Human Pangenome Reference Center: Expanding our DNA Reference to reflect global diversity
Official title: Project-002
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11581889 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A national center is working to improve the human reference genome so it represents genetic diversity from people around the world, helping doctors and researchers understand many diseases better.
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 start | September 18, 2019 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $227,754 |
| NIH project number | 3U41HG010972-08S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11581889 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals from diverse ancestral backgrounds whose genomic data can contribute to a more representative reference.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patients may not benefit immediately; the work primarily benefits future patients through improved references and tools.
What this research studies
This project aims to enhance the human pangenome reference by including diverse genome sequences and making the resource easy to use for researchers and clinicians. It will build on existing infrastructure and use long-read sequencing and advanced computing to capture wider genetic variation. By collaborating with international partners, the center plans to provide a broadly accessible toolkit and data resources that can support clinical genetics and population health research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, frontline clinicians and researchers will have a more accurate genetic reference to interpret patient genomes and study disease across populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous human pangenome efforts have shown that broader genomic diversity improves analysis and discovery.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Ting — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Wang, Ting
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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.