Discovery of the Genetic Basis of Childhood Cancers and of Structural Birth Defects: Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (X01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

As part of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First Program), the NIH invites applications to submit samples from pediatric cohorts for whole genome sequencing at a Kids First Program-supported sequencing center. Applicants are encouraged to propose sequencing of existing pediatric cancer or structural birth defect cohorts to elucidate the genetic contribution (somatic and/or germline) to childhood cancers, to investigate the genetic etiology of structural birth defects, to study the molecular basis of the associations between birth defects and increased cancer risk, or to expand the range of pediatric disorders included within the Kids First Data Resource. The program will accept applications that propose whole genome, exome, and transcriptome sequencing, as well as epigenomic assays of tumor or affected tissue, when justified. Applicants are encouraged to propose cohorts of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups or to increase racial and ethnic representation of existing Kids First Program projects. These data, and associated clinical and phenotypic data, will become part of the Kids First Data Resource Center for sharing with the research community.