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Dear Colleague,
The California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine (CIAPM) has entered the new year with fervor to expand the reach of precision medicine and representative research in the State of California.
In this newsletter, we provide updates and submission reminders for the Request for Applications on ‘representative precision medicine research.’
We also announce the release of two anticipated reports from CIAPM, the Cancer Disparities Research Program Evaluation Report and the 2024 Annual Report.
We further update our readers about a site visit and symposium for the Depression Research Program, staffing updates, and our attendance at the upcoming Precision Medicine World Conference.
Lastly, we remind our readers of the next meeting of the California Precision Medicine Advisory Council, a new addition and departure for our Council, and welcome suggestions from the public for additional Council Members.
Thank you for your continued support.
The CIAPM Team
| | Representative Research Program | | |
On October 15, CIAPM released two Request for Applications (RFA) on precision medicine approaches aimed at promoting ‘representative research’ by including underrepresented populations as research participants, benefitting all Californians and reducing health disparities.
RFA for Representative Precision Medicine Research
through Partnerships
This RFA will award up to $6 million to support approximately 3-5 project teams conducting representative precision medicine research projects in California over a 2.5-year project term.
California-based research teams must be co-led by AT LEAST one non-profit academic research institution AND at least one non-profit community-based organization, patient advocacy group, community clinic, or public or tribal entity that can represent diverse and underserved communities OR another non-profit academic research institution that builds capacity and sustainably breaks down data-sharing silos.
CIAPM received 91 Letters of Intent from 20 non-profit California academic research institutions by the November 21st deadline and, subsequently, 68 initial applications from 17 non-profit California academic research institutions by the January 23rd deadline.
As described in the RFA, CIAPM has recruited a Selection Committee of out-of-state subject matter experts, who are scheduled to meet on March 9th at 8am PT. The first portion of the meeting will be open to the public, and the agenda will be posted on the CIAPM Meetings page closer to the event.
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RFA for Doctoral Student Representative Precision Medicine Research
CIAPM will award approximately $2.3 million to support around 15 doctoral students conducting representative precision medicine research projects in California over a 2.5-year project term.
The applicant must be a current PhD, DrPH, MD-PhD, or other doctoral-level student conducting research at a non-profit California academic research institution and in good academic standing. The applicant must describe how their application will support representative research, incorporate a precision medicine approach to reduce health disparities, potentially including social determinants of health data and/or community-engaged research approaches, and enhance their own education and training.
Doctoral student applicants are reminded to submit their applications by January 30, 2026 at 12pm (Noon) PT.
| | Cancer Disparities Research Program Evaluation Report | | CIAPM has also released a multi-year evaluation of the Cancer Disparities Research Program. Major accomplishments of this four-year research program include: | |
- The development of tools and education for diverse Latina populations to identify cancer risk
- Using AI to guide the prediction of possible tumor treatments
- Using culturally-astute community health workers to improve on preventative and acute cancer care … and much more!
Please follow the link below to download the full report.
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The 2024 CIAPM Annual Report has been released, highlighting the year’s major programmatic accomplishments, including:
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- The CIAPM program’s transition to California Health and Human Services
- The selection of awardees for the Depression Research Program
- Progress on the Adverse Childhood Experiences Research Program
- The continued development of the Representative Research Collaborative, including the launch of the Request for Applications for ‘Representative Precision Medicine Research’
Please follow the link below to download the full report.
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Site Visit to UCSF
In late November, CIAPM staff attended a site visit of the UC San Francisco Depression Research Team. During the site visit, staff visited the community research investigators at the Edgewood Center for Children and Families, as well as the academic and clinical research team under Dr. Tony Yang at UCSF to discuss data, participant recruitment, clinical methods, and data interconnectivity. Highlights of the visit included a viewing of the fMRI and EEG facilities.
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Depression Research Program Symposium
On December 5th, CIAPM welcomed researchers from the Depression Research programs at UCSF, UCSD, and SCU to the CalHHS headquarters in Sacramento to discuss research data and progress. The group also brainstormed together how to harmonize depression-related study measures and how to maintain, navigate, and build-upon community engagement and partnerships. Brief presentations were also made by the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative.
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ACEs and Depression Research Roundtable
CIAPM further convened ACEs and Depression teams virtually for a Research Roundtable on December 11th and held cross-cutting deep dive discussions on implementation in clinical settings and biomarker analyses.
| | California Precision Medicine Advisory Council | | |
February CA Precision Medicine Advisory Council (CPMAC) Meeting
The California Precision Medicine Advisory council (CPMAC) last met virtually on December 17, 2025. The next gathering of the CPMAC will be held on February 25th from 12:30 – 3 PM, where the public can view virtually. Please follow the link below to register for the webinar.
Additionally, CIAPM is interested in the addition of experts for our Advisory Council across a breadth of precision medicine disciplines (including academia, industry, community, patient advocacy, venture capital, philanthropy) and especially interested in candidates with expertise in data science/AI. To nominate an expert, please submit in the form linked below.
The February Agenda will be posted on our Meetings webpage ahead of the next meeting. The meeting minutes from September are available on the CIAPM meetings page.
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Welcome to New Advisor Dr. Leigh Ann Simmons!
CIAPM welcomes Leigh Ann Simmons, PhD, MFT, FAAHB to the California Precision Medicine Advisory Council. She is a nationally recognized women’s health researcher, trained therapist, and health coach focused on changing how people—especially childbearing women—are seen, heard, and treated in health care.
She is a tenured Professor at the University of California, Davis Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, where she serves as Principal Investigator of the School’s first predoctoral T32 training program, co-directs the faculty training program in patient-oriented research, directs the Health Equity Across the Lifespan (HEAL) Lab, and co-directs the Perinatal Origins of Disparities (POD) Center.
Dr. Simmons’ work advances health equity by addressing chronic disease risk, mental health, and life-course health patterns in communities that are often dismissed or underserved, with funding from the NIH, VA, and other agencies. Beyond research, Dr. Simmons has trained hundreds of health coaches, partnered with health systems and community organizations nationwide, and served as a Congressional Fellow on the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.
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Farewell to Advisor Dr. K. Jones!
During the December meeting, CIAPM and the Advisory Council bid a heartfelt farewell to Dr. K. Jones and thanks them for their dedication and support to the program since 2023. Dr. Jones helped provide initial precision medicine insight as an external council-member in CalHHS as the Assistant Secretary for Programs and Fiscal Affairs, before the program itself transitioned to CalHHS in 2024. During the move, Dr. Jones facilitated staff and data transition and helped the program acclimate to their new agency home.
| | Welcome to Policy Intern Natanael Garcia! | | | | |
Natanael is a candidate in the Doctor of Public Health (DrPh) program at Claremont Graduate University. His interests include advancing systems change by integrating lived experiences into precision public health and policy implementation ensuring health and systemic equity. He is also a Gates Millennium Scholar and recipient of more than 20 national and international research, equity, and academic fellowship awards.
CIAPM is excited to welcome our newest intern!
| | CIAPM Network in the Media | | |
NYU All of Us Bridge Program
Supported by the All of Us Research Program, New York University has launched their BRIDGE program, a Biostatistical Consultation Service to assist registered researchers with their projects on the Researcher Workbench. Services include proposal and grant development, hypothesis generation, study design, data validation and cleaning, statistical analysis, interpretation and visualization of results, and manuscript submission and revision. These consultations are offered at no cost to registered researchers, up to 15 hours of consultation per project.
Wellcome Foundation Genomics in Context Awards
The Wellcome Foundation is launching awards that will support transdisciplinary, collaborative teams catalyzing research discoveries at the intersection of genomics, humanities, social sciences and bioethics. Funding duration is for 12-24 months, and US researchers are encouraged to apply.
Deadline for submissions is March 16, 2026
PCORI - Spring 2026 Engagement Awards
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is launching a series of three awards in their Engagement Award program.
- The “Capacity Building” award funds projects to build capacity and skills for patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER).
- The “Dissemination Initiative” funds projects that help organizations and communities actively communicate pertinent PCORI-funded research findings to their specific audiences, including patients, families, caregivers and the broader healthcare community.
- The “Convening Support” award funds projects that enable patients, families, caregivers and the broader healthcare community to hold convenings, meetings and conferences that:
- Promote focused discussion of patient-centered CER.
- Share patient-centered CER engagement methods.
- Disseminate PCORI-funded research results.
- Plan for future patient-centered CER
The deadline to submit a Letter of Intent for any of these awards is March 30, 2025.
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Precision Medicine World Conference (PMWC) - Connect with Us!!!
March 4-6 | Santa Clara, CA
CIAPM is returning to PMWC from March 4-6th 2026, at the Santa Clara Convention Center!
Please stop by Booth#A403 all three days of the conference to learn more about the initiative, meet members of our staff, and learn about state-supported efforts in precision medicine and representative research!
We will be attending keynotes and panels from the following members of our CIAPM community at the conference:
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Dr. Sharat Israni (Panel – Mar 4, 1 - 1:45 PM & 3:30 - 4:30 PM)
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Dr. Charles Chiu (Talk – Mar 4, 3:30 - 3:45 PM)
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Dr. Michael Snyder (Talk – Mar 6, 2 - 2:15 PM)
If you would like to connect with us, please fill out the form in the link below with your contact information!
In addition, our partner, the All of Us Research Program, will also be in attendance at booth #D1141.
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Nutrition & Supplementation in Clinical Care Conference 2026
January 29-February 1 | Carlsbad, CA
This research meeting is focused on practical clinical care applications for nutrition and supplementation science, with special emphasis on a wide range of conditions and populations—including chronic pain, menopause, long COVID, mitochondrial dysfunction, ADHD, neurodivergence, and thyroid disorders. Additional sessions will explore inclusive, weight-neutral care, global botanical traditions, environmental toxins, and the emerging role of AI and wearables in personalized nutrition.
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Conference for Health Equity and Public Good: Beyond Surviving to Thriving
February 4-5 | Virtual
The Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine is hosting a two-day virtual gathering centered on equity in health care. Community members, leaders, learners, and clinicians are encouraged to attend.
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Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations
February 18-20 | San Antonio, TX
The Mays Cancer Center and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio is hosting a biennial “Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos and All Populations” conference in San Antonio, Texas. The conference will focus on improving access to preventive screenings, treatments, and survivorship and palliative care.
| | Find more external events on CIAPM's website. | |
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1215 O Street, 11th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Reception Desk: (916) 322-2318
E-Mail: ciapm@chhs.ca.gov
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