Bioengineering Research Grants (BRG) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

The goal for a bioengineering research grant (BRG) is to foster the development of an innovative technology, model, technique, design, or method that has the potential for a significant impact on biomedical research by infusing principles and concepts from the quantitative sciences.

The purpose of this NOFO is to encourage BRG applications that: 1) apply a multidisciplinary approach to the solution of a biomedical problem; and 2) integrate, optimize, validate, translate or otherwise accelerate the adoption of promising tools, methods, and techniques for a specific research or clinical problem in basic, translational, or clinical science and practice. A BRG application may propose design-directed, developmental, discovery-driven, or hypothesis-driven research and is appropriate for small teams applying an integrative approach to increase our understanding of and solve problems in biological, clinical, or translational science.

Research Objectives

Many major biomedical research problems are best addressed with a multidisciplinary approach that bridges physical and life sciences. Principles and techniques in quantitative sciences such as physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer sciences, and engineering are increasingly applied to biomedical research. Bioengineering approaches integrate principles from various technical and biomedical fields, and the resulting multi-disciplinary research provides new understanding, innovative technologies, and new products that improve basic knowledge, human health, and quality of life. This NOFO seeks to encourage collaborations of quantitative and physical scientists with biomedical researchers to catalyze the development of innovative bioengineering approaches to address important problems in biomedical research, clinical investigations, and medical practice.

Significant projects may include, but are not limited to: validation and translation of promising tools for prevention, monitoring or intervention; development of quantitative, predictive models of complex biological systems; integration and optimization of technologies that significantly increase sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, efficiency, or throughput of measurements to address unsolved biological or medical questions; or engineering and testing of delivery systems, tissues, therapeutics, implants, and prosthetics that may improve treatment and healthcare.

Innovation in this biomedical engineering NOFO has a broad definition that includes development of new methods, ideas, or tools, integration of existing components into new combinations that deliver greater capabilities, new efficiencies, and/or greater effects. Overall impact of these advances may include promoting wellness and independent living, increasing access to and utility of technologies to improve quality of life, reducing cost and complexity of procedures, and increasing throughput, sensitivity, and specificity of diagnostic tests.

This NOFO will support clinical trials that test functionality or validate performance in the chosen setting. This NOFO is not intended to support conventional clinical trials that lack translation as the primary motivation. Applications that propose phase III clinical trials in any area of research are not sought by and will not be supported through this NOFO. This NOFO does not support commercial production.

A project must clearly serve the mission of one or more of the NIH Institutes or Centers participating in this NOFO. Investigators are encouraged to contact the designated Scientific/Research contacts for individual institute focus areas that will be supported.

Examples of technologies that are of interest to this NOFO include, but are not limited to:

• New approach methodologies (NAMs) to advance cancer research, therapeutic development, and safety assessment
• Methods, assays, technologies, and tools to investigate cancer etiology and epidemiology
• Comprehensive immune profiling of blood and liquid biopsy–based technologies spanning the cancer continuum
• Noninvasive or minimally invasive platforms including in vitro and in vivo imaging technologies for cancer research and clinical translation
• Computational modeling and AI-enabled tools to generate insights and guide decisions across the cancer continuum
• Bioelectricity measurement technologies for cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment
• Research on the leading causes of blindness and visual impairment, including mechanisms of visual function, strategies to preserve sight, and the unique needs and requirements of people who are blind