A more inclusive human genome reference
The Human Pangenome Reference Consortium Coordination Center
This project builds a more complete human genome reference that represents genetic diversity so researchers and clinicians can better understand and care for people from all backgrounds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180235 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will create a more complete map of human genetic variation using high-quality genome sequences from people around the world. A central coordination center will collect, organize, and maintain those sequences while using advanced long-read sequencing and computational methods to build reference-quality genome assemblies. The team will work with international partners, research groups, and communities to expand diversity in the reference and to develop user-friendly tools and resources. Over time, this resource aims to make genetic tests and research more accurate and equitable for patients from many ancestries.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People from diverse or underrepresented ancestries who can donate high-quality DNA samples for reference genome sequencing are the most useful contributors.
Not a fit: People with health issues unrelated to genetics or whose ancestry is already well represented in current references may see little immediate personal benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could improve genetic diagnosis and make genomic-based care more accurate and fair across diverse populations.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier phases of the Human Pangenome effort and related projects have shown that building multi-ancestry reference genomes improves representation, although the full clinical benefits are still emerging.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Ting — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Wang, Ting
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.