Cellular and Biochemical Engineering

The grant in question is provided by the Cellular and Biochemical Engineering (CBE) program, which is a part of the Engineering Biology and Health cluster. This also includes the Biophotonics, Biosensing, Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering, and Engineering of Biomedical Systems programs. Research supported by CBE centers around the understanding of cellular and biomolecular processes, with potential outcomes including advanced technological solutions for biomanufacturing therapeutic cells, biochemicals, and biopharmaceuticals for various biotechnology industries.

The program's primary focus is to encourage innovative engineering research leading to unique bioprocessing and biomanufacturing methods. Research projects often revolve around the understanding of interactions within biomolecules, subcellular systems, cells, and cell populations, and how these interactions affect changes in structure, function, and behavior. A quantitative approach to issues linked to biological processes is considered essential for success in CBE-related research projects. In particular, the program shows interest in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology for biomanufacturing, synthetic metabolic components and cells design, microbiome structure and function, protein and enzyme engineering, and integrated chemoenzymatic systems design.

The CBE program also promotes proposals that incorporate various disciplines and integrate research with educational activities. All proposals should outline the potential impact of proposed research on a correlating biomanufacturing process. Proposals focusing on tissue engineering, organ culture, models of healthy or diseased physiology, or technology for disease diagnosis or treatment should be submitted to the Engineering of Biomedical Systems program (CBET 5345).

Proposers should acknowledge the novelty or potentially transformative nature of the proposed work in relation to already existing work in their field as well as the societal and industrial impact of the research success. Award duration for unsolicited proposals in CBET is generally up to three years, with budgets primarily including support for one graduate student or equivalent, and up to one month of principal investigator time per year.

Early Career Faculty Development (CAREER) program proposals are highly encouraged, with a five-year award duration. There are also Grants for Rapid Response Research (RAPID) and Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) available for appropriate projects.

Compliance with the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) is a must, and non-compliant proposals will be returned without review. It is highly recommended that the principal investigator contacts the program director before the proposal submission.