Funder: National Science Foundation
Due Dates: July 15, 2025 (CAREER) | Rolling (Other proposals)
Funding Amounts: Typical awards support 1 graduate student and up to 1 month PI time/year for 3 years; multi-investigator projects may be larger. CAREER awards: 5 years.
Summary: Supports fundamental and transformative research integrating engineering and life sciences to address biomedical problems and advance healthcare.
Key Information: Contact the program director before submitting proposals outside the listed focus areas to avoid return without review.
Description
The National Science Foundation's Engineering of Biomedical Systems (EBMS) program funds fundamental and transformative research that integrates engineering and life sciences to solve biomedical problems with long-term impact on healthcare. Projects are expected to use engineering frameworks (such as design or modeling) to increase understanding of physiological or pathophysiological processes, and must advance both engineering and biomedical sciences.
Supported research areas include:
- Development of validated models (living or computational) of healthy and pathological tissues and organ systems.
- Design and validation of systems integrating living and non-living components for improved understanding of physiology, with future applications in diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment.
- Design and application of technologies and tools to investigate fundamental physiological and pathophysiological processes.
- Advanced biomanufacturing of three-dimensional tissues and organs.
- Quantitative study and engineering of the immune system, including techniques for modulating immune responses to diseases, implants, wounds, and more.
Immediate project goals should focus on advancing fundamental understanding of cell and tissue function in normal or pathological conditions, rather than direct clinical application.
Proposals outside these areas may be considered, but PIs are strongly encouraged to contact the program director before submission to ensure fit.
Exclusions:
- Proposals focused on drug design/delivery, biomedical devices without a living biological component, or development of animal models of disease are not supported.
- Projects centered solely on device/material/algorithm/process design or optimization, without advancing fundamental biomedical science, are not appropriate.
- Clinical trials are not supported, though feasibility studies with human volunteers may be considered if aligned with project objectives.
Due Dates
- Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) proposals: July 15, 2025 (annual, mid-July)
- Unsolicited proposals: Accepted anytime (rolling)
- RAPID, EAGER, and GOALI proposals: Accepted anytime (must discuss with program director before submission)
Funding Amount
- Typical award duration: Up to 3 years for unsolicited proposals.
- Typical budget: Single-investigator awards generally support one graduate student (or equivalent) and up to one month of PI time per year. Multi-investigator projects may be larger.
- CAREER awards: 5 years.
- Larger budgets: Should be discussed with the program director prior to submission.
- Estimated total program funding: $10,400,000 (per Grants.gov).
Eligibility
- Open to a wide range of applicants, including academic institutions, non-profits, and other organizations.
- No cost sharing or matching required.
- Proposals must comply with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).
Application Process
- Submission: Proposals must be submitted via NSF FastLane, Research.gov, or Grants.gov.
- Guidelines: All proposals must follow the requirements in the current NSF PAPPG.
- Pre-submission: Strongly recommended to contact the program director if your project is outside the listed focus areas or if you are considering RAPID, EAGER, GOALI, conference, or supplement proposals.
- Review: Proposals are evaluated for intellectual merit, broader impacts, and compliance with NSF requirements.
Additional Information
- Proposals should clearly address the novelty and/or potentially transformative nature of the work, its importance to engineering science, and its potential societal or industrial impact.
- Proposals not compliant with the PAPPG will be returned without review.
- Related programs may be more appropriate for projects focused on biomaterials, biomechanics, manufacturing systems, biosensing, or device development without a living component. See the program page for guidance.
External Links
- NSF Program Page: Engineering of Biomedical Systems
- NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)
- Browse recent awards for this program
- CAREER Program Description
- Apply via Grants.gov
Contact Information
Name | Phone | Organization | |
---|---|---|---|
Rizia Bardhan | ebms@nsf.gov | (703) 292-2390 | ENG/CBET |
Gretchen J. Mahler | ebms@nsf.gov | (703) 292-7354 | ENG/CBET |
For general NSF inquiries:
- NSF Contact Page
- Email: info@nsf.gov
- Phone: 1-703-292-5111