Our overarching goal for the genetics and genomics sub-area is to deepen our understanding of fundamental biological mechanisms. Through these studies, we aim to contribute to human well-being through improvements in human health and agricultural systems. Proposed projects should push beyond incremental advances and demonstrate transformative potential for findings to serve as the basis for future translational and applied research. We welcome ideas for projects focused on making biological discoveries that establish new research directions and enable bold, question-driven projects in the years ahead. 

In 2026, we are prioritizing foundational research with a focus on mechanistically understanding the genetics behind protein activity. We are particularly interested in research that connects genome regulation and RNA-regulatory mechanisms to their downstream effects on protein activity. In turn, our interests extend to how these effects impact cellular and organismal characteristics that contribute to human health and disease (including disease risk and resistance). Understanding the interplay between these layers of regulation will create powerful opportunities to translate fundamental discoveries into practical applications that enhance human health.  

Building on these same principles, we are also interested in genetics-focused projects for crop resilience and sustainability. We are particularly interested in projects that improve stress adaptation and disease resistance in plants through novel phenomena or innovative techniques with the aim of enhancing productivity. 

To enable new research directions for improvements in human health and agricultural systems, we encourage projects that utilize diverse model systems (including synthetic biology-based approaches), develop novel or improved genetic approaches and tools (e.g., improvement in scale, throughput, resolution), and/or integrate computational and experimental methods. We are also supportive of opportunities to work across disciplines to bridge gaps and advance genomics research and technology development through collaborative partnerships.  

Projects focused on translational research (except crop studies), clinical studies, clinical tools development, or conservation studies will NOT be considered.  

In 2026, the John Templeton Foundation is launching a Foundation-wide Intelligence Venture. Life Sciences will join this Venture by supporting projects that deepen our understanding of intelligence across all its forms: biological, synthetic, and artificial intelligence (AI). We aim to explore the shared principles and key differences between evolved life and engineered systems, while supporting new technologies that test fundamental questions about the nature of intelligence. Our interests are in the following three areas: 

• Learning about the diversity of intelligence. We seek proposals exploring the many distinct and unexpected ways intelligence manifests. This includes information processing in animals, effects of genetics on individual learning and intelligence, non-neural intelligence in plants and fungi, and forms of intelligence that challenge traditional brain-centric views. We encourage work on synthetic and artificial intelligence that are inspired by nature and replicate these features. 

• Expanding our vision of intelligence through a greater understanding of collective intelligence. We invite proposals that investigate how intelligence emerges and operates within complex and interconnected systems that go beyond individual intelligence. This includes studies of distributed and shared intelligence, interspecies interactions, emergence of intelligence in biohybrid systems, and unconventional collective intelligence (e.g., emerging cognitive and decision-making abilities in cellular networks, engineered systems, and decentralized AI).  

• Advancing forms of technological intelligence. By building synthetic intelligences from the ground up, we seek to test fundamental theories about the origins and nature of intelligence — whether models of biological, computational, or hybrid systems. We welcome proposals that explore ways to advance intelligence in synthetic and engineered systems, with the aim of developing smarter technologies that can better serve humanity. This includes use of synthetic biology to design minimal genetic circuits capable of achieving rapid adaptation and learning, alternative computing paradigms (e.g., neuromorphic, liquid computing), and AI models with unusual training dynamics and self-improvement loops.