NHGRI Releases RFAs for $1,000 Genome

NEW YORK, Feb. 13 (GenomeWeb News) - The National Human Genome Research Institute today released two RFAs aimed at reducing the costs of sequencing a single, full-length mammalian genome to $1,000 - down from current average costs of $10 to $50 million per genome - by the end of a 10-year time frame.

One RFA will commit $6 million in FY2004 and $5 million in FY2005 to fund three to 10 new or competitive continuation grants for the long-range development of new technologies that could meet the $1,000 goal. The other RFA will commit $8 million in FY2004 and $5 million in FY2005 to fund four to 10 new or competitive continuation grants for shorter term goals of improving existing technologies to reduce costs by two orders of magnitude below current costs. Respondents to both RFAs can apply under the R21, R33, R01 or P01 granting mechanisms, with deadlines of April 15 and Oct. 15, 2004.

The RFAs gave several potential applications of cost reduction efforts, including: expanding comparative genomic analysis across species, applying human genetic variation studies to individual health care, and analyzing microbial genomes for food and environment monitoring.