Effective October 1, 2026, UC San Diego’s indirect cost (IDC) rate for industry funded PI-initiated clinical trial agreements will increase from 33% to 36%. This adjustment aligns UC San Diego with other major research universities and strengthens our competitiveness as a leading clinical trials institution.
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 36% rate. The 33% rate will be permitted for two years for 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 total direct cost (TDC) basis, not the federally-defined modified total direct cost (MTDC). Federally-funded or non-profit clinical trials will continue to use the rate and application methodology associated with the sponsor.
Clinical research is central to our translational medicine strategy, and the additional resources generated through this rate increase will strengthen support not only for our faculty and study teams across the university, but also for the diverse patient population we serve across the region. Investments will focus on expanding clinical research infrastructure and operational capacity, including project management, finance and regulatory support, as well as new recruitment and participant-matching services. Together, these enhancements will help accelerate our time to activation, improve research quality and compliance, and increase operational efficiency.
Visit the Blink website for more information about the IDC rates for PI-initiated clinical trials and the difference between a PI-initiated and Sponsor-initiated clinical trial.
Sincerely,
