Grants and contracts Content

Grant to Expand Self-Cloning Crop Technology for Indian Farmers

Andy Fell — January 27, 2026 - 9:40am

Venkatesan Sundaresan, a Distinguished Professor of plant biology and plant sciences at the University of California, Davis, has been awarded a Gates Foundation grant to develop self-cloning crops for Indian farmers.

Federal Budget Cut Halts Solar Heat Technology Project

Andy Fell — December 08, 2025 - 2:35pm

A project to capture solar heat for industrial use — with potential spinoffs in other energy areas, including nuclear power — has been canceled by the U.S. Department of Energy on the cusp of its final phase. The University of California, Davis, received a letter from the federal agency stating that the work “does not effectuate the Department of Energy’s priorities.”

Extracting Rare Earth Elements from U.S. Wastewaters

Andy Fell — December 02, 2025 - 12:10pm

A new federally funded research project at the University of California, Davis, endeavors to extract valuable components for magnets, lasers and other modern technologies from an unlikely source: acidic wastewater from mines and industrial processes.

Bezos Earth Fund Grants $2M to �鶹��ý and American Heart Association to Advance AI-Designed Foods

Andy Fell — October 24, 2025 - 2:35pm

The Bezos Earth Fund has announced a $2 million grant to the University California, Davis, the American Heart Association and other partners to advance “Swap it Smart” as part of its AI for Climate & Nature Grand Challenge. The funding will support research that could help redesign foods, for example optimizing for flavor profile, nutritional properties and lower costs and environmental impact.

Federal Contract for up to $40 Million Fuels Research to Revolutionize Clean Indoor Air and Defend Against Next Pandemic

Andy Fell — October 16, 2025 - 2:05pm

When a public building catches fire, its built-in systems automatically respond: Smoke alarms blare, sprinklers kick on, and occupants quickly evacuate.

But what if the life-threatening danger isn’t fire but invisible airborne contaminants that can make occupants sick? Could a similar smart-building system monitor and improve the quality of the air indoors, where Americans spend 90 percent of their time?

Federal Grants Support Research on AI-driven Protein Design

Andy Fell — September 19, 2025 - 10:26am

Two projects at the University of California, Davis, that use artificial intelligence to design and engineer proteins for industrial and health applications have been funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF).

National Science Foundation Awards �鶹��ý $5 Million for Artificial Intelligence Hub

Andy Fell — July 29, 2025 - 1:55pm

The National Science Foundation has awarded $5 million over five years to the University of California, Davis, to run the Artificial Intelligence Institutes Virtual Organization, a community hub for new and existing AI institutes established by the federal government.

AIVO is part of a $100 million public-private investment in AI announced by NSF July 29.

NIH Renews Support for Lab Mouse Repository for Fifth Time

Andy Fell — February 13, 2025 - 3:59pm

The National Institutes of Health has renewed its grant to support the Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Center at the University of California, Davis. This is the 26th year of operation for the MMRRC and the fifth consecutive competitive renewal of the grant, now $7.2 million in total costs over the next five years.

�鶹��ý Joins New $285 Million CHIPS Semiconductor Research Institute

Andy Fell — December 09, 2024 - 4:40pm

The University of California, Davis will be part of a new, $285 million nationwide institute dedicated to advancing research and manufacturing of American semiconductors.

The new institute, known as SMART USA (Semiconductor Manufacturing and Advanced Research with Twins USA) will develop, validate and use digital twins to improve domestic semiconductor design, manufacturing, advanced packaging, assembly and test processes.

Animal and Veterinary Innovation Center Established at �鶹��ý

Andy Fell — November 22, 2024 - 11:31am

�鶹��ý is one of four institutions nationwide selected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to establish Animal and Veterinary Innovation centers to help spur innovation and advance regulatory decisions.

The �鶹��ý Intentional Genomic Alteration Innovation Center will focus on genome editing of livestock like pigs, sheep and cattle to support science-based regulations that demonstrate the safety of the technology and pave the way for human consumption of edited animals.