Community Genomics Engagement Hub
Official title: Community Engagement Core
Funded at Morehouse School of Medicine · NIH-11194334 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program helps people in communities with high cancer burdens learn about and join genomic research by providing trained navigators and community partnerships.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Morehouse School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $320,243 |
| NIH project number | 5U54HG013595-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11194334 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people affected by cancer—especially those from underserved or high-burden communities—who are interested in learning about or taking part in genomic research.
✕Less likely to help
People without cancer, those who are not eligible for genomic studies, or anyone who does not want to participate in research may not gain direct benefits from this program.
What this research studies
You would be contacted through local clinics, community groups, or partner organizations and offered clear, standardized information about genomics in plain language. Trained Genomic Navigators will give personalized education and help with scheduling, consent, and addressing privacy and ethical concerns. The team will work with community advisory boards to build trust and adapt materials for both rural and urban settings. They will track recruitment and retention so the engagement methods can be improved and shared with other sites.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could make genomic research more accessible and representative for people with high cancer burdens, improving the chances that discoveries reflect diverse populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous community engagement and patient navigator programs have improved recruitment in clinical research, but applying these methods specifically to genomic studies in high-burden cancer populations is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Morehouse School of Medicine
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rivers, Brian M. — Morehouse School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Rivers, Brian M.
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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.