(FOA)-Reproducible
Cells and Organoids via Directed-Differentiation Encoding (RECODE); March 2,
2020
Agency
National
Science Foundation
Description
The
National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Chemical, Bioengineering,
Environmental and Transport Systems (CBET), seeks proposals that elucidate
mechanisms of, and develop strategies to, direct the differentiation of
undifferentiated cells into mature, functional cells or organoids. Projects
responsive to this solicitation must aim to establish a robust and reproducible
set of differentiation design rules, predictive models, real-time sensing,
control, and quality assurance methods, and integrate them into a workable
differentiation strategy. They must develop a fundamental understanding of how
cells develop, including mechanisms, molecular machinery, dynamics, and
cell-cell interactions, and use this understanding to manipulate cells
purposefully. Investigators can choose any undifferentiated cell type, from any
animal species, as a starting point and choose any appropriate functional
product (cell, organoid, etc.) with real-world relevance. This solicitation
parallels NSF's investment in Understanding the Rules of Life (URoL): Predicting Phenotype, NSF's Big Idea focused on
predicting the set of observable characteristics (phenotype) of an organism
based on its genetic makeup and the nature of its environment and applies it to
understanding and accomplishing the intentional and guided differentiation of
an undifferentiated cell into cells, organoids or tissues with predetermined
activities and functions.
The
process of differentiation involves a multiplex combination of signaling
molecules, receptors, promoters, markers, and regulators that dynamically
interact to direct cell development and behavior. While individual inducers of
native differentiation have been identified and employed to create specialized
cell types, we still cannot engineer stem cells to allow for synthetic
induction of differentiation along a predetermined path that can be actively
monitored and manipulated on-the-fly. Such control of differentiation will
enable the realization of individualized medicine in areas such as regenerative
medicine, cancer treatment with engineered killer cells, the development of
functional cells and tissues to treat disease, environmental control and
monitoring, adaptive sensing, as well as the scalable and reproducible
application of 3D organoids in drug testing.
The
convergence of many disciplines is necessary to answer the fundamental
questions and devise the tools needed to realize truly deterministic cell
induction and differentiation strategies. As such, investigators are encouraged
to form interdisciplinary teams with expertise in developmental biology, stem
cell biology, cell biology, engineering, synthetic and systems biology,
computation, sensing, and physics. Proposals will not be responsive to this
solicitation if they address only one aspect of the differentiation process or
aim to create a functional living product without improving our understanding
of the mechanisms that underlie developmental processes. Collaborative
proposals, of a duration up to 4 years, with budgets between $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 will be considered.
Proposed budgets must be justified by project scope and need for complementary
expertise. The solicitation will support teams of three or more PI/co-PIs and
senior personnel. Proposals with only one PI or one PI with one other senior
personnel are not permitted. Reflecting the need for thoughtful collaboration
and planning required for these projects, Letters of Intent are required to be
submitted prior to submission of a full proposal.
Announcement
Number:
NSF
20-541
Closing
Date:
Required
Letter of Intent Due: March 02, 2020
Full
Proposals Due: April 30, 2020
Link
to Full Announcement
https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20541/nsf20541.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click
Contact
Information
Steven
W. Peretti
(703)
292-7029