Abstract 7111: A cross-sectional survey of genomics infrastructure at six NHGRI-funded Diversity Centers for Genome Research

Abstract Background: With the rapid advancements in human genetics and genomics research, it is crucial to build genomics capacity at minority-serving institutions (MSIs), which play a key role in developing diverse workforce in genomics and precision medicine, driven by their commitment to educating and training underrepresented students and trainees. Moreover, MSIs are instrumental in tackling chronic diseases, including cancer, that disproportionately affect minority and underserved populations. Methods: A comprehensive cross-sectional survey was conducted from August to October 2024 across six MSIs within the Diversity Centers for Genome Research (DCGR) Consortium, established by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), to assess their genomic infrastructure and capacity. The surveyed institutions included the Pacific Center for Genome Research at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Florida International University, Morehouse School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, and the Carver Genomic Research Center at Tuskegee University, with the last three being Historically Black Colleges/Universities (HBCUs). These MSIs serve diverse and historically underrepresented minority populations, including Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Asian Americans, Hispanic/Latino communities, and African Americans. The survey consisted of 32 questions covering a wide range of topics, including DCGR budget allocations, available sequencing equipment, proteomics instruments, biorepository sample collection and management, etc. Results: An important aspect of the survey is MSIs’ access to cutting-edge next-generation sequencing technologies, a critical component of genomic research infrastructure. Among the six MSIs surveyed, four currently have Illumina short-read sequencers, and three have long-read sequencers, either Nanopore or Ion Torrent. However, none of the institutions owns a PacBio long-read sequencer, an increasingly popular platform for applications where accuracy, read length, and the ability to resolve complex genomic regions outweigh throughput needs. The six MSIs also vary in their computing infrastructure, proteomics instruments, and mass spectrometers, among other resources. Furthermore, all six MSIs own or plan to establish human tissue biorepositories. The survey reveals two common challenges regarding biorepositories across these institutions: (1) effective biorepository management and (2) securing sustainable funding. Conclusion: These results provide valuable insights into the genomic infrastructure and capacity of the six MSIs in the DCGR Consortium. The data collected and insights gained lay a strong foundation for supporting MSIs and fostering future collaborations among them to tackle the common challenges they face in building robust genomics programs. Citation Format: Xuexia Wang, Francisco A. Fernandez-Lima, Zoran Bursac, Stephen Black, Marianna Baum, Jeremy W. Pettit, Deepa Bedi, Honghe Wang, Balasubramanyam Karanam, Melissa B. Davis, Martini Rachel, Erica L. Johnson, Brian Rivers, Anderson Winkler, Jacob Galan, John Blangero, Sarah Williams-Blangero, Maarit Tiirikainen, Lang Wu, Youping Deng, Grace Pan, Olga Korolkova, Alla Ivanova, Harshana Rajakaruna, Thanigaivelan Kanagasabai, Dorin B. Borza, Rajbir Singh, Sanika Chirwa, LaMonica Stewart, Stephania T. Miller-Hughes, Aramandla Ramesh, Ebony Madden, Anil Shanker, Qingguo Wang. A cross-sectional survey of genomics infrastructure at six NHGRI-funded Diversity Centers for Genome Research [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 7111.