Research on the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) of Genomics
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research on the ethical, legal, and social implications of genomics. Applications from academic institutions, research centers, and organizations with research capacity are eligible. Researchers across many academic disciplines—including ethics, law, social sciences, and life sciences—can apply. The focus is on projects that anticipate and address genomics' impact on individuals, institutions, and society.
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Key dates
- Jun 3, 2026 Applications open
- Feb 16, 2027 Application deadline in 214 days
- Dec 1, 2027 Award announced
- Dec 1, 2027 Project start
Program description
The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications related to the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of genomics. Genomics has the potential to improve human health and well-being. Driven by advances in technology and analysis, genomics is being integrated into large swaths of biomedical research and medical practice and is impacting society more broadly than ever.
The wide reach of genomics highlights the need to anticipate and address the ethical, legal, and social implications created by new knowledge, data, and technical advances. The NHGRI and partner Institutes, Centers, and Offices support research to identify, examine, and address the impact of genomics on individuals, institutions, and society.
This forecast is not a solicitation for applications. This forecast is being provided to allow potential applicants time to develop collaborations and responsive projects.
Applications from a wide array of academic disciplines are encouraged to foster replicable approaches that yield comprehensive and robust findings.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative/Research Plan
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches
- Letters of Support/Collaboration
Program contact
- 👤 Division of Genomics and Society
- 📧 NHGRI_DGSoc@nih.gov
- 📞 Please contact via e-mail.
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.172 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$39,531,110
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$34,574,245
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$32,186,204
-
$30,195,606
-
$26,495,937
-
$26,020,371
-
$24,964,130
-
$24,413,854
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$23,757,911
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$22,977,417
Top States by Funding
- CA 19 awards $317.2M
- MA 16 awards $302.5M
- WA 9 awards $140.1M
- NY 6 awards $93.6M
- NC 5 awards $93.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.172). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $452,727,668 | |
| 2025 | $423,878,429 | |
| 2026 est. | $9,989,158 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this ELSI Genomics grant?
Researchers and organizations with research capacity across many disciplines can apply. The program welcomes ethicists, legal scholars, social scientists, and biomedical researchers.
What types of research does this grant support?
Research examining ethical, legal, and social implications of genomics. This includes studying genomics' impact on individuals, institutions, and broader society.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is February 16, 2027. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling.
What makes a competitive application?
Strong applications identify real-world ELSI problems, propose replicable approaches, and bring together diverse disciplinary perspectives to address genomics' societal impact.
What is the typical funding amount?
Award amounts vary. Contact NHGRI or review the full NOFO for specific funding levels and mechanisms available.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start early. This deadline is fixed; plan your application timeline now and build needed collaborations early.
- Embrace interdisciplinary teams. NHGRI strongly encourages researchers from many fields to collaborate on ELSI questions.
- Ground your work in real problems. Focus on concrete ethical, legal, or social challenges created by genomics in practice.
- Use clear language about impact. Explain how your research will help anticipate or address genomics' broader societal effects.
- Review past ELSI research. Look at prior NHGRI ELSI awards to understand what they fund and how successful applications are framed.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications lack interdisciplinary collaboration or fail to engage social scientists and ethicists alongside genomicists. Projects focus on genomics science itself rather than its ethical, legal, or social implications. Proposals don't clearly articulate how findings will be replicable or useful beyond a single institution or context.
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