Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) awarded a $143,329 Project Grant to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) on April 10, 2026, for research examining the comprehension and psychosocial implications of polygenic risk scores (PRS). Under the Human Genome Research program (CFDA 93.172), this award supports a mixed-methods research initiative designed to address the growing gap between the accessibility of PRS through direct-to-consumer platforms and clinical practice versus the public's understanding of these genetic risk assessments. The project will develop and evaluate evidence-based educational interventions and communication strategies to enhance genetic risk comprehension and reduce psychological distress and genetic determinism resulting from misinterpretation of probabilistic risk estimates.

The research delivers three primary research products over the approximately 22-month award period (concluding February 28, 2028): (1) development and evaluation of infographics and assessment tools to improve comprehension of genetic and statistical concepts underlying PRS; (2) experimental evaluation of different PRS result formats and presentation methods to determine their effects on risk perception and health behavior; and (3) testing of integrated PRS infographics with corrective feedback mechanisms to enhance public understanding and informed health decision-making. These research outputs are intended to establish key comprehension barriers and identify effective communication approaches to address the current lack of standardized guidelines for communicating PRS results, limitations, and predictive accuracy to patients and the general public.