Illumina is committed to supporting researchers working to advance our understanding of genetic disease. The Illumina 5-base solution enables integrated genomic and epigenomic analysis by combining genetic variation and DNA methylation analysis from the same sample.
Integrating genomic and epigenomic analysis for genetic disease research
Grant contest goals
Illumina invites eligible researchers to propose innovative genetic disease research projects using the Illumina 5-base solution to investigate genetic variation and DNA methylation from the same sample. This grant contest is designed to support studies that may help expand understanding of disease mechanisms, regulatory variation, complex genomic findings, and methylation-associated biology in genetic disease research.
Key goals of the contest include:
- Support innovative genetic disease research using integrated genomic and epigenomic analysis
- Enable study designs that explore DNA methylation alongside genetic variation
- Advance research into complex or unresolved genetic disease mechanisms
- Support discovery-oriented applications that may include regulatory variation, repeat expansions, structural variation, imprinting, mosaicism, or methylation-associated biology
- Increase visibility of researchers and their work through Illumina-sponsored or approved activities
This contest invites eligible researchers to propose impactful genetic disease-focused studies using Illumina 5-Base DNA Prep kit. The Illumina 5-base solution simultaneously interrogates genetic and epigenetic variation, providing a unified approach for characterizing genetic disease mechanisms.
Learn more about the Illumina 5-base solution
Contest overview
Eligible applicants are invited to submit a 400-word abstract for a new project using the Illumina 5-base solution. The award provides kits and core consumables sufficient for up to 500 samples. Applications are due 11:59 PM PST January 20, 2027.
The winner will be selected from all qualified applications by an advisory committee comprised of Illumina Medical Affairs scientists and/or other approved reviewers, who will choose the applications based on the following criteria:
Award
The selected award recipient will receive Illumina 5-Base DNA Prep kit and core consumables to cover up to 500 samples. The prize is intended to help researchers generate integrated genomic and epigenomic data for genetic disease research using the Illumina 5-base solution.
The winner will be announced on March 1, 2027.
Key dates
Application opens: (ASHG 2026) October 20, 2026
Submission deadline: January 20, 2027 by 11:59 PM PST
Winner announcement: March 1, 2027
Who should apply
This contest is intended for eligible researchers proposing genetic disease research studies that use next-generation sequencing (NGS) and the Illumina 5-base solution. Suitable proposals may include discovery, translational research, or method-development projects that apply integrated genomic and epigenomic analysis to genetic disease research.
Proposed audiences may include researchers studying rare disease, neurodevelopmental disease, inherited disease, unresolved genetic disorders, complex disease, or other genetic disease research areas. Complete eligibility criteria are defined in the official terms and conditions.
Research area examples:
- Unresolved or rare genetic disease research
- Genome-wide analysis of genetic variation and DNA methylation
- Research into regulatory or epigenomic contributors to disease biology
- Studies involving complex genomic regions, structural variation, repeat expansions, or difficult-to-resolve findings
- Research exploring methylation patterns associated with genetic disease mechanisms
- Development of integrated analysis approaches for genetic disease research applications
How to apply
Submit a 400-word abstract describing a proposed genetic disease research project using the Illumina 5-base solution. Abstracts should be concise and should clearly describe the research objective, study design, proposed sample types, anticipated analysis approach, and expected scientific impact related to integrated genomic and epigenomic analysis.
Recommended abstract sections and what to include
- Research objective: The genetic disease research question and relevance of integrated genomic and epigenomic analysis.
- Study design: The proposed sample type, sample number, sequencing approach, and use of Illumina 5-base kit.
- Analysis plan: The proposed approach for analyzing and interpreting genomic variation and DNA methylation data.
- Feasibility: The proposed sample set, timeline, and available expertise demonstrating project feasibility.
- Scientific impact: The potential to generate new knowledge or technical capabilities for genetic disease research.
Judging criteria
A panel of Illumina scientists and executives will review submissions based on scientific merit, novelty, feasibility, potential scientific impact, and alignment with Illumina values.
Full terms and conditions for participants
Publication of project results:
All grant submissions are confidential to the individual submitter and will not be published or distributed, provided, however, Illumina may share them with their own staff and distributors, who will not disclose them to third parties. Illumina may support the grant advertising efforts.
The winner will be selected by a panel of judges selected by Illumina. The panel may include representatives from Illumina. Upon project completion, the grant winner agrees to participate in at least one of the following activities relating to the specific project, with specific details of the applicable activity to be mutually agreed upon in good faith by Illumina and the winner: webinar, press release, case study, blog post, poster presentation, and/or conference presentation. The winner agrees that Illumina shall have the right to publicly announce the winner’s name and research title and use anonymized data from the winner's projects in application notes including in marketing materials and seminars—no public display of data will happen without prior consent from the winner.
Eligibility and requirements:
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and actively enrolled or employed at a research institution in a capacity in which they perform life science research and can process samples within six (6) months of award notification.
Applications must be:
- Complete
- An original work
- Entries must be complete and submitted in English
- Members of the immediate families of Illumina employees and directors, and/or persons living in the same household as such persons, are ineligible to participate in this grant program.
- Residents of France or individuals who are employed by or affiliated with French persons (including businesses, research institutions, government and private organizations, individuals, and other types of legal persons).
- Also ineligible are (1) residents of the Russian Federation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, or any country subject to U.S. embargo; (2) any persons (including businesses, research institutions, government and private organizations, individuals, and other types of legal persons) on the U.S. government’s Denied Persons List, Specially Designated Nationals list, Entity List, Unverified List, or any other similar list maintained by the U.S. government or any other government to whose laws Illumina, their subsidiaries or affiliated companies, the scientific challenge, or such person is subject, and all individuals employed thereby or otherwise associated therewith; and (3) any persons for whom it would be illegal to participate in or win the scientific challenge, or with or to whom it would be illegal for Illumina to interact or award the prize as contemplated herein.
- This program is void where prohibited or otherwise restricted by law.
- Applicant represents and warrants that applicant's participation in this research grant contest does not and will not violate any rules, regulations, or policies of applicant’s institution/company.
- Use of the Prize shall be governed by Illumina standard Terms and Conditions of Sale.
- Applicants agree to obtain all authorizations and permissions from their institution/company that are required to participate in this research grant contest, and if selected, receive the Prize.
- Applicants acknowledge and agree that any submission made hereunder, and if selected, the receipt of Prize, is not being made in exchange for any promise of business to Illumina.
- You represent that you own or have the right to use and/or transfer any and all Intellectual Property (as subsequently defined) which you use in the submission. Intellectual Property shall include all rights, titles and interest in and to any patent, design, invention, technology, trademark, trade dress, copyright, know-how, trade secret, specification, formula, device, system, method, solution, process, document, result and any other proprietary right, information data or form of intellectual property, in any form, whether protectable by registration or not.
- IN NO EVENT SHALL ILLUMINA, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, OR AGENTS, BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER ARISING UNDER OR AS A RESULT OF ENTRANCE IN OR PARTICIPATION IN THE OFFER, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, AND WHETHER OR NOT ILLUMINA IS ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THE FOREGOING LIMITATION OF LIABILITY SHALL APPLY TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
- ILLUMINA’S TOTAL AND CUMULATIVE LIABILITY ARISING UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER SHALL IN NO EVENT EXCEED THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE REAGENTS ELIGIBLE UNDER THE OFFER.
Miscellaneous:
By submitting a grant application, each applicant agrees that Illumina may use his or her name, abstract title, for marketing purposes.
Illumina or its affiliates may disclose the grant, including its terms, the identity of the winner, the nature of the relationship, the Prize (including it's monetary value), and any other transfers of value, in order to comply with applicable transparency laws and standards (e.g., Physician Payments Sunshine Act, Loi Bertrand, MedTech Europe, etc.).
All grant applicants agree that Illumina may process the personal data he or she provides as part of application, including sharing such data with Illumina’s partners, collaborators and other third parties who are obligated to keep the data confidential, and in accordance with Illumina’s privacy policies.
Applicants agree that Illumina may use applicant’s names, email addresses and affiliated institution to contact applicants for purposes of marketing of its products and services in accordance with the Illumina privacy policy here.
The grant award winner may be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility, release of liability, a publicity release, and other appropriate legal documentation reasonably requested by Illumina. No substitution or transfer of the awarded prize is allowed except as permitted by Illumina. The award winner is responsible for any local tax liability (city, state, or federal) occurred by winning and accepting the award. If, for any reason, the grant program may not run as planned for any causes beyond the reasonable control of Illumina, then Illumina reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the grant program. These terms and conditions and any action related to this grant program will be governed by the laws of the State of California without regard to or application of its conflict of law provisions or your state or country of residence. All claims, legal proceedings or litigation arising in connection with these terms and conditions and this grant program will be brought solely in the federal or state courts located in San Diego County, California, and all applicants consent to the jurisdiction of and venue in such courts and waive any objection as to inconvenient forum. By participating in this grant program, each applicant unconditionally accepts and agrees to comply with and abide by these terms and conditions.
Share your research vision toward advancing genetic disease research
Ready to submit your proposal? Use the application link to provide your 400‑word project summary, supporting materials, and required details. All submissions must be complete, original, and received by January 20, 2027.
Benefits of applying
Participating in the Illumina 5‑Base Solution Research Grant Contest offers meaningful advantages for researchers committed to advancing genetic disease discovery. Beyond the possibility of receiving the award, applicants gain opportunities that can elevate both their professional visibility and networking opportunities while also laying the foundation for other future funding opportunities.
Advance your professional research visibility
The winning project receives prominent visibility through featured coverage on the Illumina website and social media channels. This spotlight elevates the researcher’s profile, broadens the reach of their work, and helps increase awareness of impactful approaches to genetic disease research. Showcasing the project in these channels can open doors to new collaborations, attract interest from the wider scientific community, and strengthen the researcher’s professional standing.
Engage with the scientific community
The winner is invited to present research findings at an Illumina‑hosted webinar, symposium, interview, and/or other events and activities. This platform enables direct engagement with peers, technology experts, and leaders in genomics. Presenting in this setting can spark meaningful connections, support knowledge exchange, and help establish new partnerships that drive future scientific progress.
Build momentum for future funding opportunities
Crafting a strong application can contribute to institutional support and position your project for additional external funding. The process may uncover new collaborators, refine hypotheses, or reveal opportunities to expand the scope of your research.