[BMBI Roster]

The Biomaterials and Biointerfaces Study Section [BMBI]  reviews grant applications  (R01, R21, SBIR/STTR, etc.) in materials science and the closely allied field of materials surfaces and their interactions with basic biological systems. The material aspects of biomaterials and surface science concern the design principles and theory and the synthesis, characterization, and optimization of new or existing materials including polymers, composites, metals, ceramics, nanomaterials, hybrid systems of natural and synthetic polymers, and biomimetics. The biological aspects of biomaterials science concern interactions of materials with proteins, membranes, cells, and tissues including studies related to scaffolds for tissue repair/tissue engineering, materials for bioreactors, biocompatibility issues, and microcirculation around implanted biomaterials. Grant applications concerned with biomaterials, biointerfaces, and biofunctional design need not be hypothesis driven, but may use known fundamental principles or theory to discover new basic approaches useful for understanding biological phenomena. Small business applications (SBIR and STTR) in the areas of materials science and technology for environmental monitoring are reviewed in special emphasis panels.

Specific areas covered by BMBI include:

• Research and development of efficient methods to assess biocompatibility of materials including: Predictive, low-cost in vitro and in vivo models with a focus on reliability, accelerated testing, failure analysis, imaging, and improved understanding of the biology-biomaterials interface.
  
  
• Molecular/cellular interfacial interactions including: Protein adsorption, cell adhesion, differentiation and growth, biomolecule function at interfaces, nonfouling surfaces, and bioactive surfaces.
  
  
• New materials development including: Design principles, synthesis of polymers, metals, ceramics, composites, glasses, carbons, biomimetic/bioinspired strategies for synthesis, structure-property relationships of biomaterials, bulk characterization of biomaterials, biodegradable and bioresorbable materials, material processing, and combinatorial approaches to the synthesis of new biomaterials.
  
  
• Nanoscience and nanotechnology including: Nanoparticles, nanostructured surfaces, nanocomposites, nanodevices, and multifunctional nanoparticles.
  
  
• Biomaterials properties including: Biocompatibility, blood/material interactions, toxicity, structure/property relationships, and biodurability.
  
  
• Drug delivery systems including: Carrier materials, fabrication of micro-scale devices, and biocompatibility.
  
  
• Gene delivery systems including: Carrier materials, preparation of biomaterials, biocompatibility, and fabrication of delivery devices.
  
  
• Chip- and microarray-based microtechnology including: Patterning, immobilization chemistry, nonfouling chemistry, detection modalities, MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems), lithography, and microfluidics.
  
  
• Tissue engineering including: New biomaterials and fabrication techniques for tissue engineering, cell-biomaterial interactions, transport and perfusion aspects of tissue engineering, bioreactors, cell and specific cell biology engineering.
  
  
• Self-assembled materials including: Block copolymers, surface assembly, protein assembly, biosignal delivery using self-assembled materials, biorecognition, liposomes, and tethered biomembrane mimics.
  
  
• Biosurface characterization and technology including: Surface analysis, surface modification, lubricity and tribology, and patterning.
  
  
• Biosensors including: Biorecognition, biocompatibility, nonfouling surfaces, and fouling mechanisms.

BMBI has the following shared interests within the BST IRG:

• With Instrumentation and Systems Development [ISD]: The BMBI and ISD study sections share interests in the areas of development of microarray and nanoscale technologies and in sensing devices and associated surface chemistries. Applications that focus on the materials and surface chemistry for a wide range of purposes may be directed to BMBI, whereas applications with major emphasis on materials fabrication for use in instrumentation development may be directed to ISD.
  
  
• With Gene and Drug Delivery Systems [GDD]: The GDD and BMBI study sections have shared interests in development and application of synthetic and biological materials for gene and drug delivery, including the incorporation of genetic material into bulk biomaterials, e.g., for enhancement of tissue engineering strategies.  GDD could be assigned studies that focus on the use of biomaterials to deliver genes and drugs into cells.  BMBI could be assigned related studies that focus on synthesis, physical characterization, biocompatibility, and toxicity of new synthetic materials intended for use as gene or drug delivery vehicles.
  
  
• With Microscopic Imaging [MI]: The BMBI and MI study sections share an interest in development of new materials for use as image enhancers and contrast agents. BMBI may review applications emphasizing development of new polymeric or nanoparticle based contrast agents or where materials synthesis, characterization, biocompatibility, and toxicity are prominent, whereas the MI study section may review applications emphasizing small molecule and soluble contrast agents for use in microscopic and micro-imaging applications.
  
  

BMBI has the following shared interests outside the BST IRG:

• With the Biological Chemistry and Macromolecular Biophysics [BCMB]: Applications that focus on biochemical or biophysical principles related to surfaces and to biomaterials could be assigned to BCMB.  Applications that focus on bioengineering principles or technology development related to surfaces and to biomaterials could be assigned to BMBI.
  
  
• Genes, Genomes, and Genetics [GGG]; Cell Biology [CB]; Biology of Development and Aging [BDA]; Immunology [IMM]; Infectious Diseases and Microbiology [IDM]; AIDS and Related Research [AARR]; Oncological Sciences [ONC]; Hematology [HEME]; Endocrinology, Metabolism, Nutrition, and Reproductive Sciences [EMNR]; Digestive Sciences [DIG]; Respiratory Sciences [RES]; Renal and Urological Sciences [RUS]; Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Neuroscience [MDCN]; Integrative, Functional, and Cognitive Neuroscience [IFCN]; Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience [BDCN] IRGs:  Because biomaterials and biointerfaces are relevant to a wide variety of biological and medical devices that are utilized in biological, medical, and clinical applications, BMBI has extensive interests in common with other IRGs.  Where the issues involve research on and development of new materials or biocompatibility, assignment may be to BMBI. Where tissue integration and application to specific biological and medical devices and systems are primary foci, assignment may be to one of the other IRGs above. 
  
  
• With the Cardiovascular Sciences [CVS] IRG: Due to the fundamental role of surfaces in triggering thrombosis and other blood and tissue reactions, the development of cardiovascular devices, including stents, heart valves, vascular grafts, artificial hearts, ventricular assist devices and others, is a significant area of overlap between CVS and BMBI.  Applications on developing such devices for specific clinical or biomedical applications could be assigned to CVS (or SBIB, see below). Basic research and development applications on materials and surfaces that might be used for such devices could be assigned to BMBI.
  
  
• With the Musculoskeletal, Oral and Skin Sciences [MOSS] IRG: Grant applications on dental and orthopedic implants or tissue integration could be assigned to MOSS, whereas grant applications on basic research and development of materials and surfaces that might be used for such implants could be assigned to BMBI.
  
  
• With the Surgical Sciences, Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering [SBIB] IRG:  Basic research and development of biomaterials and biocompatibility may be reviewed in BMBI, whereas research on and development of biomedical materials for specific medical devices or specific clinical applications, may be reviewed in SBIB.