Grants / National Science Foundation / U.S. National Science Foundation

NSF PD-17-7909: Nano-Biosensing

Closed Closed Opportunity NSF PD-17-7909 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Major Research Instrumentation Program: (MRI) (NSF 27-500). Status: Closes January 29, 2027 (83 days left). It is in our archive of U.S. National Science Foundation notices from 2025.

• Total funding$7.6 million
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to any type of organization.

• Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility"

More grants for nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses, businesses, individuals.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Most of the program's money (89% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

The Nano-Biosensing program is part of the Engineering Biology and Health cluster, which includes also 1) Cellular and Biochemical Engineering; 2) Engineering of Biomedical Systems; 3) Biophotonics; and 4) Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering. The Nano-Biosensing program supports fundamental engineering research on devices and methods for measurement and quantification of biological analytes. Proposals that incorporate emerging nanotechnology methods are especially encouraged. Areas of interest include: Multi-purpose sensor platforms that exceed the performance of current state-of-the-art devices. Novel transduction principles, mechanisms and sensor designs suitable for measurement in practical matrix and sample-preparation-free approaches. These include error-free detection of pathogens and toxins in food matrices, waterborne pathogens, parasites, toxins, biomarkers in body fluids, and others that improve human condition. Nano-biosensors that enable measurement of biomolecular interactions in their native states, transmembrane transport, intracellular transport and reactions, and other biological phenomena. Studies that examine intracellular measurements must include discussion on the significance of the measurement. Proposals should clearly identify the proposed problem to be solved, describe why the proposed approach is superior to current available methods, and articulate the benefit of solving the identified problem for the society at large. Sensor designs that yield reliable measurements are encouraged. While sensitivity is important, it cannot be at the expense of reproducibility. Every application must include research strategies for addressing reproducibility of measurement and sensor response, as well as approaches that reduce errors. The program does not support applications with incremental improvements of existing approaches and technologies. Projects that do not include experimental characterization of sensor responses to biological analytes are discouraged, and may be returned without a review. Studies on surface functionalization and immobilization of bio-recognition molecules, and/or orientation of them are not encouraged. Research that is focused on new recognition chemistry is also discouraged. The novelty or potentially transformative nature of the research must be included in the Project Summary.

Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, NSF 27-500, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.