# Promoting Genetic Counselors in Independent Research Through Advanced Training and Education (PROMOTE-GC)

> **NIH NIH R25** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $252,162

## Abstract

Genetic counseling is increasingly recommended as a key component of genomic medicine across specialties.
Genetic counselors are clinically effective with acumen identifying and interpreting genetic tests, facilitating
cascade genetic testing, and promoting patient empowerment. Many have extensive disease-specific subject
matter expertise and deep clinical insights that are valued by patients and colleagues alike. Despite these
strengths, genetic counselors' research engagement has been limited due to: 1) insufficient practical research
experience, 2) limited didactic research design and methods training, and 3) a narrow professional research
networks all leading to lack of research confidence, particularly in younger genetic counselors. The
consequences are that research questions vital to advancing genomic medicine and ELSI research in which
genetic counselors hold key expertise have been underfunded and under-researched. PROMOTE-GC is a
tailored 18-24 month part-time (12 person-month) research training program for early-mid career genetic
counselors who wish to develop skills to conduct independent genomic medicine or ELSI research that is
designed to overcome these barriers. Recruitment of genetic counselors from communities underrepresented in
genetics and genomics, including those from the disability community, will be prioritized. PROMOTE-GC
leverages the breadth of genomics expertise across Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and collaborates with both
the JHU/NIH Genetic Counseling Training Program and an active NHGRI-funded R25 training program for
undergraduates “Enhancing Diversity among Future ELSI Researchers” to achieve three aims. 1) We will guide
participants in mentored intensive practical research experiences. These include longitudinal engagement with
a research mentoring team, embedding in a funded genomics medicine or ELSI research team to complete a
small research project, draft a grant, and experience mentored supervision of a NIH/GCTP genetic counseling
thesis project or undergraduate ELSI program research experience. 2) We will engage the many resources at
JHU to provide tailored didactic training in research methodology. We plan a Fundamentals of Genetic
Counseling Research course developed specifically for PROMOTE-GC participants and also will guide
participants to enroll in highly-rated research methods courses to meet their interests and professional goals.
We also provide opportunities to attend in-depth offsite research training courses. 3) Finally, we will facilitate
participants in creating a durable, multidisciplinary professional research community to support their future
careers through supporting genetics professional society engagement, assisting in outreach to methods experts
and mentors, and providing deliberative opportunities to engage a diverse community of experts in evaluating
new research and its future implications. The long-term over-arching goal of PROMOTE-GC isto benefit not only
the individual geneti...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10847874
- **Project number:** 1R25HG013471-01
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Cynthia A James
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $252,162
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-05 → 2029-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10847874

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10847874, Promoting Genetic Counselors in Independent Research Through Advanced Training and Education (PROMOTE-GC) (1R25HG013471-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10847874. Licensed CC0.

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