Synthetic Biology for Engineering Applications (R01) | PAR 17 334

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 334

The Synthetic Biology for Engineering Applications (R01) funding opportunity (PAR-17-334) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program designed to push synthetic biology forward in ways that directly support biomedical research and improve human health. Using the NIH R01 mechanism, the program backs full research projects that either create new synthetic biology tools and technologies or apply those advances to solve concrete health-related problems. The overall emphasis is on moving beyond proof-of-concept demonstrations and building capabilities that expand what researchers can design, control, measure, and predict in living systems, with a clear line of sight to biomedical utility.

The FOA supports two closely linked categories of work. First, it funds the development of innovative synthetic biology tools and enabling technologies. This can include new methods for designing and constructing genetic circuits, programming cellular behaviors, controlling gene expression with higher precision, engineering proteins or pathways, improving chassis organisms or cell platforms, developing sensing and reporting systems, or creating measurement and standardization approaches that make engineered biology more reliable and reproducible. Second, it funds the application of synthetic biology in biomedical contexts, meaning the engineered systems, parts, or computational design approaches should be leveraged to address questions in biology or medicine, improve disease modeling, enable new diagnostics, advance therapeutic concepts, or otherwise deepen understanding of human health and disease mechanisms. In practice, competitive applications often tie these two components together: a new tool is built with a specific biomedical bottleneck in mind, and the project demonstrates the tool in a meaningful health-related use case.

A notable feature of this opportunity is the strong recommendation for an integrative, collaborative research plan. NIH signals that the most impactful synthetic biology efforts typically combine multiple kinds of expertise, so applicants are encouraged to assemble teams that connect synthetic biologists with computational scientists, cell biologists, engineers, and/or physician-scientists. This reflects the reality that modern synthetic biology depends heavily on computation for design and modeling, rigorous cell biology for understanding context and constraints, engineering principles for robustness and scalability, and clinical insight to ensure that applications are aligned with real medical needs. Proposals that show thoughtful integration across these domains, rather than parallel workstreams that do not meaningfully interact, are generally better aligned with the FOA’s intent.

The FOA also explicitly encourages early stage investigators working in synthetic biology to apply, signaling an interest in bringing new investigators and new ideas into the field. This can be especially relevant for applicants proposing novel platforms, unconventional design strategies, or new biomedical applications where the investigator can credibly demonstrate innovation and a feasible path to deliverables within an R01-style project.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations as well as certain non-U.S. entities. Eligible applicants listed in the source data include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education when specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also calls out additional eligible applicant categories and organizational types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized, and foreign (non-U.S.) organizations. This wide eligibility scope is consistent with NIH’s interest in drawing from diverse institutions and organizational settings, including those that serve underrepresented communities and those with specialized capabilities.

Administratively, the opportunity is categorized under Education and Health funding activities and references CFDA numbers 93.213, 93.286, and 93.394. The announcement was created on 2017-07-24, with an original closing date of 2017-12-15. The NIH is the sponsoring agency. The source excerpt does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, so applicants would typically consult the full FOA text and NIH institute/center guidance for budget expectations, project period norms, and any institute-specific priorities or constraints tied to this R01 program.

In summary, this FOA is aimed at advancing synthetic biology as an engineering discipline for biomedicine by funding both foundational technology development and real biomedical applications, with a strong preference for collaborative, cross-disciplinary projects and an explicit invitation for early stage synthetic biology investigators to compete.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Synthetic Biology for Engineering Applications (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.213, 93.286, 93.394.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-07-24.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-12-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 17 334

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