Biomedical Engineering, Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities, and Biophotonics Programs

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.

Updates to NSF Research Security Policies

On July 10, 2025, NSF issued an Important Notice providing updates to the agency's research security policies, including a research security training requirement, Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program annual certification requirement, prohibition on Confucius institutes and an updated FFDR reporting and submission timeline.

Synopsis

The BME/RAPD programs encompass (a) the Biomedical Engineering program (BME) and (b) the Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities program (RAPD). The Biophotonics area is part of BME but is broken out separately because of its rapid growth in size and scope. Biomedical Engineering supports research that, often with diagnosis or treatment-related goals, applies engineering principles to problems in biology and medicine while advancing the engineering knowledge base. Integration of engineering expertise with life science principles is an essential requirement for advances in this field. The RAPD program supports the development of technologies for new and improved devices or software for persons with disabilities. Current areas of particular interest in BME/RAPD are biomedical photonics; novel tissue characterization schemes; new cellular and tissue engineering concepts; the innovative integration of multi-disciplinary technologies for new imaging and biosensing systems; and, Point-of-Care technologies related to chronic illness, persons with disabilities, and the aging. Support is provided through submission of proposals as well as through special initiatives.

Program contacts

Name	Email	Phone	Organization
Gilbert Devey Program Director	gdevey@nsf.gov	(703) 292-7943	ENG/CBET
Leon Esterowitz Program Director	lesterow@nsf.gov	(703) 292-7942	ENG/CBET
Semahat S. Demir Program Director	sdemir@nsf.gov	(703) 292-7950	ENG/CBET
Leon Esterowitz	lesterow@nsf.gov	(703) 292-7942	ENG/CBET

Awards made through this program

Browse projects funded by this program

Map of recent awards made through this program

Program status: Archived

Program 06-566 was archived.

Program guidelines

Previous guidelines NSF 06-566

Published:

May 23, 2006

Biomedical Engineering, Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities, and Biophotonics Programs

Status: Archived

Archived funding opportunity

NSF's implementation of the revised 2 CFR

Important information for proposers

Updates to NSF Research Security Policies

Synopsis

Program contacts

Awards made through this program

Biomedical Engineering, Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities, and Biophotonics Programs

Status: Archived

Archived funding opportunity

NSF's implementation of the revised 2 CFR

Important information for proposers

Updates to NSF Research Security Policies

Synopsis

Program contacts

Additional program resources

Awards made through this program

Organization(s)