Engineering Biological and Biomedical Systems (EBBS)
The EBBS program funds research that uses engineering to understand, control, and improve biological systems and processes, supporting innovations in biotechnology and health but not drug development or clinical trials.
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: Proposals accepted anytime
Funding Amounts: No specified ceiling/floor; typical NSF awards in this area range from $100,000–$500,000/year for 3–5 years
Summary: Supports fundamental engineering research to advance understanding and control of biological and physiological systems, enabling new biomedical technologies and improved biological processes.
Key Information: Proposals focused on drug design, drug delivery, animal model development, or clinical trials are not supported.
Description
The Engineering Biological and Biomedical Systems (EBBS) program funds research that advances the engineering of biological and physiological systems with the goal of improving human health and expanding biotechnological capabilities. This program emphasizes the integration of experimental and computational approaches to develop new platforms, devices, organisms, tissues, and processes that provide novel insights and control over biological functions. Supported topics include, but are not limited to:
- Mechanistic studies of microbial populations, cells, therapeutic cells, and tissues.
- Engineering principles underlying biological system responses and bioreactor function.
- Development of biosensing platforms and innovative optical imaging/modulation strategies.
- Design of biological systems that sense and respond to new stimuli.
- Research on tissue changes, injury, or restoration/replication of tissue or organ function.
- Rehabilitation engineering and research driven by the needs of persons with disabilities.
- Biomanufacturing advances relevant to biotechnology or health.
The program does not support projects whose main goal is drug design, drug delivery, animal model development, therapy validation, or clinical trials. Limited studies involving human volunteers may be supported if appropriate to the research objectives. Projects primarily focused on commercialization are directed to the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP).
