A Science of Science Approach to Analyzing and Innovating the Biomedical Research Enterprise

The "A Science of Science Approach to Analyzing and Innovating the Biomedical Research Enterprise (SoS:BIO)" is a collaborative funding initiative between the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). The program seeks to foster a deeper understanding of the biomedical research enterprise by engaging the science of science policy research community. NSF and NIH aim to support innovative research that enhances the efficiency, diversity, and productivity of the biomedical workforce while promoting the advancement of science policy grounded in rigorous evidence. NSF, through its Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE), and its Science of Science: Discovery, Communication and Impact (SoS:DCI) Program, supports basic research related to people and society, human behavior, and social structures. The NIH, via NIGMS, funds fundamental biomedical research to improve knowledge of biological processes and facilitate future advancements in healthcare. This solicitation reflects the agencies’ shared interest in enabling high-quality, interdisciplinary projects that develop analytical tools, models, and metrics capable of informing science and innovation policy relevant to biomedical sciences. The SoS:BIO program offers funding for individual and collaborative projects that generate empirical insights into how the biomedical research enterprise operates, evolves, and can be optimized. Proposals should aim to contribute to both the science of science and the analysis of biomedical research institutions. Projects that explore workforce diversity, research infrastructure, innovation processes, or outcomes measurement are encouraged. The solicitation emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and seeks to broaden participation across academic, geographic, and demographic lines. Funding is anticipated to range between $100,000 and $250,000 per year, for up to four years, with approximately four to eight awards issued annually. A total of $2,000,000 in funding is expected to be allocated yearly, equally split between NSF and NIH. Proposals may be selected for funding by either agency, and grant administration will follow the procedures of the awarding body. Cost-sharing is not required, and voluntary cost-sharing is prohibited. Eligibility for this program aligns with NSF's broad eligibility policies. Institutions of higher education, nonprofits, and other qualified entities may apply, though unaffiliated individuals are not eligible. There are no limits on the number of proposals per organization or principal investigator. The application process requires submission through Research.gov or Grants.gov and adherence to the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) or the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide. Proposal components must include sections on intellectual merit and broader impacts, as well as standard NSF/NIH compliance requirements for human subjects and animal research if applicable. The program follows a biannual submission schedule with proposal deadlines on February 9 and September 9 each year. The program encourages prospective applicants to contact program officers to confirm project relevance. Program officers listed include Mary Feeney (NSF), Thomas S. Woodson (NSF), and Kenneth Gibbs (NIH). Reviews will incorporate NSF’s two core merit review criteria—Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts—as well as NIH’s criteria, which include Significance, Investigators, Innovation, Approach, and Environment. This grant program represents a key initiative to improve how biomedical research systems are studied and supported, with the goal of enhancing national health, scientific innovation, and the effectiveness of research institutions across the United States.

Engage with program officers early to confirm project relevance; align proposal with both NSF and NIH review criteria.