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NSF Biomedical Engineering (BME) Program (PD 12-5345) - FAQs

1) What is the goal of the NSF Biomedical Engineering (BME) program (PD 12-5345)?

The NSF BME program funds fundamental, discovery-level research that tightly integrates engineering and life science principles to address important biomedical problems with long-term benefit to society. The emphasis is on work that is novel and potentially transformative, rather than incremental development or short-horizon applications.

2) What does NSF mean by "novel" and "potentially transformative" in this program?

Proposals are expected to clearly explain what is new compared to prior work in the field, why the underlying engineering science advances matter, and what broader impacts could follow for society and/or industry if the research succeeds. The program is intended to push foundational ideas, methods, models, and tools that could change future understanding and control of living systems and how biomedical technologies may be designed.

3) What kinds of projects are not a fit for this BME program?

The program is not intended to support incremental development or short-horizon applications. NSF also draws a clear boundary that the program does not support clinical studies.

4) What are the two main research themes within this opportunity?

NSF identifies two primary research themes: (1) Neural Engineering and (2) Cellular Biomechanics.

5) What topics fall under the Neural Engineering theme?

Neural Engineering includes areas such as brain science, computational neuroscience, brain-computer interfaces, neurotechnology, and cognitive engineering. Projects typically sit at the intersection of engineering (for example, signal processing, device design, modeling, control, computation, materials, or systems engineering) and neuroscience or broader life sciences, with an emphasis on new capabilities for measuring, interpreting, or interacting with neural systems.

6) What topics fall under the Cellular Biomechanics theme?

Cellular Biomechanics focuses on motion, deformation, and forces in biological systems, and how mechanical forces influence cell growth, differentiation, migration, signaling, transport, adhesion, cytoskeletal dynamics, and interactions between cells and the extracellular matrix.

7) Does the Cellular Biomechanics theme include stem cell work?

Yes. The theme explicitly includes genetically engineered stem cell differentiation work when it is grounded in biomechanics and has a credible long-term pathway to impact areas like tissue repair and regenerative medicine.

8) How important is it that proposals sit at the interface of engineering and life sciences?

It is central to this program. Proposals are expected to be genuinely at the interface of engineering and the life sciences and to advance both domains, not just apply one to the other.

9) What types of contributions does NSF want to see in funded projects?

NSF highlights several desired contributions, including: new methods, models, and tools for understanding and controlling living systems; fundamental improvements in extracting or deriving information from cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems; new approaches to designing structures and materials that could eventually be used medically; and novel technology directions that could reduce health care costs over time.

10) Are multidisciplinary projects encouraged?

Yes. Multidisciplinary work is explicitly encouraged, as long as the core contribution is fundamental engineering knowledge that could enable new methods and technologies in the longer term.

11) Can proposals be motivated by disease diagnosis, treatment, or health care delivery?

Yes, long-term impacts may relate to disease diagnosis or treatment, improved health care delivery, or product development. However, the program does not support clinical studies.

12) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted for this opportunity.

13) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching.

14) What CFDA program category is this opportunity associated with?

This opportunity is categorized under NSF Engineering Grants (CFDA 47.041).

15) What proposal types does the BME program consider?

The program considers unsolicited proposals and CAREER proposals. It may also consider small equipment proposals under $100,000, conference proposals, workshop proposals, supplement proposals, and, when appropriate, RAPID and EAGER proposals (which require prior discussion with the Program Director).

16) What is required in the Project Summary for unsolicited and CAREER proposals?

For unsolicited and CAREER proposals, the principal investigator must explicitly state the relevant BME theme or themes (Neural Engineering and/or Cellular Biomechanics) on the last line of the Project Summary page. This signals fit to the program.

17) How long are typical unsolicited awards?

Unsolicited awards are generally 1 to 3 years in duration.

18) What funding levels are typical for single-investigator versus multi-investigator projects?

Typical annual funding levels are around $100,000 per year for single-investigator projects or about $200,000 per year for multi-investigator projects. These figures are inclusive of indirect costs.

19) What happens if a proposal requests substantially more than the typical funding levels?

Proposals requesting substantially more than typical levels may be returned without review unless the principal investigator has consulted the Program Director in advance.

20) Are small equipment proposals allowed?

Yes. Small equipment proposals under $100,000 are considered and are intended to be submitted during the program's annual submission window.

21) What are the stated award floor and ceiling amounts for the archived cycle?

For the archived cycle described, NSF listed an award floor of $300,000 and an award ceiling of $600,000.

22) How many awards and how much total funding were anticipated for the archived cycle?

For the archived cycle described, NSF anticipated around 65 awards with an estimated total program funding of $10.4 million.

23) Are there specific submission window requirements?

Yes. Submissions were constrained to a defined window, due by 5 p.m. local time. NSF notes that proposals submitted outside the announced window dates would be returned without review.

24) How do CAREER proposals fit into this program?

The BME program encourages Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) proposals. CAREER awards run for five years and follow the separate annual Engineering CAREER deadline (noted as July).

25) When can conference, workshop, or supplement proposals be submitted?

The program may consider conference, workshop, and supplement proposals, ideally within the regular annual submission window.

26) Can applicants submit RAPID or EAGER proposals to this program?

Yes, the program can entertain RAPID and EAGER proposals when appropriate, but these require discussion with the Program Director before submission.

27) Does strong reviewer feedback guarantee funding?

No. NSF emphasizes that even strong reviewer feedback does not guarantee funding. Award decisions can also depend on portfolio balance across subfields, available funds, overlap with other funding sources, and broader NSF priorities.

28) What is the main boundary between long-term biomedical impact and what NSF will fund here?

The program supports foundational engineering and life-science-integrated research that could enable future biomedical technologies and societal benefits, but it does not support clinical studies and is not intended for incremental or near-term application development.