Biosensing

The Biosensing Program supports innovative, transformative and insightful fundamental investigations of original technologies with broad long term impact and applications that require novel use of bio-inspired engineering principles and sophisticated devices to meet the engineering and technology needs of the nation. The program is targeting research in the area of the monitoring, identification and/or quantification of biological phenomena and will support potential technological breakthroughs that exist at the intersection of engineering, life science and information technology. Projects submitted to the Program must advance both engineering and life sciences. The development of novel principles and devices will require highly collaborative interactions between engineers, life scientists and experts in nanotechnology, biomaterials, bioinformatics, and the chemical and physical sciences. The Program recognizes the important role of education and workforce development specifically relevant to the multidisciplinary nature of the area of biosensing. Research topics of particular interest in Biosensing include fundamental work on: Highly sensitive and discriminative biosensing New approaches in integrated sensor systems, probe development and actuatorsNovel robust and easy to operate sensor systems with a highly selective response to multiple analytes under variable conditions, with significantly reduced false positives and false negative responses and increased sensitivity Innovative ideas in the development of novel biorecognition strategiesMultifunctional nanomaterials with predefined physical, chemical or biological characteristics for biosensing applications Biosensing proposals outside of these specific interest areas are welcome; however, the PI should contact the Program Director prior to submission.Examples of particular interest in biosensing technologies:Fundamental understanding and study of bio-macromolecules (proteins, peptides, etc.) confinement and orientation at the micro- and nano-interfaces for high-throughput biosensing applications Plasmonic nanostructuresNew biorecognition strategies based on artificial recognition elements and synthetic peptides New molecular sensors capable of monitoring biological structures interaction (protein-protein interactions, cell-to-cell talk, interkingdom signaling, etc.)New approaches that allow for highly selective and reversible recognition events (i.e. methods for triggering dissociation of analytes from antibodies) for extending continuous monitoring technologies Other novel biosensing approaches are welcome as well.Proposals should address the novelty of the concept being proposed, compared to previous work in the field. Also, it is important to address why the novelty might be important in terms of engineering science, as well as to also project the potential impact on society and /or industry of success in the research. The information requested in this paragraph should be included, as a minimum, in the Project Summary of each proposal. The duration of unsolicited awards is generally one to three years. The typical award size for the program is $100,000 for individual investigators or $200,000 for multiple investigators per year (including indirect cost). Small equipment proposals up to $100,000 will also be considered and may be submitted during these windows. Any proposal received outside the announced dates will be returned without review.The duration of Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program awards is five years and the award maximum size is $400,000. The submission deadline for Engineering CAREER proposals is in July every year. Please see the following URL for more information:http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503214 Proposals for Conferences, Workshops, and Supplements may be submitted at any time, but must be discussed with the program director before submission.Grants for Rapid Response Research (RAPID) and EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) replace the SGER program. Please note that proposals of these types must be discussed with the program director before submission. Further details are available in the PAPPG download..