MONTHLY NEWSLETTER – JANUARY 2026

Dear Colleagues,

Happy New Year!

Our OORI team is pleased to convey information about federal funding and policy developments, upcoming events, internal funding opportunities, and progress across USC’s research and innovation efforts, as well as updates about research compliance, training, and infrastructure.

Please review the updates below and take advantage of the resources and opportunities available to support your scholarly endeavors!

We are here to serve you. Thank you for your continued contributions to USC’s research mission. Ishwar K. Puri

Senior Vice President, Research & Innovation and Professor

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION STRATEGY (RIS):

FEDERAL FUNDING UPDATES

NSF has announced an organizational realignment aimed at streamlining operations and aligning its structure with evolving research priorities. An overview of the updated organizational structure, including the full realignment chart, is available here

In 2025, NIH implemented a series of updates to how grant opportunities and institute information are organized and accessed, with additional changes expected to continue into 2026. More information on these updates, including guidance on navigating NIH funding opportunities, is available here.

NIH has also released an updated policy on research involving human fetal tissue (NOT-OD-26028). Investigators conducting or proposing such research should review the notice to understand current NIH requirements, oversight expectations, and compliance considerations.

NIH will now require the use of the eRA Prior Approval Module for the submission of all prior approval requests (NOT-OD-26-026). Investigators and research administrators should review this notice to ensure compliance with updated NIH prior approval submission requirements.

UPCOMING EVENTS

OORI invites you to the USC Venture & Innovation Summit on February 12, 2026, from 9:00 AM–5:00 PM at USC Ginsburg Hall. This high-energy, in-person convening will bring together leaders from USC, UCLA, Caltech, and CSULA alongside top venture firms, industry and civic partners, and regional accelerators. The day will spotlight the forces shaping Southern California’s innovation future—from deep-tech commercialization and academic spinouts to healthcare investment trends, LA’s entrepreneurial strengths, and the infrastructure needed to support a world-class innovation ecosystem. Registration is now open—learn more and register here.

OORI RESEARCH CATALYST PROGRAM

Following an extremely enthusiastic response to the November 2025 deadline for the Research Catalyst Program, proposals are currently under review, and awardees are expected to be notified soon. The next application deadline is February 16, and researchers are encouraged to begin preparing now—particularly those pursuing team-based, interdisciplinary ideas with strong potential for scholarly and societal impact. The Research Catalyst Program supports projects that foster collaboration across schools and disciplines and position teams for future external funding success.

As a reminder, applicants are encouraged to review the recorded informational webinar and microlearning module, which outline eligibility, application components, evaluation criteria, and examples of successful proposals. These resources are available on the program webpage and provide valuable guidance for teams preparing submissions for the February cycle.

OORI INNOVATION CATALYST PROGRAM

Several initiatives within the Innovation Catalyst Program have recently closed, including the

Innovation Empowerment Initiative and the Early Career Innovator Initiative. Reviews for Innovation Empowerment proposals are underway, and OORI is actively facilitating mentor and partner matches for Early Career Innovator applicants, with final selections expected to be announced soon.

Looking ahead, the Early Career Innovator–Techstars Initiative application deadline is February 1, followed by the Stevens Translation Catalyst deadline on March 1. The Startup Launch program remains open on a rolling basis for teams preparing to advance toward venture formation. Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the program’s recorded webinar and microlearning module as they prepare for upcoming deadlines.

USC TECHSTARS PARTNERSHIP

OORI is thrilled with the response to the USC Techstars Accelerator Program, which attracted applications from USC students, staff, faculty, and alumni representing schools and disciplines across the university and spanning a wide range of industries. The selection process is now in its final stages, and selected companies are expected to be announced next month. OORI looks forward to welcoming the next cohort of USC founders as they engage with Techstars mentors, partners, and investors through this flagship accelerator program!

OORI is excited to host the USC and Techstars Startup Weekend on March 27–29, 2026, a three-day entrepreneurial experience that brings together USC students, staff, faculty, and alumni from across the university. Participants will pitch ideas, form teams, and begin building new startups, including those emerging from faculty and graduate research, spanning a wide range of industries and technology areas such as DeepTech, Health and BioTech, AI, EdTech, and FinTech. OORI looks forward to supporting the next generation of Trojan founders as they collaborate, experiment, and experience USC innovation in action alongside the Techstars community. Registration is now open—learn more and register here.

SCIENCE COMMUNICATIONS

An OORI-supported effort has resulted in a new partnership between NASA and a USC facultyled company, highlighting the strength of USC’s innovation ecosystem and its ability to translate research into impactful external collaborations. This partnership underscores OORI’s role in supporting faculty entrepreneurs as they engage with federal partners and advance technologies with real-world applications. Learn more here.

OORI marked another milestone in advancing USC’s innovation ecosystem with the graduation of the latest USC Techstars University Catalyst cohort. Through this OORI-supported program, early-stage, USC-affiliated teams from across the university received structured mentorship, training, and support to translate ideas into viable startup pathways. The cohort’s progress reflects OORI’s continued commitment to strengthening research translation, faculty and student entrepreneurship, and pipelines into downstream acceleration opportunities. Learn more about the cohort graduation here.

Stay updated on OORI’s latest news stories by visiting the OORI News page or via the USC Innovation Ecosystem news page.

DEPARTMENT OF CONTRACTS & GRANTS (DCG): DCG has launched a new Research

Security Training Resource Page to support faculty in meeting federal research security training requirements. The page provides a central reference for required training, timelines, applicable sponsors, and USC compliance processes.

DCG also reminds researchers that federal sponsors now require SciENcv for Biosketch and Other Support documents, with NIH’s requirement effective January 25, 2026. SciENcv standardizes disclosure of qualifications and research support, improving transparency, reducing errors, and streamlining proposal review. DCG has created a brief microlearning video to help investigators transition to SciENcv.

Recent Microlearning’s:

Please continue to consult the full listing of available training on the DCG Training website.

STEVENS CENTER FOR INNOVATION: Congrats to Dr. Valter Longo and our licensee, LNutra, for securing a $36.5M investment from Mubadala, raising Series D proceeds to $83.5M, and accelerating global expansion of its longevity and medical nutrition therapies! This achievement is a testament to L-Nutra’s dedication and strategic vision in bringing innovation and science-led nutrition to the market. Read more here.

Friendly reminder that applications for the Stevens Translation Catalyst are open until March 1,

2026. The new initiative within USC’s Innovation Catalyst Program is designed to help translate USC-owned intellectual property into real-world solutions. This program provides up to $50,000 in funding to support validation and proof-of-concept work, enabling USC researchers to generate the critical data needed to:

Strengthen commercial readiness
Attract industry partners or licensees
Support startup formation and investment

Eligible projects include (but are not limited to):

Drug candidate optimization and in vivo safety/efficacy studies
Medical device prototype development and testing
Biomarker validation using real-world or clinical data
Software MVP or digital tool development
Materials manufacturing, characterization, and early scale-up

The program is open to tenured, tenure-track, and RTPC faculty (excluding lecturers, adjunct, and part-time faculty) and supports direct research activities in USC laboratories by USC faculty. Program details and the application can be found here. Apply today!

DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL RESOURCES (DAR): 2026 is an AAAAC International site visit year, and the Department of Animal Resources (DAR) is actively preparing for a successful accreditation visit scheduled for November. USC’s Animal Care Program has maintained continuous AAALAC accreditation since 1966. The triennial site visit is a peer-review process in which experienced animal care and IACUC professionals review animal facilities and laboratories that conduct animal research. Additional guidance on how labs can prepare will be shared in the coming months.

DAR is evaluating options for a potential Rederivation and Cryopreservation Program that would prioritize rederivation or direct vendor sourcing of rodent strains. This evaluation considers animal health, cost sustainability, and research quality. DAR will continue to share information and seek feedback as this work progresses. More communications, opportunities for feedback, and data will be provided in the upcoming months. DAR veterinary staff are happy to meet with labs or lab groups to discuss this program. Requests may be submitted to daradm@med.usc.edu.

Did You Know? A DAR veterinarian would be happy to facilitate your Annual Animal Refresher Training during a scheduled lab meeting. Entire labs, departments, or units that work with animal models are welcome to participate together. Bonus: This no-cost service offers a great opportunity for staff and students to ask questions and connect directly with a laboratory animal veterinarian.

HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTIONS AND RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY: The Human

Research Protection (HRP) will hold its first AI in Human Research Advisory Group meeting this week, bringing together colleagues from across USC to address the increasing use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in human subjects research. As AI-enabled approaches become more common in IRB submissions, it is important to ensure appropriate questions, training, and pathways are in place to address technical and regulatory considerations.

In the coming months, HRP will begin rolling out a framework to support the review of AIrelated human subjects research. This work will start with the addition of AI-focused questions to the iStar IRB application in late February. HRPP is also exploring the development of a regulatory AI advisor, trained on human research regulations, to support investigators in reviewing protocols and consent forms prior to IRB submission.

For Emergency Use of a drug or device and Expanded Access protocols, the iStar system has historically accepted submissions outside the main IRB study application. Beginning in late February, HRP will introduce a more user-friendly submission process that integrates these requests into the primary study application. This change is intended to simplify submission and provide greater clarity for investigators by allowing all IRB-related activities to appear in one place.

As a reminder, HRP and IRB staff continue to update and improve the templates available on the HRP Forms and Templates webpage. While updates are communicated, when possible, investigators are encouraged to confirm that they are using the most current versions when developing IRB-related documents.

INSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL CARE & USE COMMITTEE (IACUC): The Fall 2025

IACUC inspections are now complete. As we look ahead to the upcoming

Spring 2026 inspections, labs are encouraged to review the following key reminders:

Keep animal use and procedure areas clean, organized, and free of clutter; avoid cardboard and other porous materials.
Complete daily care and room check logs accurately and in real time, including notes on corrective actions when needed.
Ensure annual animal refresher training records are current and available during inspections.
Clearly label all containers with contents and preparation/expiration dates.
Ensure surgical and drug records are complete, include specific dosages administered, and are readily available during inspections.
Keep hazard signage and door contact information current and consistent with protocols.

Attention to these basics supports animal welfare, regulatory compliance, and a smooth inspection process.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY (EH&S):

Lab Safety Awareness Week – February 9-13, 2026

USC Environmental Health & Safety will join institutions nationwide in recognizing Lab Safety Awareness Week, a dedicated time to reinforce best practices and promote a strong culture of safety in research laboratories. This year’s activities will focus on addressing common lab safety misconceptions with 3 “MythBusters” style YouTube Short videos and providing practical guidance for safe work in labs. Join us at a live event at HSC or UPC for free PPE giveaways! More Details >>

Annual Laboratory Safety Refresher Trainings

As a reminder, Annual Laboratory Safety Refresher Trainings remain a critical component for laboratory and shop safety compliance at USC. PI’s, Lab Managers, and Shop owners, are responsible for reviewing required safety topics and documenting their completion. This annual process supports regulatory compliance and reinforces shared responsibility for maintaining safe laboratory and shop environments.

Laboratory Safety Refresher Training Memo >>

Shop Safety Refresher Training Memo >>

NIH Biosafety Modernization Initiative – Public Comment Opportunity

The National Institute of Health (NIH) has launched a Biosafety Modernization Initiative aimed at strengthening and updating federal biosafety oversight. NIH is seeking input from the research community through public comment opportunities and listening sessions. Researchers are encouraged to review the proposed approach and share feedback to help inform future federal biosafety policies. Read more >>

Monthly updates are archived here .

Office of Research & Innovation