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Molecular Foundations for Biotechnology (MFB)

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NSF 24-607

Important information about NSF’s implementation of the revised 2 CFR

NSF Financial Assistance awards (grants and cooperative agreements) made on or after October 1, 2024, will be subject to the applicable set of award conditions, dated October 1, 2024, available on the NSF website. These terms and conditions are consistent with the revised guidance specified in the OMB Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2024.

Important information for proposers

All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in this funding opportunity and in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted. It is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets these requirements. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

Supports collaborative high-risk, high-reward projects to develop cutting-edge tools and methods that advance RNA biological research and biotechnology for applications across various sectors, including agriculture, energy and global health.

Partnerships to Transform Emerging Industries – RNA Tools/Biotechnology

Supports collaborative high-risk, high-reward projects to develop cutting-edge tools and methods that advance RNA biological research and biotechnology for applications across various sectors, including agriculture, energy and global health.

Synopsis

This initiative supports fundamentally new approaches in molecular sciences to drive new directions in biotechnology, a critical and emerging technology of the 21st century. This is the fourth year of a campaign targeting broad themes to be pursued through collaborative high risk/high reward projects.

This MFB solicitation calls for creative, cross-disciplinary research and technology development proposals to accelerate understanding of RNA function in complex biological systems and to harness RNA research to advance biotechnology.

The funding opportunity will be coordinated by the National Science Foundation together with the National Institutes of Health, National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). The focus on RNA science advances (1) Biotechnology innovation for a sustainable, safe and secure American bioeconomy; (2) the NSF 2022-2026 Strategic Plan to create new knowledge and benefit society by translating knowledge into solutions; (3) the NHGRI 2020 Strategic Vision for improving human health at the Forefront of Genomics; and aligns with (4) the NASEM Report calling for deeper understanding of RNA modifications and their role in biological processes. 

Award sizes must not exceed $1,500,000 in total costs (direct and indirect) for the entire project and a duration of up to 3 years. The project budget and duration must be commensurate with the scale and scope of the research.

Program contacts

For questions about NHGRI interests, contact: 

Sorin Draghici
mfb@nsf.gov (703) 292-2232 CISE/IIS
Zhilan J. Feng
mfb@nsf.gov (703) 292-7523 MPS/DMS
Angel E. Garcia
mfb@nsf.gov (703) 292-8897 MPS/PHY
Manju M. Hingorani
mfb@nsf.gov (703) 292-7323 BIO/MCB
Pui S. Ho
mfb@nsf.gov (970)491-0569 MPS/CHE
John C. Jewett
mfb@nsf.gov (703) 292-5373 MPS/CHE
Marcia E. Newcomer
mfb@nsf.gov (703) 292-2357 BIO/MCB

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