Genomics in Context Awards: collaborative research at the intersection of genomics, humanities, social sciences and bioethics

The importance of social, ethical and legal work for guiding ethical, inclusive genomics research and related practices is widely acknowledged. Less recognised is the underexplored potential for the intersection between genomics, humanities and social sciences, and wider societal partners (including industry, policymakers and communities) to yield new research and discoveries. To date such collaborations have tended to be limited and late. 

This call is aimed at supporting novel and transdisciplinary teams to explore this intersection at the earliest stages of research ideation, design and partnership building. Collaborations could take many different forms and centre on a variety of areas of focus.  

Research collaborations could potentially fall across three broad areas:

1. Exploring new or emerging areas in genomics and its contexts or the application of novel technologies 

This might include but is not limited to: 

• responsibly harnessing and developing large datasets and technologies such as AI in genomics
• advancing synthetic genomics through wider disciplinary and stakeholder engagement
• exploring new dimensions of genomics-based precision medicine 

2. Opening up existing areas of genomics and its contexts or taking them in new directions through the integration of novel approaches and perspectives 

This might include but is not limited to: 

• broadening food systems research through wider engagement with genomics research
• expanding pathogen genome surveillance through wider social science engagement
• exploring longitudinal datasets that combine genomic and social data in innovative ways 

3. Exploring how research is done in genomics, which could be applicable across different fields, practices, sectors and geographies 

This might include but is not limited to: 

• Indigenous-led genomics projects that drive and benefit from current knowledge generation in genomics
• community-driven research agendas in genomics more broadly
• new partnerships between bioethicists, genomics researchers and wider stakeholders
• next generation clinicians that integrate perspectives across disciplines and stakeholders

Please note that these topics are only indicative. The call is open to other areas where transdisciplinary collaborations of this kind could open up new research questions and approaches in genomics and its contexts. 

What activities and outputs are possible? 

This award welcomes applications that use a variety of activities and produce a range of outputs to meet its two core ambitions: 

1. fostering collaborative work in transdisciplinary teams at the intersection of genomics and humanities, social sciences, bioethics and wider stakeholders
2. supporting the development of new discovery-led research agendas, methods and questions shaped by transdisciplinary insight and stakeholder engagement to guide the future direction of genomics and its wider contexts

The research activities you undertake will depend on your area of focus. We’re interested in seeing innovative and creative approaches to how your project will be conducted. 

Main outputs should include a report on the nature of the research area explored, the networks and research agenda developed, as well as reflections on the collaborative process of the project. There may be other outputs generated by these awards, including for example the creation of toolkits and guidance, proof of concept work, workshop and conference proceedings and new grant applications. 

This award invites applications that use a variety of activities and produce a range of outputs to meet its two core ambitions of fostering collaborations and supporting the development of new research agendas.

To better understand the aims of this award:

• Read the information on this page and the workshop series that informed the design of this funding call, Ethical, legal and social contexts in genomics: workshop report and forward look. The format and aims of this call were developed in response to this series of collaborative workshops that Wellcome held with the research community.
• Read our recent article in Nature Reviews Genetics setting out Wellcome’s ambition for a culture change in collaboration on this topic.
• Sign up to receive email updates about this award. We will email you with important updates and information about this award, including a notification when the full details of the award are published.