NSF X-Labs Initiative - From Sequence to Function
NSF X-Labs Initiative - From Sequence to Function supports bioengineering teams developing platform technologies to link protein sequence and structure to predictable or controllable biological function.
Funder: NSF X-Labs
Due Dates: February 8, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. EST (Written proposals)
Funding Amounts: Up to $1.5 billion across the broader NSF X-Labs initiative
Summary: Supports bioengineering teams developing platform technologies that connect protein sequence and structure to predictable or controllable biological function.
Key Information: This opportunity uses an Other Transaction Agreement solicitation rather than NSF’s standard assistance programs.
Description
The National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) seeks NSF X-Labs teams working in bioengineering through the From Sequence to Function topic. The goal is to reliably connect protein sequence and structure to biological function, enabling biological components to be designed rather than discovered.
Teams will develop platform technologies that close the gap between predicting protein structure and understanding proteins’ dynamic behavior. These technologies should enable intentional design of individual proteins or entire genomes whose function is predictable and/or controllable. The broader NSF X-Labs initiative brings together independent teams of researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs for high-risk, high-impact research requiring substantial resources beyond traditional funding mechanisms, with milestone-based federal funding focused on specific scientific challenges.
