GENOMICS, GENETICS AND EPIGENETICS RESEARCH PROGRAM PROGRAM CODE: GGE PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The Genomics, Genetics and Epigenetics (GGE) Research Program consists of 61 members, including laboratory-based scientists, clinicians/clinical trialists, and computational biologists, belonging to 17 different academic departments, including three members of the National Academy of Sciences and three members of the National Academy of Medicine. Program members are bound together by shared interests in studying the cancer genome and epigenome, and in translating this knowledge into the development of new drugs, new therapeutic strategies, and diagnostic tests. The Program has three major research aims: (1) To identify and characterize genetic, epigenetic and transcriptional changes that drive cancer initiation, progression, and immune evasion; (2) To develop new analytical tools, data resources, and laboratory models that enable a deep and comprehensive understanding of the cancer genome and epigenome; and (3) To translate genomic observations into clinically useful diagnostic and prognostic tests and develop new therapies that exploit genomic and epigenetic alterations in cancer. GGE guides recruitment of new YCC members, fosters collaborations, provides mentorship, and develops technology platforms and data analysis tools to accomplish the overarching programmatic and YCC goals. In alignment with YCC priorities, the GGE Program serves the YCC catchment area by prioritizing the study of breast and liver cancer and by focusing on cross-cutting themes including obesity, metabolism and young adults with cancer. To achieve these goals, GGE organizes monthly research seminars and interest groups in which members and trainees share their ongoing research to solicit feedback, nucleates new intra- and inter-programmatic teams, and disseminates information within and across programs. GGE also holds special retreats/symposia on cancer genetics and epigenetics topics, which provide venues to develop collaborations and inspire the development of novel technology platforms and analytical tools that benefit all of YCC. In 2020, GGE introduced an annual programmatic funding mechanism dedicated to the formation of new intra-programmatic teams to kick-start promising novel GGE initiatives. These new initiatives led to GGE research-inspired investigator-initiated clinical trials and increased collaborations between the GGE Program and other YCC Programs. GGE has grown by 13 new members since its last renewal. GGE Program members are training the next generation of scientists, including 240 graduate students and 232 postdocs and clinical fellows. During this award period, GGE Program members published 520 cancer-focused papers with 34% in high-impact journals. Of these, 42% were inter-programmatic collaborations and 16% were intra-programmatic publications, which demonstrate strong interactions among GGE members as well as between GGE and other programs. GGE’s total can...