NEW YORK – Tuskegee University said this week that the National Human Genome Research Institute awarded it the first of two phases of a nearly $11 million grant to establish the Carver Genomic Research Center.
Tuskegee University will use the center to improve public understanding of how genomics can play a role in disease prevention and treatment. It will oversee key initiatives in workforce development, community outreach, and ethics, particularly with respect to building the next generation of genomic health scientists in rural Alabama.
The center's development will proceed in two phases. During the initial planning phase, supported by $821,733 over two years, the university aims to establish the center's genomic infrastructure, develop a community engagement and outreach program, seek out partnerships and collaborations, and establish an oversight and governance structure.
Upon the successful completion of phase one, the university will be eligible to receive another $10 million over five years to support a second phase focused on implementing the center's administrative, genomic workforce and development, and community engagement plans.
Research done at the center will focus on investigating health inequities among minority groups, especially African Americans residing in the "Black Belt" counties of Alabama. These approximately 18 counties encompass areas of the state which were developed for cotton plantations worked by enslaved African Americans. African Americans form the largest demographic group, on average, across these counties.
"The establishment of the Carver Genomic Research Center at Tuskegee University marks a transformative moment in scientific history, paving the way for a future where representation in genomic research is more inclusive and equitable," Deepa Bedi, the initiative's principal investigator, said in a statement.
"What makes this effort even more significant is its placement within an [Historically Black Colleges and University], a historically underrepresented space in genomic research," said Tim Turner, associate VP of research at Tuskegee. "This center not only advances genomic education and research for minorities but also empowers HBCUs to become key players in a rapidly growing field."