Key Dates
- April 5, 2024 - Notice of Intent to Publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity for ML/AI Tools to Advance Genomic Translational Research (MAGen) - Development Sites. See Notice NOT-HG-24-029.
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
The National Human Genome Research Institute intends to issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for a Coordinating center (CC) for the ML/AI Tools to Advance Genomic Translational Research (MAGen) Consortium which will include the MAGen CC and the MAGen Sites (see NOT-HG-24-029). The MAGen Consortium is being established to explore the feasibility of developing Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools that can enhance the accuracy and precision of predicting how individuals with pathogenic genetic variants manifest disease. The MAGen CC will be responsible for implementing approaches to bring diverse teams together to enable synergistic and collaborative team science across the Consortium. Specifically, the CC will be responsible for technical, scientific, and administrative coordination activities to support the Consortium research activities, including the development of Consortium wide plans, the coordination of ELSI-informed ML/AI tool development and cross validation, and the dissemination of the developed resources.
The intended NOFO is based on a concept recently approved by the National Advisory Council on Human Genome Research and accompanying discussion.
This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop collaborations and responsive projects.
The NOFO is expected to be published in Spring 2024 with an expected application due date in Summer 2024.
The NOFO will utilize the UG3/UH3 activity code. Details of the planned NOFO are provided below.
The MAGen CC will provide technical, scientific, and administrative coordination to support the Consortium research activities. The technical and scientific activities include leading the development of the consortium-wide data model along with supporting the development of the ELSI-framework, and acting as the primary liaison with the selected cross validation platform such as the NHGRI supported Analysis Visualization and Informatics Lab-space (AnVIL). Administrative coordination activities include implementing innovative ideas to ensure the development of consensus within the Consortium to meet its overall short and long-term goals and organizing necessary working groups, and meetings necessary for a successful Consortium. The MAGen CC will work closely with the MAGen Sites funded by the companion NOFO (see NOT-HG-24-029) to support the feasibility of developing Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools that can enhance the accuracy and precision of predicting how individuals with pathogenic genetic variants manifest disease.
The MAGen Consortium will collaboratively identify both genomic and non-genomic factors influencing disease development in individuals carrying pathogenic genetic variants. The ML/AI tools will leverage existing multimodal genomic and non-genomic data and will be cross validated in genomic translational research settings to ensure the robustness and generalizability of the tools for translational purposes. In addition, the Consortium will explore the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of integrating ML/AI tools into genomic medicine through the establishment of a framework for ELSI studies and through implementation of ELSI research projects.
This Notice encourages approaches to support collaborative investigations and effective and rapid consensus building among scientific groups, develop ELSI-aware models for multi-modal data including genomic, other-omic, and non-genomic data (clinical including electronic health record data, social determinants of health, environmental, wearable etc.), and development of multimodal ML/AI tools in a cloud-environments. Please note that the focus of the CC is not on building and cross-validating the ML/AI models (see NOT-HG-24-029), however it focuses on establishing an interdisciplinary group of applicants who understand deeply the challenges in building such models in translational research settings is essential to successfully coordinate the activities of the MAGen Consortium.
The proposed NOFO will use the UG3/UH3 cooperative agreement mechanism which entails a two-Phase, one-application approach to accomplish the goals.
Funding Information
The maximum award for the UG3 phase is $800,000 direct cost per year for up to two years. The maximum award for the UH3 phase is $800,000 direct cost per year for up to three years.
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The maximum award for the UG3 phase is $800,000 direct cost per year for up to two years. The maximum award for the UH3 phase is $800,000 direct cost per year for up to three years.
93.172
Private Institution of Higher Education
Nonprofit with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education)
Small Business
For-Profit Organization (Other than Small Business)
State Government
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized)
County governments
Independent school districts
Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization (Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
U.S. Territory or Possession
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Other than Federally Recognized)
Regional Organization
Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government
Applications are not being solicited at this time.
Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
Ajay Pillai, Ph.D.
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Division of Genome Sciences
Email: ajay.pillai3@nih.gov
and Human Services (HHS)
