Effective January 1, 2024, new UC San Diego industry funded PI-initiated clinical trial agreements will budget indirect cost recovery at 33% of the Total Direct Costs (TDC).
This increase from 30% to 33% ensures alignment in how UC San Diego calculates indirect cost recovery for all industry-funded clinical trials (PI-initiated and Sponsored-initiated). This is the first increase to the industry-funded clinical trial indirect cost (IDC) rate since 2016 and is equal to or below the rate charged at other major research universities.
All new proposals and renewals routed to the Sponsored Projects Office (SPO) for a new industry funded PI-initiated clinical trial must be budgeted at the higher 33% rate. The 30% rate will be permitted for the remaining term of existing agreements so that investigators with clinical trials underway are not disadvantaged.
For industry funded PI-initiated clinical trials, the IDC rate is applied on a TDC basis, not the federally-defined modified total direct cost (MTDC). Federally-funded or non-profit clinical trials use the rate and application methodology associated with the sponsor (up to 58%).
This incremental increase will support the infrastructure required to meet escalating compliance requirements and the needs of the growing clinical research activity. Clinical research remains a critical component of the campus strategic plan.
