KOSEN 한인과학기술자네트워크

Biophotonics Partnership Initiative II Primary Sponsor: National Science Foundation Deadline: 3/12/2001 KEYWORDS Program Solicitation NSF 01-30 DIRECTORATE FOR ENGINEERING DEADLINE(S): March 12, 2001 GENERAL INFORMATION Synopsis of Program: The Division of Bioengineering and Environmental Systems of the National Science Foundation (NSF) announces a Biophotonics Partnership initiative seeking high risk/high return, multidisciplinary studies of novel concepts in biophotonics. Incremental advances of existing technologies will not be considered. NIH and DARPA will participate in the reviews and identify proposals of mutual interest and may provide co-funding for programs of high quality that meet their programatic and relevancy requirements. The reviews and panels will be run by NSF utilizing the NSF merit review process. All awards will be made by NSF and will be subject to NSF terms and conditions. I. INTRODUCTION Photonics is the technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. The unparalleled combination of spatial resolution, sensitivity, and spectral specificity of optical techniques has provided new biomedical research tools for visualization, measurement, analysis, and manipulation. Photonic techniques are under investigation for noninvasive diagnostic and monitoring applications such as early detection of breast cancer and glucose monitoring for people with diabetes. In 1998 the National Research Council published a report on "Optical Science and Engineering for the 21st Century". The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their expertise by the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. In their Summary and Recommendations they state that "NSF should increase its efforts in biomedical optics and pursue opportunities in this area aggressively." Innovative basic research in biomedical photonics that is very fundamental in the science and engineering is needed to lay the foundation for new technologies beyond those that are mature and ready for application in medical diagnostics and therapies. The intent of this initiative is to exploit the power of photonics to advance biomedical engineering. Developing noninvasive, molecularly specific sensing, imaging, monitoring, and therapeutic systems with high optical sensitivity, and resolution would be an enormous accomplishment with powerful applications to both biology and medicine. Low cost diagnostics will require novel integration of photonics, molecular biology and material science. Complex biosensors capable of detecting and discriminating among large classes of biomolecules could be important not only to biology and medicine but also to environmental sensing. These advances will require multidisciplinary integration of optical technologies with molecular biology in novel engineered systems. II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION This initiative will emphasize multidisciplinary, exploratory studies of novel concepts in biomedical photonics for diagnostics and therapeutics with emphasis on, but not limited to, the topical areas given below. These technologies could be used for minimally invasive optical imaging, monitoring, and sensing of complex systems such as tissues at the cellular level and cells at the subcellular level. Areas that will not be considered for this initiative include a) incremental advances of existing technologies; b) photon migration; c) two-photon and multi-photon imaging and spectroscopy; and d) optical coherence tomography (OCT), unless coupled with novel enabling technologies. BIOPHOTONIC TOPICAL AREAS * The development of new classes of photonic probes and contrast agents to label structures and push the envelope of optical sensing to the limits of detection, resolution, and identification * New imaging modalities and image/data fusion between optical imaging, spectroscopic techniques, and conventional medical imaging * New optical approaches for non-invasive diagnosis, localization, and treatment of small tumors (i.e. either entirely new methods or major removal of limitations within existing technology) * Development of biocompatible detection technologies that could serve as massively parallel interfaces for communicating with cells and tissue such as neural tissue * Novel methods for "endoscopic" optical imaging at the subcellular level * Noninvasive optical sensing techniques to detect key physiological and molecular concentrations in-vivo for anemia, jaundice, dehydration, glucose levels, drug levels, etc. * Innovative methods for fluorescent labeling of macromolecules, use of enzyme-activated fluorophores, new compositions of matter/methods of fabrication of multi-color probes for in-vivo diagnostics such as marking and detection of tumors CONTACTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION General inquiries regarding Biophotonics Partnership Initiative II should be made to: Leon Esterowitz, Program Director, ENG, Bioengineering and Environmental Systems, 565, telephone: 703-292-7942, e-mail: lesterow@nsf.gov. Sohi Rastegar, Program Director, ENG, Bioengineering and Environmental Systems, 565, telephone: 703-292-7946, e-mail: srastega@nsf.gov. Alan Rudolph, Program Manager, DARPA/DSO, telephone: 703-696-2240, e-mail: arudolph@darpa.mil. Frank Patten, Program Manager, DARPA/ATO, telephone: 703-696-2285, e-mail: fpatten@darpa.mil. Michael Marron, Associate Director for Biomedical Technology, NIH/NCRR, telephone: 301-435-0766, e-mail: marronm@ncrr.nih.gov. Greg Farber, NIH/NCRR, telephone: 301-435-0755, e-mail: farberg@ncrr.nih.gov. Larry Clarke, Branch Chief, NIH/NCI/EPN/800, telephone: 301-435-9190, e-mail: lclarke@mail.nih.gov. Houston Baker, NIH/NCI/EPN/800, telephone: 301-496-9531, e-mail: bakerhou@mail.nih.gov. For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact: Marcia Rawlings, Engineering/BES, Bioengineering and Environmental Systems, 565, telephone: (703) 292-7956, e-mail: mrawling@nsf.gov.