Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Mathematical Sciences awarded a $300,000 Project Grant to the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. This collaborative research initiative develops novel statistical methods to distinguish direct genetic effects from environmentally mediated influences in human genetic studies. The project addresses a critical gap in genetic research by creating a unified statistical framework grounded in causal inference and high-dimensional data analysis. Key deliverables include a new definition of heritability based on counterfactual comparisons, methods for estimating direct genetic effects by combining population-based and family-based studies using summary-level data, theoretical guarantees supporting the methodologies, and scalable algorithms for large genomic datasets.

The research will produce open-source software tools and generate interdisciplinary training opportunities across statistics, biostatistics, genetics, and data science. By providing principled statistical tools for accurately interpreting genetic association findings, the project aims to improve genetic risk prediction reliability, inform precision medicine approaches, and support evidence-based public health policy decisions. The work leverages the complementary strengths of both large population-based and smaller family-based study designs, enabling unbiased and statistically efficient estimates without requiring extensive family data collection.