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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NSF Biomedical Engineering (BME) Program (PD 09-5345)

1) What is the NSF Biomedical Engineering (BME) Program (PD 09-5345)?

The NSF Biomedical Engineering (BME) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity that supports fundamental, discovery-level, and potentially transformative research at the interface of engineering and the life sciences. It is intended to help investigators turn novel ideas into high-impact methods, models, tools, and technologies that improve understanding of biological systems and lay groundwork for long-term benefits to human health and healthcare.

2) What kinds of research does this program fund?

The program funds early-stage biomedical engineering research that is rigorous and genuinely interdisciplinary, integrating engineering expertise with life science principles. The emphasis is on advancing foundational knowledge in both engineering and life sciences, including work that balances theory, mathematical or computational modeling, and experiment.

3) Does the program fund clinical studies or clinical trials?

No. While projects may be motivated by future diagnostic or therapeutic applications, the program explicitly does not fund clinical studies. The focus is on foundational research rather than near-term clinical validation.

4) What does NSF mean by "interdisciplinary" for this program?

The solicitation emphasizes that proposals must integrate engineering and life sciences in a genuinely interdisciplinary way. Successful projects should show clear potential to advance both fields, rather than applying standard engineering techniques to biomedical problems in an incremental way.

5) What types of advances is NSF looking for in BME proposals?

The program highlights high-impact advances such as: new methods for understanding and controlling living systems; major improvements in extracting information from cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems; innovative approaches to designing structures and materials intended for eventual medical use; information technology relevant to biotechnology (including bioinformatics); and new technology-driven approaches that could reduce healthcare costs over time.

6) Are incremental improvements or routine applications of known techniques competitive?

The description indicates that the work should be more than an incremental application of known techniques. NSF is looking for research that either creates new fundamental engineering knowledge or uses existing technologies in novel ways to generate fresh fundamental insight in biology and medicine.

7) What topical themes does the NSF BME program cover?

Proposals are expected to align with one or more of the program themes, which include: neural engineering; computational and multiscale modeling (including biocomplexity); cardio/pulmonary systems engineering; gene and drug delivery systems; cellular and tissue engineering (including cellular biomechanics and stem-cell-related approaches with long-term relevance to tissue repair and regenerative medicine); and biomaterials and biomimetics.

8) Do I need to state which BME theme(s) my proposal fits?

Yes. A specific formatting requirement is that the principal investigator must state the relevant BME theme(s) on the last line of the Project Summary page. This signals how the proposal should be categorized for review.

9) How long are typical research awards under this program?

Unsolicited research awards are typically made for one to three years.

10) What are typical funding levels for research awards?

The typical annual funding level is about $100,000 per year (including indirect costs) for a single-investigator project, or about $200,000 per year for multi-investigator efforts.

11) Does the program support small equipment proposals?

Yes. The program considers small equipment proposals up to $100,000, but these must be submitted during the defined submission windows.

12) Are submission windows strict, or can proposals be submitted at any time?

Submission timing is treated as a strict compliance issue. Proposals submitted outside the announced windows are returned without review.

13) What was the full proposal submission window listed in this posting?

The archived posting listed an original full proposal window of August 15 to September 15, 2009, with the same window intended annually thereafter.

14) Is this posting current?

The information provided indicates the posting was later archived and replaced by another listing.

15) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as broadly unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications in the full text.

16) Are there other NSF funding mechanisms related to the BME program?

Yes. The opportunity references several NSF mechanisms that interact with the BME program, including CAREER awards, conference/workshop/supplement proposals, and RAPID and EAGER awards (which replaced the older SGER mechanism).

17) What is the CAREER award timing mentioned for engineering proposals?

CAREER awards run for five years, and the posting notes that Engineering CAREER proposals are generally due in July each year.

18) Can conference, workshop, or supplement proposals be submitted any time?

Yes. Conference, workshop, and supplement proposals may be submitted at any time, but they must be discussed with the program director prior to submission.

19) Do RAPID and EAGER proposals require prior approval or contact?

They require prior discussion with the program director before submission, according to the posting.

20) What proposal preparation and compliance guide should applicants follow?

Applicants are directed to follow the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), January 2009 edition (NSF 09-1), for preparation and compliance requirements.

21) What is the program's stance on projects motivated by diagnostics or therapeutics?

Projects may be motivated by future diagnostic or therapeutic applications, but the funded work must remain focused on foundational research rather than clinical studies or near-term clinical validation.

22) What balance of methods does the program expect in strong proposals?

The solicitation highlights research that balances theory, mathematical or computational modeling, and experiment, aiming for high-impact advances that push both engineering and life sciences forward.

23) Was there any notice about potential changes to the program synopsis or cluster topics?

Yes. The description includes a temporary notice that program synopsis changes could occur after an earlier 2009 window, including the possibility of adding another CBET program to the Biomedical Engineering and Engineering Healthcare cluster. The notice mentions potential topic areas like biosensing, imaging, and food processing (areas handled by existing CBET programs at the time).

24) In one sentence, what is this opportunity best understood as supporting?

It is best understood as NSF support for early-stage, high-impact biomedical engineering research that is rigorous, interdisciplinary, and aimed at long-term transformation rather than short-term clinical trials.