Representative Precision Medicine Research Through Partnerships

The California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine (CIAPM) has announced two Requests for Applications (RFAs) aimed at supporting representative precision medicine research. The first RFA provides approximately $2.3 million to fund around 15 doctoral students conducting representative research projects over a 2.5-year term. The second RFA allocates up to $6 million to support 3–5 project teams engaging in collaborative research partnerships. These funding opportunities are designed to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented populations in biomedical research, ultimately aiming to reduce health disparities and enhance clinical outcomes for all Californians. The concept of representative precision medicine research stems from the 2011 National Academy of Sciences report, which emphasizes integrating diverse datasets—including clinical, environmental, and social determinants of health—to tailor medical interventions more precisely. By incorporating community perspectives and ensuring demographic diversity in study cohorts, CIAPM seeks to ensure that research findings are generalizable and that medical advancements are both equitable and effective across all communities. This approach recognizes that past research often excluded minoritized populations, leading to disparities in health outcomes and access to care. The Doctoral Student RFA supports PhD, DrPH, or MD-PhD students currently enrolled at California nonprofit academic research institutions. Each applicant must be in good academic standing, propose a specific research project, and have secured a mentor. Projects must use a precision medicine approach, address health disparities, and focus on California populations. The research may involve analyzing new or existing datasets and is encouraged to include community engagement or social determinant data. All funded research must be based in California and center on residents of the state. The second RFA, for research partnerships, supports 2.5-year projects led by faculty at California nonprofit academic institutions. Proposals must include a co-lead partner, either a nonprofit community-based organization, public or tribal entity, or another California academic institution. These partnerships are intended to bridge gaps between institutions and communities, enhance cross-disciplinary collaboration, and build capacity for scalable, equitable precision medicine research. Applicants must demonstrate authentic partnership engagement throughout the project lifecycle. Application timelines differ for each RFA. For doctoral students, the application opens on October 15, 2025, with a deadline of January 30, 2026, and awards beginning in May 2026. For partnerships, the process includes a Letter of Intent due by November 21, 2025, an initial application by January 23, 2026, and a full proposal by April 24, 2026. Awards will be announced in May 2026 and commence in June 2026. Interested applicants may email CIAPM at ciapm@chhs.ca.gov for clarification, with the subject line indicating the respective RFA.

Applicants are encouraged to consult with CIAPM staff before submission to ensure responsiveness to the RFA. Clear articulation of health disparities and representative research approach is key.