Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Pennsylvania received a $688,506 Project Grant award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2031. The award funds integrative genomic research investigating human evolution and complex traits in African populations, addressing critical gaps in understanding African genomic and phenotypic variation. The research project will deliver comprehensive analyses incorporating genomic, metabolomic, proteomic, microbiome, epigenomic, and transcriptomic data combined with detailed phenotypic characterization to reconstruct population history and elucidate how genetic and environmental variation impacts anthropometric, cardio-metabolic, and immune-related traits.

The project will produce multiple research outputs including assessments of polygenic risk score effectiveness across African and non-African populations, characterization of gene-by-environment interactions, functional genomic studies utilizing high-throughput luciferase reporter assays, validation studies employing CRISPR-Cas9 technology in human cells and model systems, and comprehensive microbiome diversity analysis. These research deliverables will generate enhanced understanding of human genomic variation, population structure, and linkage disequilibrium patterns critical for genome-wide association studies in multi-ancestry populations, with direct implications for understanding the genetic basis of disease-relevant intermediate phenotypes in diverse global populations.