TheEngineering Biological and Biomedical Systems(EBBS)program expandsour understanding of biological and physiological systems,andithelpsimprove humanhealth.ForU.S.leadershipin biotechnology,theengineeringofbiologyisrequiredat every scale.Engineering is needed forsensingbiomarkerstomakingproteinsto restoring functions of the body.InEBBS,fundamentalmechanistic insightsarecombinedwith experimental and computational techniques.Thisapproachhelpsdevelopplatforms, devices, organisms, tissues,andprocesses thatbringnewunderstanding and control of biological functions.
EBBSsupportsstudies of mechanismsthatdrivethe behavior of microbial populations and cells,and of therapeutic cells and tissues.This includes discovering theunderlying engineering principlesthat are needed tocapturethe responses of biological systems and bioreactors.It alsoincludesthecreationofnovelbiosensing platformsandnew optical imaging and modulation strategies.Research that enables the design of biological systems to sense and respond to novel stimuli is welcome. Similarly, projects leading to insight intotissuechangesor injury,andtosystems thatimitateor restorethefunctionsoftissuesororgans areencouraged.
Projects thatadvancerehabilitation engineeringthrough new theories and approaches are supported by the EBBS program. Fundamental engineering research driven by theneeds of persons with disabilitiesis encouraged.
The EBBS programexpandswhat is possible inbiomanufacturing;researchmayadvancebiotechnology and/orhealth.EBBSresearchmustenableimprovedbiological processes,createnovelbiomedical technologies, orachievenewunderstanding of physiological or pathological processes.
EBBSdoesnot support proposalswithamaingoal ofdrug design,drugdelivery, or the development of animal models of disease.Usingexisting models for experimental testing and validation is acceptable. Projectsthatfocus ontesting andvalidatingtherapiesare not supported.Clinical trials are not supported.Limitedstudies involving human volunteers may be supported ifappropriate tothe projectobjectives. Projects focused on commercialization are moreappropriate fortheNSFDirectorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP).
Partnerships:Tospeeddiscovery and innovation, NSF partners with federal agencies, industry, internationalgroups, and others. Current opportunities are atNSF ENG Partnerships.