Physiological and Structural Systems (PSS)

Physiological and Structural Systems

NSF BIO supports research to advance understanding of whole-organism physiological mechanisms and functional morphology.  Research supported is hypothesis-driven and organismal-focused, encompassing a wide range of approaches and perspectives, spanning scales from molecular, genomic, and cellular levels to those interacting with population biology. Submission of proposals aimed at 1) identifying fundamental mechanistic principles of physiological and structural systems, 2) understanding how and why particular morphological and physiological mechanisms have evolved, and 3) how they are integrated at the level of the whole organism, are encouraged. Projects involving modeling and theoretical approaches integrated with experimental approaches are also welcome, as is multidisciplinary research that interfaces with biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science and engineering. 

Proposals are accepted in the following areas:

Symbiosis, Infection and Immunity (SII)

Research on processes and mechanisms mediating antagonistic or beneficial interactions within and between viruses, prokaryotes, and eukaryotes. These relationships can include cross-and within-kingdom interactions and may scale from the level of cellular (e.g., virus-cell interactions) to organismal (e.g., host-microbiome). Proposals on the initiation, transmission, maintenance and dissolution of these complex associations are welcome. Also of interest are studies of host-microbiome interactions, immunity (scaling from molecules to cells to systems), mechanisms responsible for self/non-self-recognition, and microbial manipulation of immune defenses. Comparative approaches to identify immune defense mechanisms or microbial countermeasures are encouraged. Integrative approaches and attention to emergent properties of symbiotic interactions are also encouraged, as are all aspects and types of symbiosis within and between non-plant organisms, including mechanisms of foreign organelle acquisition and maintenance. Scope of research ranges from fundamental to proof-of-concept experiments in which the results of fundamental research could be used for economic or societal impacts (e.g., developing diagnostics, prophylactics and therapeutics for non-human diseases).  

Physiological Mechanisms and Biomechanics (PMB) 

Fundamental research that addresses mechanisms of physiological processes and biomechanics in the context of the whole organism, as well as studies of physiological plasticity and adaptation. Broad thematic areas include homeostatic control and signaling mechanisms, solute transport, gas exchange, circulation, osmoregulation, metabolism, energetics, endocrinology, reproductive physiology, muscle physiology, biomechanics, biomaterials and functional morphology. Projects that integrate across levels of biological organization, use modeling approaches to predict physiological or biomechanical principles of organismal function, and move beyond correlational results to test mechanistic hypotheses, are encouraged. 

Integrative Ecological Physiology (IEP) 

Research on genetic, biochemical, morphological and physiological mechanisms underlying organismal responses to their abiotic and biotic environments. The following types of proposals are encouraged: proposals framed in explicit ecological or evolutionary contexts that test integrative hypothesis aimed at understanding the mechanisms involved in how organisms evolve and respond to dynamic and/or stressful environments; proposals integrating an understanding of cause-and-effect relationships with theoretical or conceptual models of organismal responses to their environments; and comparative studies across multiple organismal systems.  

Biological research on mechanisms of disease in humans, including on the etiology, diagnosis, or treatment of disease or disorder, is normally not supported. Biological research to develop animal models of such conditions, or the development or testing of procedures for their treatment, also is not normally eligible for support. More information on NSF support of human diseases related research can be found in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).