FOA-Reproducible
Cells and Organoids via Directed-Differentiation Encoding (RECODE); February
18, 2021
Agency
National
Science Foundation
Description
The
RECODE solicitation will support activities that substantially advance our
capability to direct cell differentiation to a specific functional endpoint
through the integration of synthetic biology, advanced sensing and control, and
cellular and tissue modeling. Studies that not only use these approaches to
test ideas in differentiation but also concomitantly confront new challenges in
the contributing scientific areas within the framework of cell differentiation
will also be considered. The proposed research should go well beyond that
typically supported by a single core NSF program in the participating
Directorates. A key objective of this solicitation is to encourage sustained
collaboration among the diverse fields of engineering, biology, and biophysics
necessary to develop a holistic differentiation control framework. To that end,
proposed research submitted in response to this solicitation is expected to
bridge the topics supported by the Division of Chemical, Biological,
Environmental, and Transport Systems Engineering Biology and Health programs,
as well as related programs in the Divisions of Molecular and Cellular
Biosciences, Integrative Organismal Systems, and Civil, Mechanical, and
Manufacturing Innovation. Proposals are expected to be submitted by
multidisciplinary teams of no less than three investigators. At least one
member of the project team (PI or co-PI) must have a full-time, tenured or
tenure-track faculty appointment within a College or Department of
Engineering.
To
achieve the above goal, the RECODE solicitation will support projects that
address several aspects of the directed differentiation process from a
Design-Build-Test-Learn perspective. It is expected that such projects will, of
necessity, leverage the expertise and tools relevant to multiple facets of
molecular sensing, signal cascades and regulations, synthetic biology,
multi-scale modeling, and tissue or organoid formation. Achieving directed
differentiation must be the primary goal of the proposed project. Additional
appropriate objectives could include, for example, understanding the dynamics,
sensing, and control at the reactor to molecular level, developing unique
synthetic biology approaches, as well as addressing a social or ethical issue
pertinent to designer organoids and cells, may also be appropriate components
for specific projects. Successful proposals embrace a holistic approach to the
problem that exploits the strengths of an interdisciplinary team of
researchers.
Topics
that reside clearly within the boundaries of a single NSF core program are
outside of the scope of this solicitation. Specifically, projects centered
around the exploration of individual
stages/mechanisms of differentiation in isolation, or production of engineered
cells, tissues, organ-on-a-chip systems, or organoids without developing an
understanding of mechanistic differentiation rules are not responsive to this
solicitation. While such projects may have value, they are more appropriately
supported by core programs in CBET and other Divisions at
NSF.
Announcement
Number:
NSF
21-532
Closing
Date:
Preliminary
Proposals Due: February 18, 2021
Full
Proposals Due: May 18, 2021
Link
to Full Announcement
https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21532/nsf21532.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click
Contact
Information
Steven
W. Peretti
(703)
292-7029