Biophotonics, Advanced Imaging, and Sensing for Human Health  (BISH)

PROGRAM GUIDELINES

Apply to PD 08-7236 as follows:

For full proposals submitted via FastLane: standard Grant Proposal Guidelines apply.
For full proposals submitted via Grants.gov: NSF Grants.gov Application Guide; A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov Guidelines apply (Note: The NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/docs/grantsgovguide.pdf)

SYNOPSIS

Innovative basic research in photonics, imaging, and sensing that is very fundamental in science and engineering is needed to lay the foundation for new technologies beyond those that are mature and ready for application in medical diagnostics and therapies.

Developing molecularly specific sensing (molecular photonics), imaging, and monitoring systems with high sensitivity and resolution would be an enormous accomplishment with powerful applications to both biology and medicine.  Low cost diagnostics will require novel integration of photonics, molecular biology, and material science.  Complex biosensors capable of detecting and discriminating among large classes of biomolecules could be important not only to biology and medicine, but also to environmental sensing and homeland security.

The BISH program supports innovative research of biophotonic, imaging, and sensing technologies for applications in human health.  Examples of topics are:

• Low Coherence Sensing at the Nanoscale - - Low coherence enhanced backscattering (LEBS), n-dimensional elastic light scattering, and angle- resolved low coherence interferometry for early cancer detection (dysplasia)
  
  
• Macromolecule Markers - - Innovative methods for labeling of macromolecules, new compositions of matter/methods of fabrication of multi-color probes such as might be used for in-vitro marking and detection of specific pathological cells and or pathogens
  
  
• Multi-probe Molecular Manipulations - - New optical approaches that permit specific molecular action on cells which conjointly bind two or more different probes with specificity for different macromolecular markers
  
  
• Neuro-photonics - - Development of new biocompatible detection technologies that could serve as massively parallel interfaces for communicating with networks of cells such as brain tissue slices. Studies of photon activation of neurons at the interface of nanomaterials attached to cells
  
  
• Biomimetic and Miniaturized Devices - - Innovative miniaturized optical tools or devices for the interrogation and manipulation or creation of specific reactions in complex cell or organ culture
  
  
• Photon-cell Interactions - - Fundamental studies of novel photonic properties of nanoparticles and optical reporters and their interaction with cells and their internal organelles

Examples of fundamental engineering research on technologies for human health that are of interest include:

• Nanoparticle fluorescent quantum-dots
  
  
• Novel waveguiding structures
  
  
• Plasmon surface resonance and plasmonic nanostructures
  
  
• Nanofluidics and nanochannel interconnects
  
  
• Bio-inspired device concepts (lens microarrays)
  
  
• Novel multi-function/multi-spectral focal plane arrays
  
  
• Radiation sources and detectors (from IR to extreme UV)
  
  
• Miniature power sources (nano-bio-batteries)
  
  
• Photonic bandgap devices
  
  
• Novel refractive index materials
  
  
• N-dimensional photonic crystal microcavities
  
  
• Quantum cascade photonics

The duration of unsolicited awards is generally one to three years.  The average annual award size for the program is $100,000 for individual investigators and $200,000 for multiple investigators.  Please check the NSF Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems Division (CBET) Home Page for the two annual submission windows for unsolicited proposals.  Small equipment proposals up to $100,000 will also be considered and may be submitted during these windows.  Any proposal received outside the announced dates will be returned without review.

The duration of CAREER awards is five years.  The submission deadline for Engineering CAREER proposals is in July every year.  Please see the following URL for more information: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2005/nsf05027/nsf05027.jsp

Proposals for Small Grants for Exploratory Research (SGER), Conferences, Workshops, and Supplements may be submitted at any time, but must be discussed with the program director before submission.

Please refer to the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG), January 2008, (NSF 08-1) when you prepare your proposal.  Chapter II, especially, will assist you.  The GPG is available for download at: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg

THIS PROGRAM IS PART OF

Biomedical Engineering and Engineering Healthcare

Abstracts of Recent Awards Made Through This Program

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