KCIR

Request for Practice-Based Research Applications

Summary

The UC San Diego Krupp Center for Integrative Research (KCIR) is pleased to announce a Request for Applications (RFA) for Research Collaboration Support. This program provides mentoring, collaboration, and in-kind research resources for integrative medicine clinician-scientists interested in practice-embedded research.

KCIR has a long-standing commitment to advancing rigorous, patient-centered integrative health research. Through this RFA, KCIR seeks to expand the scope, reach, and impact of research embedded in real-world clinical, community, and integrative health practice settings.

This opportunity aims to:

• Accelerate the generation of actionable evidence from clinical integrative medicine practice
• Strengthen research-practice partnerships across UC San Diego
• Foster collaboration across University of California Integrative Medicine & Health Centers and Institutes
• Build capacity for sustainable, scalable, and accessible integrative health research

Definition of Practice-Embedded Research

For the purposes of this RFA, practice-embedded research is defined as research conducted in real-world practice settings that is designed to improve clinical care, health outcomes, delivery models, patient experience, and/or system-level performance, while simultaneously generating generalizable knowledge.

Projects typically involve:

• Active engagement of clinicians, staff, and/or patients
• Integration of research activities into routine care or service delivery
• Pragmatic, mixed-methods, implementation, or quality-improvement–informed approaches
• Bidirectional learning between researchers and practitioners

Program Goals

• Advance Integrative Health Evidence. Support research on integrative, complementary, and whole-person approaches to health and care delivery.
• Bridge Research and Practice. Embed research within clinical settings to improve relevance, feasibility, and uptake of findings.
• Foster Cross-Campus and Systemwide Collaboration. Encourage partnerships across UC San Diego departments and among University of California integrative centers and institutes.
• Build Research Capacity. Support early-stage, pilot, or developmental projects that may lead to external funding (e.g., NIH, PCORI, foundations).
• Promote Impact. Address access to integrative care, high-ROI projects, and community-identified priorities.

Scope of Supported Projects

KCIR invites applications proposing innovative, practice-embedded research projects, including but not limited to:

• Pragmatic clinical trials in integrative health settings
• Implementation or dissemination research
• Mixed-methods or participatory research
• Practice-based outcomes research
• Learning health system approaches
• Evaluation of integrative care models or workflows
• Community-engaged or patient-centered research
• Pilot studies to support future extramural funding

Projects may be conducted in:

• UC San Diego Health clinical settings
• University-based integrative practices
• Community clinics or partner organizations
• Multi-site collaborations across UC campuses

Research Support Information

Type of Support: In-kind research services customized to each project

Project Period: Up to 12 months

Number of Projects Supported Annually: Approximately 3–5, contingent on available resources

Research services may include:

• Study design
• Data collection, management, and analysis (clinical informatics)
• Project management
• Manuscript development
• Publication costs
• Materials and supplies

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include:

• UC San Diego integrative medicine and health clinicians / scientists
• Investigators affiliated with University of California Integrative Medicine and Health Centers and Institutes, in collaboration with UC San Diego faculty
• Interdisciplinary teams (strongly encouraged)

Early-career investigators and clinician-scientists are especially encouraged to apply.

Application Requirements

Please see the online form for application instructions and related details.

Review Criteria

Applications will be reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel using the following criteria:

• Relevance to Integrative Health and KCIR mission
• Scientific merit and rigor
• Strength of practice-embedded engagement
• Feasibility and appropriateness of methods
• Potential for impact and scalability
• Alignment with equity and community needs
• Likelihood of leading to external funding

Key Dates

• Applications reviewed on a monthly basis
• Notification within 30 days

Administration and Reporting

Investigators will be expected to:

• Participate in KCIR-supported learning and activities
• Submit interim and final progress reports
• Acknowledge KCIR support in publications and presentations
• Share findings across UC integrative research networks

Contact Information

For questions regarding this RFA, please contact:

Krupp Center for Integrative Research (KCIR)
University of California, San Diego
Email: KruppREC@ucsd.edu
Website: KCIR.ucsd.edu

MACH-19: Mushrooms and Chinese Herbs for COVID-19

MACH-19 Clinical Trials

Mushroom-based Product for COVID-19 (MACH-19)
clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT04667247

Chinese Herbal Formula for COVID-19 (MACH-19)
clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT04939415

RCT of Mushroom-based Natural Product to Enhance Immune Response to COVID-19 Vaccination (MACH-19)
clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT04951336

About the Research

Top researchers at the University of California have launched a groundbreaking FDA-approved clinical trial to study natural medicine approaches to fighting COVID-19. Data analysis from the study is currently underway and will be released as results become available.

Historic Study of Natural Medicine

Many of our most effective antimicrobials, including penicillin, originate from fungi and mushrooms. Unlike pharmaceutical approaches, nature has continuously interacted with our biological world, giving rise to a broad spectrum of defenses against emerging microbial threats.

MACH-19 (Mushrooms and Chinese Herbs for COVID-19) studies an immune-balancing mycological formula with broad-spectrum antiviral activity, alongside a Chinese herbal formula widely used in Asia.

MACH-19 Seeks to Address COVID-19 Through Multiple Approaches

• Treatment for acute COVID-19 patients to help reduce hospitalizations
• Vaccine adjuvant research to safely enhance vaccine effectiveness, extend immunity, and protect against emerging variants

These natural medicines may offer safe, widely available, and affordable tools to address multiple aspects of the pandemic. The FDA clinical trials are based at UC San Diego with collaborators from UCLA, UC Irvine, and the La Jolla Institute for Immunology.

This work addresses not only the current pandemic but future ones as well, contributing scientifically documented knowledge on the potential of natural medicine.

Watch the broadcast news clip here, or read the news article here .

Support this work

Request for Applications for Fiscal Year 2026–27 Funding

Summary

The UC San Diego Krupp Center for Integrative Research (KCIR) Krupp Endowed Fund (KEF) is soliciting applications for funding beginning July 1, 2026. These awards are funded up to $50,000 per year for 1–2 years, up to $100,000 total. Applicants must be responsive to the Primary Aim, Primary Objective, and Research Priorities as described below. KEF studies are typically small, exploratory research projects that generate hypotheses or pilot data needed to design a larger, more definitive study. We also encourage researchers to apply for matching funds from other sources to conduct a larger, more definitive study that builds upon or adds to KEF funding.

For a listing of previously funded KEF projects, visit cih.ucsd.edu/research/studies.

Primary Aim

• To support research that examines the benefits of natural, complementary and alternative medicine, and integrative medicine approaches that show the greatest promise of bettering human health for the largest number of people, at the lowest cost, without the use of prescription drugs or surgery.

Primary Objective

• To support innovative clinical research in the fields of diet/nutrition; medicinal food and herbs; homeopathy; and food-derived macro- and micronutrients (which include vitamins and minerals).

Research Priorities

Priority will be given to research projects that meet the Primary Aim and Primary Objective (above), and also:

1. Promote active involvement of patients in their own care.
2. Address the health needs and conditions and/or involve the participation of those with limited means.
3. Utilize inexpensive, readily available, and natural approaches, treatments, and products.
4. Incorporate a team approach to care (e.g., group-based intervention programs).
5. Involve Centers for Integrative Health (CIH) patients or those who participate in CIH clinical, nutritional, or educational programs.

Support for Development of Project Ideas

KCIR offers potential applicants the opportunity to discuss and review potential project ideas that prospective applicants may wish to develop for submission. For those who want to submit a concept idea for review, KCIR will advise applicants on potential relevance of proposed project concept ideas as they relate to the objectives of the KEF. Please submit your concept idea for review online.

Award Information

Funds will be disbursed annually. The first year of funding will be allocated upon submission of IRB application. The second year of funding will be released upon approval of an annual progress report. All funds not spent by the end date of the project award may be carried forward pending approval of a no-cost extension. At the end of the project, investigators must return any unexpended funds to the KEF.

Application

A. Eligibility

1. Eligible Applicants

To be eligible to apply for a grant, a potential applicant must be a UC San Diego faculty or staff member and a member of the KCIR. To become a KCIR member, complete the following online survey. UC San Diego faculty or staff who successfully complete the online survey will be automatically granted membership.

2. Eligible Research Projects

Eligible projects will need to meet the following requirements:

• Focus on diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of common, clinically significant, or costly health conditions (in which introduction of a natural CAM/IM approach could improve clinical outcomes, ameliorate suffering, or reduce costs) without the use of prescription drugs or surgery.
• Address the use of one or more Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Medicine (CAM/IM) approaches in the fields of natural diet (may also include lifestyle focus if part of a comprehensive diet and lifestyle program); medicinal foods and herbs; food-derived macro- and micronutrients (which include vitamins and minerals); and homeopathy.
• Other CAM/IM research projects will be considered on merit after all existing work in the fields above have been exhausted.

The following types of projects are allowed:

• Self-contained research projects that generate pilot data needed to design a larger, more definitive study.
• Clinical studies that bring credibility to previous low-level research already done by others.
• Clinical studies that also employ a basic science component to determine biological mechanisms of CAM/IM approaches (as specified above).
• Epidemiologic (observational) investigations of effects of CAM/IM use on important health outcomes in specific patient populations.
• Health services research addressing cost, utilization, or satisfaction with CAM/IM care.

B. Applications will be received in two stages:

1. Letter of Intent (LOI): reviewed for scientific merit and program relevance. The LOI must include: Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator name(s), title of project, type of study, requested grant type/funding level, core services requested, and 500-word maximum narrative. We suggest writing the abstract in a Word document and then copying/pasting into the online LOI form.
2. Full application (by invitation only): Each full application must follow a required template that includes:
   • Research plan (4-page limit with the following sections: Specific Aims (1 page), Significance and Innovation (1 page), and Approach (2 pages));
   • Literature cited (no page limit);
   • Budget and budget justification (no page limit);
   • Biosketch(es) of P.I. and key personnel (include other support); and
   • Letter(s) of support (as appropriate).

C. All submissions should adhere to the following format specifications:

1. 11-point Arial font
2. Single-spaced
3. 0.5 inch margins on all sides
4. 8½″ × 11″ pages
5. Number all pages
6. Combine all pages into one document
7. Microsoft Word or PDF format
8. At the top of the first page:
   1. Title of proposed study
   2. PI name(s)
   3. Amount of funding requested per year, listed by year
9. Include the requested KEF core services to be utilized in the study
10. Name final file as “PILastName_AbbreviatedStudyTitle_FY27”

D. Deadlines, Notices, and Funding Cycle Dates:

1. Letter of Intent (LOI) Deadline: LOI must be received via electronic submission by 11:59 PM Pacific time, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026.
2. Notice of LOI Decisions: By Friday, Feb. 27, 2026.
3. Full Application Deadline (by invitation only): Full applications must be received via electronic submission by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on Monday, Apr. 27, 2026.
4. Notice of Awards: ~ By June 2026
5. Funding Cycle:
   1. Starts FY 2026–27 (Jul. 1, 2026)
   2. Funds allocated upon submission of IRB application (estimated ~ Oct. 1, 2026)

E. Evaluation Criteria

All submissions should be well-written, precise, and succinct. LOIs are scored for eligibility (including alignment with Primary Aim, Primary Objective and Research Priorities), scientific merit (significance of problem, feasibility of project, and confidence in PI/research team), cost efficiency, and programmatic impact.

Full applications (if invited) will be subject to a comprehensive scientific and programmatic review. The following scoring criteria will be used in the Scientific Review to evaluate applications:

1. Significance. Does the project address an important (clinically significant, costly) health problem or a critical barrier to progress in a field of research?
2. Innovation. Does the application challenge and seek to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions?
3. Approach. Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims? Are potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success presented? Is the project feasible?
4. Environment. Will the scientific and clinical environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success?
5. Investigator(s). Is/are the investigator(s) well suited to the project? If the investigators are in the early stages of their careers, do they have appropriate experience, training and senior mentorship? If established, have they demonstrated an ongoing record of accomplishments that have advanced their field(s)?

Programmatic review criteria include: strategic alignment with KEF aims, objectives and priorities; efficiency and responsibility in use of grant funds; and demonstration of greatest impact to society and future research, if funded. The highest scoring applications will be presented to a funding committee who makes the final decisions.

F. Core Services

Study efficiency is an important factor in our consideration. In order to reduce the cost of all of our grants, depending on availability, the KCIR may be able to provide selected core research services such as:

• Consulting on CAM/IM modalities
• Access to specific CAM/IM practitioners
• Access to specific patient groups
• Access to healthy volunteers
• Research design and grant application development
• Support in consent form development/IRB application and correspondence
• Questionnaire selection and design
• Dietary counseling / intervention
• Nutrition / anthropometric / behavioral assessment
• Database development / management
• Statistical support
• Manuscript preparation

We strongly recommend that potential applicants contact KCIR to discuss availability of services and their customization in support of your project's success and cost-effectiveness: KruppREC@ucsd.edu.

G. Presentations and Publications

Awardees are expected to publish their findings in scholarly peer-reviewed journals and present their research at professional meetings. All publications, grants, and presentations resulting from research funded by the KEF must cite the UC San Diego Krupp Center for Integrative Research as the funding agency and indicate the grant title and number. If a project is required to be registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, the Principal Investigator is responsible for doing so before beginning the research.

H. Progress Reports

All investigators selected for funding will be required to submit a bi-annual progress report. This report will consist of a detailed description of progress to date, which includes: IRB approval and any amendment date(s), subject recruitment and enrollment, adverse events, milestones, study modifications, a budget update, and a listing of all submitted publications and grant applications (pending or funded), meeting abstracts, and seminars relating to the project. We now request that all progress reports be submitted online through our website.