Doctoral Student Representative Precision Medicine Research

The California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine (CIAPM), under the California Health and Human Services Agency, has released two Requests for Applications (RFAs) to support representative precision medicine research in California. These RFAs aim to advance equitable healthcare innovation by supporting both doctoral students and research partnerships that focus on historically underrepresented populations in clinical research. The program seeks to correct disparities in research participation and outcomes by funding projects that ensure research results are generalizable and beneficial to all communities across the state. The first RFA offers approximately $2.3 million to support around 15 doctoral students over a 2.5-year period. Eligible applicants must be current doctoral-level students (PhD, DrPH, MD-PhD, or similar) in good academic standing at nonprofit California academic research institutions. Each applicant must identify a specific research project and a qualified mentor. Projects must apply a precision medicine lens, emphasizing social determinants of health, data from diverse sources, and community-engaged approaches. The research must be situated in California and involve populations residing in the state. Applications are due by January 30, 2026, and awards are expected to begin in May 2026, concluding in November 2028. The second RFA, totaling up to $6 million, targets 3–5 project teams working on collaborative, representative precision medicine projects. These partnerships must include a lead Principal Investigator from a California nonprofit academic institution and a co-lead from either another academic institution or a nonprofit community-based organization, advocacy group, community clinic, or public/tribal entity. The goal is to create authentic partnerships that integrate diverse perspectives and expertise, linking research efforts across cellular, biological, and population systems to address systemic health disparities. The Partnerships RFA includes a two-stage application process: a Letter of Intent is due by November 21, 2025, followed by an initial application by January 23, 2026. Selected finalists will be notified by March 13, 2026, with full applications due April 24, 2026. Awards will be announced in May 2026 and projects will commence by June 2026, concluding in December 2028. Both RFAs will include an informational webinar in Fall 2025. Applicants for both RFAs are encouraged to contact CIAPM staff at ciapm@chhs.ca.gov with questions. The funder stresses the importance of responsive applications and encourages consultation to ensure alignment with program goals. These initiatives reflect California’s ongoing commitment to inclusive and equitable healthcare innovation through precision medicine, bridging gaps in clinical research representation and improving health outcomes for all communities.

Consult CIAPM staff prior to applying to ensure responsiveness; clearly describe how projects support representative research; highlight training and educational impact; partnerships should demonstrate authenticity from conception through completion.