Research on the Impact of and Methods for Implementing Regional Genomic Medicine eConsult Services (U01 Clinical Trials Optional) | RFA HG 24 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HG 24 001

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), is soliciting applications under funding opportunity RFA-HG-24-001 to create a small Genomic Medicine eConsult Research Network. This program will fund 2 to 3 participating sites under a U01 cooperative agreement to study both the real-world impact and the practical implementation of regional clinician-to-clinician genomic medicine eConsult services. In this context, an eConsult service is a structured way for a clinician to request guidance from genomic medicine experts (or a specialized team) to support patient care decisions, particularly when local expertise is limited.

The central focus is implementation research: sites are expected to investigate how to best design, develop, and roll out regional genomic medicine eConsult programs in ways that work across diverse clinical settings. This includes figuring out the service model, workflows, staffing and expertise needs, intake and triage processes, response formats, and how the eConsult integrates into routine clinical care. A major emphasis is also placed on outreach and engagement, meaning applicants should plan how they will raise awareness and drive adoption among potential users, including clinicians practicing in underserved settings where access to genetics/genomics specialists may be constrained.

In addition to building and operating the regional eConsult approach, funded sites must evaluate its impact on key stakeholders. That typically implies assessing outcomes for referring clinicians (such as changes in confidence, knowledge, decision-making, or time-to-answer), specialists and consult teams (such as workload and feasibility), health systems (such as workflow efficiency and potential cost implications), and patients (such as access to appropriate testing, interpretation of results, follow-up recommendations, and equity-related effects). The NOFO also highlights the expectation that awardees will generate practical implementation strategies and reusable resources that can be shared broadly, so that other health systems and regions can adopt proven approaches rather than starting from scratch.

Because this is a cooperative agreement (U01), NHGRI will have an active partnership role rather than serving only as a funder. In practice, that usually means the funded sites will work closely with NHGRI and with each other as a coordinated network, aligning on common research questions where appropriate, collaborating on methods, and contributing to shared deliverables that strengthen generalizability and dissemination. Clinical trials are optional under this announcement, meaning applicants may include a clinical trial component if it is justified by the research aims, but they are not required to do so.

Eligible applicants are broad and include many types of U.S.-based organizations and governments: state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The NOFO also explicitly calls out additional eligible categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. However, foreign organizations are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.

Key administrative details provided include the opportunity category (discretionary), the activity area (health), and the CFDA/assistance listing number 93.172. The original application due date listed is May 30, 2024, and the opportunity was created on January 9, 2024. The award ceiling and expected award amounts are not specified in the provided text, but the overall structure indicates a limited number of awards intended to stand up a small, tightly coordinated research network focused on scalable, equity-aware implementation of genomic medicine eConsult services at a regional level.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research on the Impact of and Methods for Implementing Regional Genomic Medicine eConsult Services (U01 Clinical Trials Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.172.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-01-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-30. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

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