Diversity Centers for Genome Research (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trials Optional) | RFA HG 22 027

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HG 22 027

The Diversity Centers for Genome Research (DCGR) funding opportunity (RFA-HG-22-027) is an NIH cooperative agreement designed to help build the next generation of genomics research centers at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). The larger, long-term goal of the DCGR program is to establish durable Genomic Research Centers at eligible MSIs that serve historically underrepresented populations in biomedical research. To qualify as the intended MSI audience for this program, institutions must award doctoral degrees in the health professions or health-related sciences and must fall under specific NIH funding thresholds, averaging less than 50 million dollars per year in total NIH support and less than 25 million dollars per year in total R01 costs across the past three federal fiscal years. In practice, the program is aimed at institutions with strong missions and communities, but that historically have not had the same scale of NIH genomics funding as major research-intensive universities.

This particular FOA supports a phased UG3/UH3 mechanism, meaning it is structured as a cooperative agreement with an initial development and planning stage (UG3) followed by a potential transition to an implementation stage (UH3) once milestones are met. The emphasis in this announcement is on development, feasibility, and planning work that positions the institution to operate a full-scale DCGR. Applicants are expected to assemble a multi-investigator, interdisciplinary team and use the UG3 period to build the practical foundation of a center, including the organizational structure, staffing plans, governance, and readiness for sustained genomics research activity. Because this is a cooperative agreement, NIH anticipates having substantial involvement in the project, typically through collaboration on milestones, coordination, and programmatic oversight compared to a standard research grant.

A central expectation is that the applicant will design a center-like structure with multiple integrated components. The FOA calls for creating administrative capacity as well as dedicated cores for genomic workforce development and for community engagement. These cores are meant to be more than placeholders; they are intended to function as real infrastructure that supports the center's research and training aims. The workforce development core is explicitly tied to expanding the pool of diverse genomic scientists, clinician-scientists, and researchers by offering training experiences such as didactic instruction, hands-on practicums, and research participation. Importantly, these educational and experiential activities are expected to align closely with the proposed research projects so that trainees gain relevant skills in the actual methods, technologies, and ethical or computational approaches being used by the center.

On the research side, applications are expected to include two to three interrelated, innovative genomics research projects that fit together thematically and benefit from shared infrastructure. The FOA outlines a broad range of eligible genomics topics, including genomic technology and methods development, genome structure, genome function, genomics of disease, and the use and impact of genomic information in clinical care. It also highlights genomic data science and computational genomics, as well as ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of genomics research, and genomics and health equity. The overall intention is that the projects address one or more critical issues in genomics while also being feasible and strategically chosen to build a long-term center identity and capability at the institution.

The expected outcome of the UG3 development and feasibility work is a set of fully developed, actionable plans that can support all activities of a full-scale Diversity Center for Genome Research. In other words, by the end of the planning phase the institution should be positioned to operate as a mature genomics research center with functioning administrative processes, meaningful community engagement strategies, and a training pipeline tied to productive research programs. The center concept is designed to strengthen both the science and the people who carry it out, with the explicit aim of growing a more diverse genomics workforce and enhancing the ability of MSIs to lead competitive, innovative genomics research.

Eligibility is focused on institutions of higher education and certain tribal and public entities, with special emphasis on MSIs. The FOA explicitly notes categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), among others. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments, and certain tribal organizations are also listed among eligible applicant types. Non-U.S. (foreign) institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible; however, foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, which generally means a U.S.-based applicant may include a justified foreign collaboration component under NIH rules.

Administratively, this is a discretionary NIH funding opportunity using the cooperative agreement instrument, and it falls within the health funding activity category. The CFDA numbers associated with the announcement include 93.172, 93.242, and 93.307. The FOA lists an original closing date of 2024-06-24 and an award ceiling of 300,000 dollars (as provided in the source data). Overall, the opportunity is best read as a capacity-building and launch platform: it is meant to help eligible MSIs plan and demonstrate readiness for a sustainable genomics center that integrates strong research, workforce development, and community engagement in service of both scientific advances and health equity.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Diversity Centers for Genome Research (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trials Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.172, 93.242, 93.307.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-09-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-24. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for RFA HG 22 027

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