UCSD restores FIRST Program

UC San Diego received a $5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on May 12, 2026, to reinstate the Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) program. Originally funded in 2022 through the NIH Common Fund, the program was canceled in 2025 due to federal budget limitations, leading to hiring freezes and delays in research projects across the university. The restored FIRST program now funds 12 tenure-track faculty positions focused on life sciences research at UCSD’s School of Medicine. It also provides graduate students with access to a Health Sciences Grant Writing Course, faculty mentorship, and specialized training in four key research clusters: cancer, cardiovascular sciences, immunology and infectious diseases, and neuroscience. The initiative aims to bolster research sustainability and support underrepresented groups in academia. The program’s revival followed a legal appeal process involving 17 states, which challenged the NIH’s 2025 funding cuts targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. JoAnn Trejo, the FIRST program’s principal investigator, attributed the success to UCSD’s institutional infrastructure, which helped navigate political and legal hurdles. Despite the setbacks, Trejo emphasized the university’s commitment to enhancing faculty diversity, citing a lack of inclusive programming compared to other research-intensive institutions. Federal funding cuts in 2025, linked to executive orders from President Trump, disrupted research operations at UCSD, resulting in layoffs, reduced lecturer hours, and an estimated $150 million in funding losses. Researchers faced uncertainty, with delays in faculty recruitment and project timelines. The FIRST program’s restoration marks a partial recovery, though broader challenges persist due to ongoing budget constraints. The NIH has historically prioritized diversity in science, encouraging institutions to diversify faculty and student populations. UCSD’s FIRST program aligns with this goal, aiming to create a more inclusive biomedical research environment. The renewed funding reflects a broader effort to sustain research momentum despite federal policy shifts.