Engineering Biological and Biomedical Systems (EBBS)

The Engineering Biological and Biomedical Systems (EBBS) program is administered by the National Science Foundation under its Directorate for Engineering, specifically within the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems. The program is designed to advance the United States' leadership in biotechnology by supporting fundamental engineering research that improves understanding of biological and physiological systems. By integrating engineering principles with biological sciences, the program aims to drive innovation that contributes to improved human health and advances in biotechnology at multiple scales, from molecular to systems-level applications. The primary purpose of the EBBS program is to support research that combines mechanistic insight with experimental and computational approaches to better understand and control biological systems. This includes the development of platforms, devices, engineered organisms, tissues, and processes that can sense, respond to, or manipulate biological functions. The program encourages interdisciplinary approaches that blend engineering, biology, and computational modeling to address complex biological challenges and generate new knowledge about physiological and pathological processes. Funding under the EBBS program supports a broad range of research activities. These include studies of microbial populations, cellular behavior, and therapeutic cells and tissues, as well as investigations into the engineering principles governing biological systems and bioreactors. The program also promotes the development of innovative biosensing technologies, optical imaging systems, and methods for modulating biological activity. Additionally, research focused on understanding tissue damage, injury, and repair, as well as creating systems that mimic or restore tissue or organ function, is strongly encouraged. The EBBS program explicitly excludes certain types of projects from funding consideration. Proposals primarily focused on drug design, drug delivery, development of new animal models of disease, or clinical trials are not supported. Similarly, projects centered on testing or validating therapies, or those primarily aimed at commercialization, fall outside the program’s scope. However, the use of existing models for validation purposes may be acceptable, and limited studies involving human participants may be considered if they align with the research objectives. Eligibility for the EBBS program is broadly defined as unrestricted, allowing a wide range of applicant organizations to submit proposals, subject to any additional clarifications in the program guidelines. Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the National Science Foundation’s Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide or the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide, depending on the submission platform. Applicants may submit proposals at any time, as the program operates on a rolling basis with no fixed application deadlines. The submission process requires the preparation of a full proposal that adheres to NSF guidelines, including detailed project descriptions, budgets, and supporting documentation. Proposals are evaluated based on NSF’s standard merit review criteria, which typically include intellectual merit and broader impacts. While specific evaluation details are not outlined in the summary, applicants are expected to demonstrate the scientific significance, feasibility, and potential societal benefits of their proposed work. The EBBS program accepts proposals continuously, with no specified closing date, and operates as an ongoing funding opportunity. There are no stated award limits, funding ceilings, or floors in the available materials, and the number of awards is not specified. Applicants seeking additional information or assistance with the application process may contact the NSF Grants.gov support team via email. The program does not specify a fixed timeline for award decisions or project performance periods, but all awards are subject to NSF terms and conditions and applicable federal policies.