OneDukeGen Pilot Grants

The Duke Center for Precision Health (CPH), part of the Duke Clinical & Translational Science Institute (CTSI), and the Duke School of Medicine (SOM) Precision Genomics Collaboratory (PGC), are pleased to announce pilot grants with the goal of advancing genomic science at Duke. This request for proposal (RFP) is open to all Duke SOM faculty and is focused on projects that leverage and enhance the OneDukeGen study infrastructure.

OneDukeGen is a genomic sequencing and biorepository project that is part of the Duke-nference partnership. The study is performing genetic sequencing on ~150,000 Duke patients across multiple diseases and return of genetic test results to applicable participants. Enrollment began in August 2023. The study is part of a 10-year academic-industry partnership between Duke Health and healthcare analytics company nference that is creating a secure, de-identified analytics platform rich with multi-modal data to support research and innovation in both the academic and commercial healthcare sectors.

Clinical data currently being collected on all OneDukeGen participants consists of electronic health record (EHR) data, and biospecimen collection includes DNA for all participants and plasma, RNA and whole blood on a subset. Ongoing areas of study include (but are not limited to) cardiovascular, oncology, neurology and others.

The goal of these pilot grants is to enhance the OneDukeGen infrastructure. Any generated data and/or biospecimens would be shared as part of the OneDukeGen study. Examples of potential studies include, but are not limited to:

  1. Proposing new sample collections (i.e. new types of biospecimens such as cell lines, stool, biopsies, etc.)
  2. Proposing new data collections (i.e. survey or other types of data not currently collected through clinical EHR data, digital health data, environmental/exposome data, etc.)  
  3. Conducting call-back studies (i.e. having a subset of OneDukeGen participants return for deeper assessments)
  4. Implementation science (i.e. return of results not already being done as part of OneDukeGen; community-based approaches for addressing health disparities, etc.)
  5. Collecting samples for a new disease not currently being collected (subject to approval by the OneDukeGen steering committee).

We anticipate awarding up to 4 grants of up to $40,000 each for a duration of one year, to begin October 1, 2024. These pilot grants are open to SOM faculty at all stages in their career; early career faculty are encouraged to apply.

All applications should include the follow components:

  1. Applicant name, contact information, department, position
  2. Collaborator names and departments (if any)
  3. Proposal abstract (200 words)
  4. Proposal research plan (2 pages), including (i) how the study will enhance OneDukeGen infrastructure and/or science; (ii) proposed output of the research aim; (iii) a plan for how pilot data would lead to future studies/grants; and (iv) overview of budget and feasibility.

Applications should be submitted through myresearchproposal and are due by September 9, 2024.  Additional information can be found at the CPH website.

If you have questions, please contact Micki Rockett at micki.rockett@duke.edu.


Instructions for Duke's MyResearchProposal

  • Visit MyResearchProposal and log in if you already have an account or select “Create New User.” Proposals must be submitted under one of the Principal Investigator’s names.
  • If you have a dual role, you will need to change the role from "Reviewer" to "Applicant" (top right of screen).
  • Enter access code “CTSI” (must be in all CAPS) and select the “Duke CTSI Center for Precision Health (CPH)” funding opportunity and follow the instructions.
  • A step-by-step user’s guide for applying via the MyResearchProposal software is available.

*Contact MyResearchProposal at myresearchproposal@dm.duke.edu for additional assistance, if needed.