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Warren R. DeVries
Division Director

Biotechnology (BT)

Proposal Due Date:  January 20, 2004

Rapidly advancing frontiers in the biosciences are strongly stimulating the creation and growth of small businesses based on biotechnology. These small businesses connect bioscience discoveries to society through the commercialization of new products, devices, processes, or services. Through their rapid growth, they are creating new jobs for scientists, engineers, and others. Similarly, in the context of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), NSF is committed to connecting scientific discoveries to society at large, translating them into new jobs and other social benefits. Moreover, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) committees have suggested numerous SBIR strategic focus areas that fall within biotechnology. For example, there are growing concerns about the need for early detection of threats posed by bioterrorism. NSF recognizes interest from other federal agencies in biotechnology topics. Our interest is not to duplicate these efforts as such as much as to address those opportunities that are not currently met by other federal agencies.

Congruent with these NSF, NSTC, and GPRA frameworks, and aligned with the objectives of the overall Federal SBIR/STTR program, the NSF SBIR/STTR biotechnology program area solicits proposals targeted toward the generation of innovative new products, devices, processes, or services. The program's main thrust, in accordance with applicable legislation and the NSF mission, is to transform scientific discovery into social benefits and to emphasize private sector commercialization. Proposals must start by identifying the beneficiaries of the proposed technology and their potential for commercialization. Successful proposers will conduct R&D on projects that (1) result in the near-term application of a product, process, or device concept; or (2) greatly enhance the ability of scientists and engineers to conduct fundamental or applied research in a laboratory, field, or research facility.

Projects involving the testing of pharmaceuticals in human clinical trials or animal models are not eligible for support. However, research that has diagnosis- or treatment-related goals and that applies engineering principles to problems in biology and medicine while advancing engineering knowledge is eligible for support, as long as the focus is on practical applications with potential for eventual commercialization. Bioengineering research to aid persons with disabilities is also eligible.

Innovative SBIR/STTR biotechnology proposals that cut across technical disciplines are eagerly sought. For example, in the area of environmental biotechnology, a bioremediation proposal might well involve genetic engineering in microorganisms (with proposal review expertise at NSF residing in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences); environmental microbiology (Division of Environmental Biology); bioreactor design (Division of Bioengineering and Environmental Systems); pollutant transport in porous, adsorptive, and aqueous media (Division of Chemical and Transport Systems); and, for soil bioremediation, soil and fracture mechanics (Division of Civil and Mechanical Systems). Such interdisciplinary proposals will be reviewed by a crosscutting grouping of experts. In particular, a number of new SBIR/STTR biotechnology proposals will likely be related directly to existing NSF interdisciplinary initiatives such as Biocomplexity in the Environment. An example would be work on industrial enzymes derived from genes originally resident in organisms inhabiting extreme environments.

In accordance with the purposes and priorities set forth above, the SBIR/STTR biotechnology program solicits proposals on the following subtopics:

A. Genome Enabled Biotechnology

New capabilities enabling the rapid and massive sequencing of entire genomes of organisms, from microbes to humans, are transforming biological research. In addition, the full complement of proteins expressed by complete genomes is now susceptible to analysis, prediction, and modification of structure, function, and interactions, giving rise to new commercial opportunities. NSF interest is broad here to include all subject matter linked to genomics and proteomics.

B. Biological Informatics (including Biometrics)

Computer power and new mathematical methods are required to harness the vast and expanding data sets that are being explosively generated in all areas of biotechnology, from genomics to ecology. In order to access and make use of these data, research with commercial objectives is needed for the development and implementation of algorithms and software. Examples are:

· The characterization of the relationship of DNA and protein sequence to biological function
· The design of small molecules with biological activity
· The analysis of complex dynamic biological systems, and multiscale ecological modeling

Proposals in the areas of medical informatics and biometrics are also welcome under this subtopic.

C. Biochips

"Biochips" are biologically based microarray and microfluidic devices used for analysis and synthesis. How can they be made at lower cost? How can their applications be expanded?

D. Combinatorial Biotechnology

Proposals are welcome on potential commercial applications of "combinatorial biosynthesis," "combinatorial biocatalysis," and biologically oriented combinatorial chemistry.

E. Environmental Biotechnology (Including Bioremediation)

How can the power of biology be applied to improve and protect the environment? Proposals dealing with applications of biotechnology for a sustainable environment, such as biomining and bioleaching alternatives to smelting, are also included in this subtopic.

F. Ecological Engineering and Biocomplexity in the Environment

Research with commercialization potential is sought for the design and management of ecosystems based on ecological principles and incorporating the self-organizing capacity of natural systems. Specific areas include ecosystem rehabilitation, habitat construction or enhancement, and flood prevention or mitigation.

The term "biocomplexity" refers to phenomena that arise as a result of dynamic interactions that occur within living systems, including human beings, and between these systems and the physical environment, both natural and human made. Biocomplexity encompasses ecological engineering as well as other areas. For further discussion, see Biocomplexity in the Environment (BE): Integrated Research and Education in Environmental Systems.

G. Agricultural and Food Biotechnology

How can biotechnology be applied to crops and food products? How can it enhance food safety? Biological control of pests, use of biotechnological techniques to facilitate modifications in functionality of basic food raw materials for improved product quality following food processing, as well as use of plant genetic engineering and/or plant cell manipulation to produce human therapeutics and industrially useful chemicals in plants and plant tissue cultures are included under this subtopic. Also included here are proposals that deal with food processing and with genetic engineering of animals to produce biologically active molecules.

H. Marine Biotechnology (Including Aquaculture)

How can biotechnology be used to enhance the search for valuable products from the sea and/or to improve their production?

I. Industrial Bioproducts

Proposals are sought on the development of biotechnology based products that may have potential for industrial and / or household use. Examples of such bioproducts include industrial enzymes, biopolymers, neutraceuticals, bioreagents and healthcare related consumer devices.

J. Sensors, Biosensors, Diagnostics and Instrumentation

Proposals that creatively combine concepts in biological sciences with those in electronics and materials science to develop novel and commercially useful sensors, biosensors, diagnostic kits and instrumentation for specific and sensitive detection of biological molecules are sought under this subtopic. Proposals on development of devices that find applications in consumer and industry-based environmental monitoring, for use in healthcare and agri-food sectors, and for defense and homeland security are particularly encouraged.

K. Biomass Processing

Proposals that emphasize use of new biological and engineering methods to transform biomass into commercially useful constituents are sought under this subtopic.

L. Bioprocess Engineering

Linking the expertise of engineering with the life sciences is crucial to the economic manufacture of products of biological origin. An increasing flow of products from genetic engineering and cell fusion technology are continuing to reach the marketplace. Development of novel bioprocess engineering technologies, both upstream and downstream, are needed for economic production.

Examples of proposals solicited under this subtopic include:

· Novel cell culturing systems (or bioreactors) using normal and genetically altered microbial, animal and plant cells;

· Novel approaches to separation and purification of complex and often unstable substances produced in cell culturing systems ; and

· New techniques and technologies for monitoring the metabolic state of cells in a cell culture, and for monitoring and controlling the status of conditions within a cell culturing system (or a bioreactor).

M. Biomedical Engineering / Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities

Bioengineering research with commercial objectives is sought to help improve health care and reduce its costs. Proposals are welcome in the following four areas : (a) Cell, Tissue and Biochemical Processes ; (b) Biomedical Devices and Instrumentation ; (c) Imaging Technologies ; and (d) Rehabilitation Engineering. Examples of subject matter that may fall under this subtopic include:

· Deriving information from cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems; extracting useful information from complex biomedical signals to derive new approaches to the design of structures and materials for eventual medical use
· Devising new means for characterizing, restoring, and/or substituting normal functions in humans, such as advanced prosthetics, hearing, speech, vision technologies, and other assistive technologies
· Novel and/or improved medical imaging and sensing technologies such as in-vivo molecular and cellular imaging and probes
· Biomedical photonics, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), and two-photon imaging/microscopy/spectroscopy; and
· Home care technologies such as mobility enhancement, manipulation ability, cognitive function, and remote patient monitoring

N. Tissue Engineering

Tissue-engineering technologies have opened commercial opportunities for developing polymer/cell structures and systems for biomedical applications.

O. Metabolic Engineering

How can the metabolic pathways in organisms be altered in a targeted and purposeful manner to enable or improve the generation of useful products?

P. Biomaterials

Proposals are sought on developing new materials for biological and biomedical engineering applications. The use of biomimetics to seek novel materials is included under this subtopic.

Q. Pharmaceutical Drug Delivery

Proposals are sought on systems, devices and materials that can improve pharmaceutical dose applications and/or regimens.

R. Biotechnology at the Nanoscale

Proposals are sought on fabrication at the nanoscale involving biomolecules and/or biosystems. Application of nanotechnology for high specificity drug delivery is one potential area of interest.

Please direct inquires to Om Sahai, SBIR/STTR Biotechnology Program Manager, by telephone at 703-292-7795 or by e-mail at osahai@nsf.gov.

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Last updated:
30-Sep-2003