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

The National Science Foundation, through its Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, in partnership with the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences, is soliciting proposals under the program titled A Science of Science Approach to Analyzing and Innovating the Biomedical Research Enterprise (SoS:BIO). This program seeks to advance the scientific basis of science and innovation policy by leveraging the expertise of the science of science policy research community. The program is designed to generate models, tools, metrics, and analyses that can provide insights into the biomedical research enterprise while promoting a diverse, efficient, and productive scientific workforce. The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency charged with promoting the progress of science and advancing the national health, prosperity, and welfare by funding research and education across scientific and engineering disciplines. Its Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate supports fundamental research focused on human behavior, organizations, and how societal forces shape and are shaped by people. The National Institutes of Health, specifically its National Institute of General Medical Sciences, supports fundamental biomedical research that increases understanding of biological processes and underpins advances in health, diagnosis, and treatment. The collaboration between NSF and NIH reflects a coordinated approach to strengthen the analysis of science and technology policy in biomedical contexts. This funding opportunity encourages both individual and collaborative proposals and places high importance on interdisciplinary approaches. Eligible applicants include categories specified by NSF’s Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide, though unaffiliated individuals are not eligible. Principal investigators face no restrictions or limits on the number of proposals per person or per organization. Proposals must be submitted electronically through either Research.gov or Grants.gov following the guidelines provided in the solicitation and the PAPPG. Specific instructions for project descriptions require sections on intellectual merit, broader impacts, and results from prior NSF or NIH support, with a maximum project description length of 15 pages. The anticipated type of award may be a standard grant, continuing grant, or in some cases, an NIH R01 project. Approximately four to eight awards are expected annually, depending on availability of funds and merit of submissions. Each of the two agencies has committed up to $1 million annually, for a combined estimated funding of $2 million. Award sizes are projected to range between $100,000 and $250,000 annually, for project durations of up to four years. Cost-sharing is not required, and voluntary cost sharing is prohibited. Standard NSF reporting and administrative conditions apply, along with applicable NIH policies where relevant. The review process will incorporate both NSF’s merit review criteria of intellectual merit and broader impacts, as well as NIH’s review criteria of significance, investigators, innovation, approach, and environment. Proposals may also be evaluated for their capacity to improve the scientific workforce and broaden participation in science and engineering. Reviews will be conducted through ad hoc and panel reviews, with joint participation by NSF and NIH staff. Awards may ultimately be administered by either agency, depending on final funding decisions. Target dates for submission are set as September 11, 2023; September 9 annually thereafter; February 9, 2024; and February 9 annually thereafter. Proposals must be received by these deadlines to be considered. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult program officers in advance to confirm the relevance of their proposed projects. Key contacts include Mary Feeney at the NSF Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, Thomas S. Woodson at NSF, and Kenneth Gibbs at NIH’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Additional administrative support and inquiries can be directed to the NSF Help Desk or Grants.gov Contact Center, depending on the submission portal used.

Proposers are strongly encouraged to contact program officers in advance to confirm project relevance