Centers for Genomics Research Capacity Building

The Centers for Genomics Research Capacity Building is a forthcoming funding opportunity from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically through the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). This program is designed to strengthen the genomics research infrastructure at U.S.-based biomedical research institutions that offer doctoral degrees in health professions or health-related sciences. NHGRI, one of the NIH’s 27 institutes and centers, leads national efforts in genomic research, including understanding the structure and function of the human genome and its role in health and disease. This initiative will fund the creation of Genomic Research Centers focused on developing 2–3 interrelated and innovative genomic research projects per center. These projects must align with critical issues in the field, such as genomic technology and methods development, genome structure and function, genomics of disease, clinical applications of genomic information, computational genomics and data science, ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI), and genomics in health outcomes. Each funded center will operate with a multi-investigator, interdisciplinary team that brings diverse expertise to address these focus areas. A significant component of this opportunity is its emphasis on capacity building. The program seeks to broaden participation in genomic research by developing the workforce pipeline. Institutions selected for funding must include educational and experiential programming—such as didactic training, practicums, and research immersion—that align with their proposed projects. This is designed to increase the number and diversity of scientists and clinician researchers skilled in genomic science. Institutions must meet specific eligibility benchmarks to apply: they must have received, on average, less than $50 million in NIH support annually and less than $25 million annually in R01 total cost support from NIH over the last three fiscal years. This funding ceiling ensures that awards are targeted at institutions with underdeveloped genomic research capacity, rather than those already well-funded by the NIH. The NIH anticipates making up to three awards under this forecasted opportunity, with an estimated total program funding of $5,000,000. The application window is expected to open on December 1, 2025, and close on March 2, 2026. Funded projects are anticipated to start by October 30, 2026. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Interested applicants are encouraged to begin forming interdisciplinary collaborations and designing responsive proposals, especially those incorporating expertise from domains like epidemiology, biology of disease, clinical care, implementation science, and ELSI. For additional information or questions, applicants can contact Jennifer Troyer at the NHGRI by phone at 301-312-3276 or via email at jennifer.troyer@nih.gov. This early forecast is intended to allow ample preparation time for prospective applicants to build strong, competitive proposals in advance of the official notice of funding opportunity.