Maternal Smoking Cessation Initiative Award

The Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program Core Call for Applications is administered by the University of California Research Grants Program Office and is funded through tobacco excise taxes, settlement funds, and private contributions. The program is designed to support research that reduces commercial tobacco use, prevents addiction, and mitigates tobacco-related diseases while informing public policy in California. The 2027 funding cycle reflects a strategic shift toward prioritizing high-impact research aligned with California tobacco control initiatives, particularly those addressing health disparities and emerging tobacco products. This funding opportunity supports multiple award mechanisms, including predoctoral and postdoctoral research training awards, alongside other specialized programs described separately. The overarching purpose is to develop a pipeline of researchers and generate actionable findings that can directly contribute to California efforts to end the tobacco and nicotine epidemic. Projects must align with one or more defined research priorities, including prevention and treatment, policy research, environmental exposure, and tobacco-related diseases, with a strong emphasis on cancer health disparities and priority populations disproportionately affected by tobacco use. Funding is structured differently across award mechanisms. Predoctoral and postdoctoral awards provide stipends, institutional allowances, and limited travel funding, with maximum durations of up to three years. Larger collaborative awards such as community-partnered participatory research grants provide significantly higher funding ceilings for multi-year projects. Allowable costs include personnel, supplies, training activities, and travel, with strict limitations on indirect costs depending on the award type. Funds must primarily be used within California, and out-of-state expenditures are subject to strict review. Eligibility is restricted to investigators affiliated with California-based nonprofit organizations, including universities, hospitals, research institutions, and community-based organizations. While for-profit entities are generally not eligible as primary applicants, they may participate as co-principal investigators in partnered awards. U.S. citizenship is not required, but applicants must demonstrate alignment with California tobacco control priorities and ensure that their research involves commercial tobacco products or users, as defined in the program criteria. The application process requires submission of a mandatory Letter of Intent, which serves as a screening step for eligibility and programmatic fit. Only a limited number of applicants are invited to submit full proposals based on this review. Full applications must follow strict formatting and accessibility requirements, including compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Required components include a research plan, training plan, community engagement strategy, and supporting documentation such as letters of support and development plans. Applications are evaluated through a competitive peer review process focusing on scientific merit, alignment with program priorities, training quality, and community engagement. Additional evaluation factors include feasibility, innovation, and the potential for near-term impact on California tobacco control efforts. Projects that directly inform policy or interventions and address priority populations are given preference. Reviewers also assess compliance with requirements such as inclusion of biological sex variables and ethical research practices. Key dates for the 2027 cycle include an application opening in July 2026, a Letter of Intent deadline in August 2026, and full application submission in October 2026. Applicants are notified of funding decisions in April 2027, with awards beginning in July 2027. The program operates on a recurring annual cycle, and applicants are encouraged to engage with program officers and attend informational webinars to ensure alignment with requirements and priorities.

Align research with California tobacco control priorities; emphasize health disparities impact; ensure strong community engagement plan; follow formatting and accessibility requirements strictly