History of Genomics Program

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Overview

The History of Genomics Program maintains and provides access to the world’s largest single repository of historically significant materials from the Human Genome Project, one of the most important undertakings in biomedical research of the past century. The program produces and maintains a large oral history collection that features interviews with some of the most influential genomic scientists of the 20th and 21st centuries. The program also fosters and develops original scholarship and educational historical materials and sponsors lectures, events and symposia.

History of Genomics Archive

NHGRI has launched a publicly available and keyword-searchable archive providing full digital access to some of the most significant historical artifacts from the Human Genome Project and other major genomics efforts. To receive more information about gaining access to the database, please send an email to NHGRIHistory@nih.gov.

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A Conversation with the 4 NHGRI Scientific Directors

NHGRI has had four amazing scientific directors that led our Intramural Research Program (IRP): Jefferey Trent, Eric Green, Dan Kastner and Charles Rotimi (our current director). To celebrate our IRP’s 30th anniversary, the scientific directors came together to discuss genomics research, challenges and successes and some fun memories in a two-part video recorded in July 2023.

Watch the Videos

Jeffrey Trent, Eric Green, Dan Kastner and Charles Rotimi

Collections

Virtual Exhibits

NHGRI virtual exhibits use archival materials from our own special collections to tell interesting and important stories from the Human Genome Project and the larger history of genomics.

Oral History Collections

Oral histories capture the perspectives and experiences of those involved in major genomics programs and other NHGRI endeavors. They involve interviews with both NHGRI staff and leaders from the wider genomics research community.

Tributes

NHGRI recognizes pioneers who have left a deep impact on the institute and the genomics community.

Remembering Debbie Nickerson

Educational Resources

Timeline

Eugenics: Its Origin and Development (1883 - Present)

Fact Sheet

Eugenics and Scientific Racism

Events

Roundtable discussion: “The Promise and Perils of Social and Behavioral Genomics”
January 25, 2023
Irreducible Subjects: Disability and Genomics in the Past, Present and Future
October 6, 2022
The history of genomics told through machine learning: A celebration of 10 years of the NHGRI history program
August 4, 2022
Roundtable discussion: "Does genetic and genomic screening keep open the door to eugenics?"
May 25, 2022
The Meaning of Eugenics: Historical and Present-Day Discussions of Eugenics and Scientific Racism
December 2-3, 2021
From the “Baldwin Effect” to Genes of Small Effect: Celebrating the Work of David Depew
July 29, 2021
NHGRI History of Molecular Biology and Genomics Lecture Series
April 2016 - July 2019
Capturing the History of Genomics
April 29 – 30, 2015
A Quarter Century after the Human Genome Project's Launch: Lessons beyond the Base Pairs
December 2015 - May 2016

News

News Release: Capturing this history of the Human Genome Project and beyond
August 24, 2022
News Release: NHGRI oral history collection features influential genomics researchers
March 23, 2017

Publications

Scholarly descriptions and analyses of the major genomics programs and other NHGRI endeavors strive to draw upon the knowledge of institute staff and external genomics experts, while also capturing the expertise of professional historians. This includes a monograph-length study on the history of NHGRI human genomic variation programs from the Haplotype Map Project to the recently completed 1000 Genomes Project, and a special issue of the Journal of the History of Biology on the historical legacy of the Human Genome Project and genomics.