Foundations of Life (FL)
Forecasted
The U.S. National Science Foundation's Foundations of Life program funds research into the fundamental principles of natural and synthetic living systems across all scales of biological organization.
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Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026 (Full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Varies by project; typical NSF BIO awards range from $100,000–$500,000 per year for 3–5 years
Summary: Supports fundamental research into natural and synthetic living systems to advance understanding of biological organization and mechanisms across scales.
Description
The Foundations of Life (FL) program, offered by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), funds basic research into both natural and synthetic living systems. The initiative spans all scales of biological organization, from biomolecules and supramolecular assemblies through entire organisms. The program encourages projects that deepen understanding of the structure, dynamics, mechanisms, functions, and regulation of living systems, including but not limited to:
- Biomolecular interactions and quantum phenomena
- Supramolecular structure and dynamics
- Cell structure and biomechanics
- Integrated physiological and neural processes
- Developmental mechanisms and epigenetics
Diverse research approaches are encouraged, such as engineering synthetic biological components, systems biology, and computational modeling, with the goal of uncovering principles underlying the complexity of life.
