Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Core Programs
This grant supports research to understand living systems at molecular and cellular levels, emphasizing mechanistic insights and interdisciplinary approaches across various scientific disciplines.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
U.S. National Science Foundation has archived this opportunity.
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: Proposals accepted anytime (no deadline)
Funding Amounts: ~$110M total per year for all new awards; typical project duration 3–5 years
Summary: Supports fundamental research in molecular and cellular biosciences, emphasizing mechanistic, quantitative, and integrative studies across biological scales.
Key Information: No limit on proposal submissions; proposals focused solely on human disease/treatment are generally not eligible.
Description
This program funds research that advances the understanding of the fundamental properties and mechanisms of living systems at the molecular and cellular levels. Supported projects span four core clusters: Molecular Biophysics, Genetic Mechanisms, Cellular Dynamics and Function, and Systems and Synthetic Biology. The program encourages proposals that are mechanistic, quantitative, predictive, and integrative, especially those bridging disciplines such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics, and physics. Interdisciplinary, high-risk/high-reward, and transformative ideas are welcome, as are projects that cross the boundaries between clusters or integrate with other areas of biology.
Special tracks include:
- EXPAND MCB in EPSCoR: For collaborations led by organizations in EPSCoR jurisdictions to build research capacity.
- Integrative Research in Biology (IntBIO): For collaborative, cross-disciplinary projects seeking holistic biological understanding.
Projects focused exclusively on understanding or treating human diseases are generally not supported unless they significantly advance other scientific fields.
