Somatic Mosaicism across Human Tissues (SMaHT) Program: Genome Characterization Centers (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The Somatic Mosaicism across Human Tissues Program Genome Characterization Centers UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed opportunity is a forecasted federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the National Institutes of Health. The opportunity number is RFA-RM-28-015, and the Assistance Listing is 93.310, Trans-NIH Research Support. It is categorized as a discretionary health funding opportunity and will use a cooperative agreement funding instrument. The forecast was issued on September 14, 2026, and the opportunity is expected to support one award. The source does not provide an estimated total program funding amount, award ceiling, or award floor. The Somatic Mosaicism across Human Tissues Network is intended to advance discovery of biological processes and disease mechanisms mediated by somatic mutations in human tissues. Since 2023, the program has generated multi-omic somatic mutation datasets using a standardized collection of human tissues spanning all three germ layers. Building on the foundation established during Stage 1, the National Institutes of Health intends to issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity supporting Stage 2 of the Genome Characterization Centers initiative. Stage 2 Genome Characterization Centers will focus on determining the functional consequences of somatic mutations in healthy and clinically relevant tissue samples. The clinically relevant samples are expected to include patients whose phenotype is suspected to be driven by somatic mutations. This research is intended to contribute to the broader SMaHT Network effort to characterize somatic mosaicism and improve understanding of its role in human biology and disease. The forecast does not provide detailed allowable cost categories, budget restrictions, indirect cost limitations, subaward restrictions, or a period of performance. Cost sharing or matching is explicitly not required. Eligible applicants are broad and include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Native American tribal organizations, public and state controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without federal 501(c)(3) status, for profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. Additional eligible applicants include Indian or Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized governments, eligible agencies of the federal government, U.S. territories or possessions, faith based or community based organizations, regional organizations, and non-domestic entities or foreign institutions. No individual U.S. state restriction is identified in the forecast. This opportunity remains in the forecast stage, so complete application mechanics and required application components are not yet provided. The estimated posting date is May 1, 2027, and the estimated application due date is July 1, 2027. The source does not identify a letter of intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, notice of intent, initial application, or other pre-application gating requirement. It also does not provide application questions, required uploads, evaluation criteria, review factors, portal-specific submission instructions, or other application package requirements. Applicants will need to consult the eventual Notice of Funding Opportunity when it is posted for authoritative submission requirements and evaluation details. The estimated award date is May 1, 2028, and the estimated project start date is May 1, 2028, within fiscal year 2028. No recurring schedule or future-cycle pattern is stated, so the opportunity is treated as non-recurring based on the available forecast. Questions about the program may be directed to the SMaHT Program at smaht@od.nih.gov. No individual grantor contact person or telephone number is provided. Because the opportunity is forecasted and important budget, application, evaluation, and performance-period details remain unpublished, those fields should be verified against the final Notice of Funding Opportunity after posting.

Align the proposed work closely with the Stage 2 objective of determining the functional consequences of somatic mutations in healthy and clinically relevant tissue samples and supporting the SMaHT Network effort to characterize somatic mosaicism and its role in human biology and disease.