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

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Archived funding opportunity

This document has been archived.

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

Additional program resources

Awards made through this program

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Map of recent awards made through this program
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