Research on the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) of Genomics

The National Institutes of Health, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Human Genome Research Institute, is planning a funding opportunity focused on the ethical, legal, and social implications of genomics. This initiative reflects the federal government’s continued investment in understanding how rapid advancements in genomic science affect individuals, communities, and institutions. As genomics becomes increasingly embedded in healthcare delivery, biomedical research, and public health systems, the agency seeks to proactively address the broader societal consequences of these developments. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support research that explores the ethical, legal, and social dimensions associated with genomic technologies and data. The program emphasizes the importance of anticipating potential challenges related to privacy, consent, equity, discrimination, and governance as genomic information becomes more widely used. Applicants are expected to propose projects that contribute to a deeper understanding of how genomics impacts diverse populations and societal structures, while also developing frameworks or recommendations that can guide policy, practice, and future research. Funding is intended to support a wide range of interdisciplinary research activities. Projects may include empirical studies, policy analyses, ethical frameworks, legal evaluations, and social science research that examine the implications of genomic advances. While specific allowable cost categories are not detailed in the forecast, typical NIH research grants generally support personnel, research activities, data collection and analysis, and dissemination of findings. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity, lowering the financial barrier for eligible applicants. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and inclusive, reflecting NIH’s goal of encouraging diverse perspectives and expertise. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, public and private institutions of higher education, small businesses, for-profit entities, and certain federal agencies. The opportunity also explicitly allows non-domestic entities, including foreign institutions, to apply. This inclusive approach is intended to foster collaboration across disciplines and geographic regions, ensuring comprehensive and globally relevant research outcomes. The submission process will follow standard NIH application procedures once the official Notice of Funding Opportunity is released. Although this current listing is a forecast and not yet open for applications, interested applicants are encouraged to begin preparing by forming collaborations and developing project concepts. When the opportunity is officially posted, applicants will likely be required to submit proposals through Grants.gov and NIH systems, including detailed research plans, budgets, and supporting documentation. The anticipated timeline indicates that the opportunity will be posted in November 2026, with applications due in February 2027. Awards are expected to be issued by December 2027, with project start dates aligned to the same timeframe. This forecast allows potential applicants significant lead time to prepare competitive submissions. While no recurring cycle is explicitly stated, NIH funding opportunities of this type are often reissued periodically, suggesting the potential for future iterations depending on program priorities and funding availability.