Opportunity Information: Apply for PD 11 5345
Apply for PD 11 5345
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biomedical Engineering" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041 Engineering Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 8, 2011 and posted on Dec 3, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by replaced by 12 5345. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $10,400,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $600,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 65 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
This National Science Foundation (NSF) Biomedical Engineering (BME) grant opportunity funds fundamental, discovery-level research that sits directly at the interface of engineering and the life sciences. The program is designed to help investigators turn novel, high-risk or transformative ideas into research advances that can eventually benefit humanity over the long term. While projects may ultimately influence disease diagnosis, treatment pathways, healthcare delivery, or future products, the emphasis is on foundational engineering and scientific knowledge rather than near-term clinical validation, and clinical studies are explicitly not supported.
The program is organized around two core themes, and applicants are expected to align their work to one or both of them. The first theme is Neural Engineering, covering areas such as brain science, computational neuroscience, brain-computer interfaces, neurotechnology, and cognitive engineering. The second theme is Cellular Biomechanics, focused on motion, deformation, and forces in biological systems, including how mechanical forces influence cell growth, differentiation, movement, signaling, transport, adhesion, cytoskeletal dynamics, and interactions between cells and the extracellular matrix. This theme also includes genetically engineered stem cell differentiation when it has credible long-term implications for tissue repair and regenerative medicine.
A key compliance detail is that for unsolicited proposals and CAREER proposals, the principal investigator must specify the relevant BME theme(s) on the last line of the Project Summary page. Proposals that do not clearly indicate alignment, or that fail to fit the program themes, risk being mismatched to the program or declined during processing. More broadly, the program expects applicants to make a strong case that the work advances both engineering and the life/medical sciences, not just one or the other, and that the project is genuinely interdisciplinary in approach and impact.
In terms of what the NSF is trying to fund, the program emphasizes transformative methods, models, and tools for understanding and controlling living systems. Examples of priorities include fundamental improvements in how information is derived from cells, tissues, organs, or organ systems; new approaches to designing structures or materials intended for eventual medical use; and novel technological pathways that could reduce healthcare costs in the long run. The NSF also highlights balance across theory, mathematical modeling, and experimentation, signaling that purely experimental or purely computational projects can be appropriate, but stronger proposals often integrate these elements in a cohesive way. Importantly, projects do not have to be hypothesis-driven, and computational modeling can be central or included as a major component.
The solicitation places special weight on novelty and articulation of significance. Applicants are expected to explain what is new compared to prior work, why that novelty matters for engineering science itself, and how success could plausibly influence society and/or industry over time. At minimum, this novelty-and-impact rationale should appear in the Project Summary, so reviewers can quickly understand what changes if the work succeeds and why it is more than an incremental step.
From an award and timing standpoint, the opportunity is a discretionary grant program in the NSF Engineering portfolio (CFDA 47.041), historically anticipating around 65 awards and about $10.4 million in total funding under the archived listing. The archived notice lists an award floor of $300,000 and a ceiling of $600,000, while also describing typical annual funding levels of about $100,000 per year for individual-investigator projects and about $200,000 per year for multi-investigator projects (including indirect costs), with unsolicited awards generally lasting one to three years. Small equipment proposals under $100,000 may also be considered, provided they are submitted during the designated submission windows. Proposals submitted outside the published windows are returned without review, so timing is treated as a hard requirement rather than a suggestion.
The solicitation also notes special NSF mechanisms and how they are handled. CAREER awards in Engineering run for five years, with an annual CAREER deadline typically in July. Conference, workshop, and supplement proposals may be submitted at any time, but only after discussion with the program director. RAPID and EAGER proposals (which replaced the older SGER mechanism) likewise require prior discussion with the program director before submission. These pre-submission conversations are presented as an expectation, not an optional courtesy, and are meant to ensure the request fits the mechanism and program scope before an application is formally filed.
Administrative details from the archived record include Funding Opportunity Number PD 11 5345, posted December 3, 2010, with submission windows historically listed as February 1 to March 1 and August 15 to September 15 (due by 5 p.m. local time). The listing indicates the opportunity was later replaced by NSF 12 5345, which is relevant if someone is tracking the most current version rather than the archived notice. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types can apply, subject to any clarifications in NSF policy and the program text, and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement stated in the record.
NSF Biomedical Engineering (BME) Grant Opportunity FAQs
What is this NSF Biomedical Engineering (BME) program intended to fund?
This program funds fundamental, discovery-level research at the interface of engineering and the life sciences. The focus is on advancing foundational engineering and scientific knowledge, especially high-risk or potentially transformative ideas that could lead to long-term benefits for humanity.
Is the program focused on near-term clinical validation or product development?
No. While a project may eventually influence disease diagnosis, treatment pathways, healthcare delivery, or future products, the emphasis is not on near-term clinical validation. The solicitation explicitly states that clinical studies are not supported.
What are the two main themes applicants must align with?
Applicants are expected to align their work with one or both of these themes:
- Neural Engineering: brain science, computational neuroscience, brain-computer interfaces, neurotechnology, and cognitive engineering.
- Cellular Biomechanics: motion, deformation, and forces in biological systems, including how mechanical forces influence cell growth, differentiation, movement, signaling, transport, adhesion, cytoskeletal dynamics, and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. This also includes genetically engineered stem cell differentiation when it has credible long-term implications for tissue repair and regenerative medicine.
Do proposals have to fit exactly one theme, or can they span both?
Proposals can align with one theme or both. The key requirement is that the proposal clearly indicates alignment with the program themes and fits the program scope.
What is a critical compliance detail for unsolicited proposals and CAREER proposals?
For unsolicited proposals and CAREER proposals, the principal investigator must specify the relevant BME theme(s) on the last line of the Project Summary page. If alignment is not clearly indicated, the proposal risks being mismatched to the program or declined during processing.
What happens if a proposal does not clearly indicate alignment with the BME themes?
Proposals that do not clearly indicate alignment, or that do not fit the program themes, risk being mismatched to the program or declined during processing.
How interdisciplinary does the project need to be?
The program expects applicants to make a strong case that the work advances both engineering and the life/medical sciences, not just one or the other. Proposals should be genuinely interdisciplinary in approach and expected impact.
What kinds of research approaches does NSF emphasize in this program?
The program emphasizes transformative methods, models, and tools for understanding and controlling living systems. It also signals a balance across theory, mathematical modeling, and experimentation. Purely experimental or purely computational projects can be appropriate, but stronger proposals often integrate these elements cohesively.
Do projects need to be hypothesis-driven?
No. The solicitation states that projects do not have to be hypothesis-driven.
Can computational modeling be the central focus of a proposal?
Yes. Computational modeling can be central to the project or included as a major component.
What are examples of priority areas mentioned for this program?
Examples of priorities include fundamental improvements in how information is derived from cells, tissues, organs, or organ systems; new approaches to designing structures or materials intended for eventual medical use; and novel technological pathways that could reduce healthcare costs in the long run.
How important are novelty and significance in the proposal?
They receive special weight. Applicants are expected to explain what is new compared to prior work, why the novelty matters for engineering science, and how success could plausibly influence society and/or industry over time.
Where should the novelty-and-impact rationale appear at minimum?
At minimum, the novelty-and-impact rationale should appear in the Project Summary so reviewers can quickly understand what changes if the work succeeds and why it is more than incremental.
What is the funding category and CFDA number for this opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant program in the NSF Engineering portfolio, listed under CFDA 47.041 in the archived record.
About how many awards and how much total funding were historically anticipated under the archived listing?
The archived listing historically anticipated around 65 awards and about $10.4 million in total funding.
What are the archived award floor and ceiling?
The archived notice lists an award floor of $300,000 and a ceiling of $600,000.
What are the typical annual funding levels described?
The solicitation describes typical annual funding levels of about $100,000 per year for individual-investigator projects and about $200,000 per year for multi-investigator projects (including indirect costs).
How long do unsolicited awards generally last?
Unsolicited awards generally last one to three years.
Are small equipment proposals allowed?
Small equipment proposals under $100,000 may be considered, provided they are submitted during the designated submission windows.
Are submission windows strict, or can proposals be submitted anytime?
Submission windows are treated as a hard requirement. Proposals submitted outside the published windows are returned without review.
What were the historical submission windows and due time listed in the archived record?
The archived record lists submission windows of February 1 to March 1 and August 15 to September 15, due by 5 p.m. local time.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number shown in the archived record?
The archived record lists Funding Opportunity Number PD 11 5345.
When was the archived opportunity posted?
The archived record indicates it was posted on December 3, 2010.
Is this the most current version of the opportunity?
The listing indicates the opportunity was later replaced by NSF 12 5345, which matters for anyone tracking the most current version rather than the archived notice.
How are CAREER awards handled under this program?
CAREER awards in Engineering run for five years, with an annual CAREER deadline typically in July. The principal investigator must also specify the relevant BME theme(s) on the last line of the Project Summary page for CAREER proposals.
Can conference, workshop, or supplement proposals be submitted under this program?
Yes. Conference, workshop, and supplement proposals may be submitted at any time, but only after discussion with the program director.
What is required before submitting RAPID or EAGER proposals?
RAPID and EAGER proposals require prior discussion with the program director before submission. These discussions are presented as an expectation to ensure the request fits the mechanism and program scope.
What mechanism replaced the older SGER mechanism mentioned in the solicitation context?
The solicitation notes that RAPID and EAGER proposals replaced the older SGER mechanism.
Who is eligible to apply according to the archived record?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types can apply, subject to any clarifications in NSF policy and the program text.
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement is stated in the archived record.
What is one common reason proposals might be declined during processing (before review)?
Two risks are highlighted: submitting outside the published submission windows (which leads to return without review) and failing to clearly indicate or fit within the program themes (which can lead to mismatch or decline during processing).
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PD 11 5345) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Environmental Engineering Apply for PD 11 1440 Funding Number: PD 11 1440 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Environmental Sustainability Apply for PD 11 7643 Funding Number: PD 11 7643 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences Jointly with The National Nuclear Security Administration, Defense Programs High Energy Density Laboratory Plasmas Apply for DE FOA 0000431 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000431 Agency: Chicago Service Center Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| High Performance System Acquisition Enhancing the Petascale Computing Environment for Science and Engineering Apply for 11 511 Funding Number: 11 511 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation Research Apply for 11 512 Funding Number: 11 512 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $2,400,000 |
| EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program Track 2 Apply for 11 513 Funding Number: 11 513 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Defense Production Act Title III High Performance Thermal Batteries Project Apply for BAA 11 09 PKM Funding Number: BAA 11 09 PKM Agency: Air Force Research Lab Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Electronic Warfare Technology Apply for ONRBAA11 006 Funding Number: ONRBAA11 006 Agency: Office of Naval Research Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ethics Education in Science and Engineering Apply for 11 514 Funding Number: 11 514 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Cyberinfrastructure Training, Education, Advancement, and Mentoring for Our 21st Century Workforce (CI TEAM) Apply for 11 515 Funding Number: 11 515 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Aerospace Medicine, Clinical Research, Human Performance Research, and Expeditionary Medicine Apply for BAA 11 01 HPW Funding Number: BAA 11 01 HPW Agency: Air Force Research Lab Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cyber enabled Manufacturing Systems (CeMS) Apply for ONRBAA11 003 Funding Number: ONRBAA11 003 Agency: Office of Naval Research Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| Fisheries Science Exchange Apply for L11AS00008 Funding Number: L11AS00008 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| OPPORTUNITIES FOR PAYLOADS REQUIRING A NEAR ZERO OR REDUCED GRAVITY ENVIRONMENT MATURING CROSSCUTTING TECHNOLOGIES THAT ADVANCE MULTIPLE FUTURE SPACE MISSIONS TO FLIGHT READINESS STATUS. Apply for NND11366916O Funding Number: NND11366916O Agency: NASA Dryden Flight Research Center Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Soldier Centric Imaging via Computational Cameras (SCENICC) Apply for DARPA BAA 11 26 Funding Number: DARPA BAA 11 26 Agency: DARPA Defense Sciences Office Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cyber Physical Systems Apply for 11 516 Funding Number: 11 516 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| DHS HS STEM Career Development Grants (CDG) for Post Secondary Institutions Apply for DHS 11 ST 104 001 Funding Number: DHS 11 ST 104 001 Agency: Office of Procurement Operations Grants Division Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| SciDAC Earth System Model Development Apply for DE FOA 0000452 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000452 Agency: Chicago Service Center Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $800,000 |
| Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program Apply for 11 517 Funding Number: 11 517 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $3,250,000 |
| ROSES 2010 Astrophysics Research and Analysis Apply for NNH10ZDA001N APRA Funding Number: NNH10ZDA001N APRA Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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