Meharry Center for Genome Research: a hub to study genetic basis of chronic diseases like Besnier-Boeck disease
Official title: Meharry Center for Genome Research (MCGR)
Funded at Meharry Medical College · NIH-11423712 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new genome research center at Meharry Medical College will build capacity to study how genetics influence chronic diseases that affect diverse communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Meharry Medical College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,991,763 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3HG013248-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11423712 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with Besnier-Boeck disease or related inflammatory and chronic illnesses who are willing to participate in genetic studies and blood/biospecimen donation.
✕Less likely to help
People not affected by inflammatory or chronic diseases or those unwilling to participate in genetic or biospecimen research may not benefit.
What this research studies
This center will bring together clinicians, researchers, and community partners to create interdisciplinary teams working on genomic and computational science. It focuses on understanding how genetic variants relate to inflammatory and chronic diseases, and on building resources like a blood repository to study biomarkers. The center also aims to recruit participants and collaborate with partner institutions to expand genomic research capacity. The goal is to translate genomic insights into better care for populations affected by Besnier-Boeck disease and related conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from better understanding of disease risk, biomarkers, and future personalized care strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous genome research centers have shown how integrated genomics can identify biomarkers and prognostic indicators, though this specific center focuses on Besnier-Boeck disease and related conditions.
Where this research is happening
-
Meharry Medical College
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shanker, Anil — Meharry Medical College
- Study coordinator: Shanker, Anil
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.