator Award application is resubmitted, the eligibility period is based on the award start date of this Call for Applications. Applicant must enter the end date of their last postdoctoral training, as listed in their Biographical Sketch.  U.S. citizenship is not a requirement