ancient DNA for Modern Genomics (aDMG) Data Generation and Resource Center

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), has announced a forecasted opportunity titled "ancient DNA for Modern Genomics (aDMG) Data Generation and Resource Center" under opportunity number FOR-HG-26-003. This upcoming funding opportunity aims to establish a centralized infrastructure for generating and harmonizing ancient and historical human DNA (aDNA) datasets that can be used to enhance contemporary studies of human traits and biology. The proposed funding mechanism will be a cooperative agreement, identified with the activity code U24, emphasizing active federal involvement in the oversight and direction of the funded projects. The goal of the aDMG initiative is to create a centralized Data Generation and Resource Center that will produce high-quality, whole-genome sequence data from ethically approved aDNA sources. This data will be harmonized with existing genomic datasets and made available through a central data portal. This effort is intended to support interdisciplinary collaborations combining areas such as DNA sequencing technology, computational genomics, human evolution, and studies of ancient human populations. While the funding opportunity is still in the forecast stage, NHGRI encourages researchers with experience in relevant disciplines to begin preparing proposals and forming partnerships. The estimated funding for this opportunity totals $2,750,000, with one award expected. However, specific details regarding the maximum or minimum award amounts have not yet been provided. No cost sharing or matching requirement is associated with this opportunity. The cooperative agreement model indicates that NIH will play a significant role in guiding the scientific and technical direction of the awardee's work, further emphasizing the strategic importance of this initiative to the NIH's broader research objectives. Eligible applicants include a wide range of institutions and organizations such as public and private institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments and organizations (both federally recognized and other), state and county governments, independent school districts, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, public housing authorities, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. This broad eligibility scope ensures that institutions with a diverse range of capacities and expertise can contribute to this significant genomics infrastructure project. The forecasted timeline for this opportunity begins with an estimated post date of December 1, 2025. Applications will be due by March 2, 2026, and the award is anticipated to be made by July 1, 2026. The project is also expected to start on the same date. As this is a forecasted opportunity, the NIH has not yet opened the application portal, but the early notice is intended to allow sufficient time for applicants to prepare competitive and collaborative proposals. For further information, the point of contact is Jennifer Troyer at the National Human Genome Research Institute. She can be reached at jennifer.troyer@nih.gov or by phone at 301-312-3276. Interested applicants are advised to monitor grants.gov and NIH notices for the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) once published, which will provide full application instructions and evaluation criteria.