Federal Cooperative Agreement Summary: BRIDGE Project

Biola University, Inc. received a $705,019 Cooperative Agreement award from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) under the Human Genome Research program (CFDA 93.172), effective April 9, 2026 through February 28, 2031. The BRIDGE (Building Religious Insights for Developing Genomic Engagement) project addresses critical gaps in understanding how religious perspectives influence attitudes toward genomic medicine, particularly among demographically diverse Christian populations in the United States. The project leverages Biola University's unique position as a learning community of professing Christians to establish the institution as a leader in Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) research related to genomics.

The key deliverables include conducting theological research across Christian traditions, executing large-scale surveys and qualitative interviews to identify religious and demographic variables predicting attitudes toward genomics from reproduction through early childhood, and developing empirically evaluated educational programs for religious communities and healthcare providers. The project establishes heterogeneous teams of Christian community partners, including church leaders and theological communities, to guide research on engagement with genomic medicine. By building capacity at Biola University and among its community partners to engage in National Institutes of Health-funded research, the project advances NHGRI's strategic goal to broaden perspectives in ELSI research through inclusive, community-engaged approaches to understanding religious dimensions of genomic engagement.