On Aug. 28, 2026, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) announced it has awarded Northwestern University $30 million over five years to establish a new center aimed at uncovering a hidden layer of information within the human genome.

Called the Center for Genome Intelligence Engineering (GENIE), the multi-institutional Science and Technology Center (STC) will integrate experts in physics, biology, engineering, artificial intelligence (AI) and medicine to understand how the genome’s three-dimensional structure helps cells establish their identities, remember past experiences and respond to their environments.

Led by Northwestern biomedical engineer Vadim Backman, GENIE’s national network of researchers ultimately will aim to manipulate this architecture to improve human health. The approach could lead to new ways to help cells withstand injury, restore lost function and regenerate tissues without changing their underlying DNA.

GENIE will be situated within Northwestern’s Querrey Simpson Institute for Regenerative Engineering (QSI RENU), a University-wide institute launched in 2025 with support from trustee Kimberly K. Querrey (’22, ’23 P). QSI RENU unites engineering, medicine and physical and life sciences to develop new approaches for regenerating and restoring damaged tissues and organs. Building on that interdisciplinary foundation and Querrey’s two decades of visionary support of the biosciences, GENIE will extend Northwestern’s strengths in regenerative engineering into the emerging field of genome intelligence engineering. QSI RENU also will provide GENIE with scientific expertise, collaborative infrastructure and an institutional home.

GENIE’s potential could extend far beyond human health. The same principles that help scientists understand and control how human cells remember and adapt could one day be applied to other living systems — from engineering crops that better withstand drought and heat to programming microbes to manufacture fuels, chemicals or other useful materials.