Opportunity Information: Apply for 23 522
The NSF/CASIS Collaboration on Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology on the International Space Station (ISS) to Benefit Life on Earth (Funding Opportunity Number 23-522) is a discretionary National Science Foundation grant program that supports science and engineering research using the ISS National Laboratory as a research platform. It is run through NSF's Engineering Directorate, specifically the Divisions of Chemical, Bioengineering and Environmental Transport (CBET) and Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Infrastructure (CMMI), in partnership with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), the organization that manages access to the ISS National Lab for U.S. national laboratory users. The overall purpose is to fund research projects in tissue engineering and mechanobiology that take advantage of the space environment to generate knowledge and technology with clear benefits for health, medicine, and bioengineering applications on Earth.
At its core, the opportunity is aimed at investigators who want to use conditions available on the ISS, especially microgravity, to study how biological tissues form, organize, and respond to physical forces. Tissue engineering and mechanobiology both deal with how cells behave in three-dimensional environments and how mechanical cues (like shear, stretch, compression, stiffness, and fluid forces) influence cell fate, tissue structure, and function. On Earth, gravity-driven effects such as sedimentation, buoyancy-driven convection, and weight-bearing forces can complicate experiments and influence how cells assemble into tissues. The ISS environment can reduce or remove some of those confounding factors, potentially enabling experiments that are difficult to replicate on the ground and offering a different window into fundamental biology and materials-tissue interactions. The solicitation is framed around using that unique setting in a way that translates back into improvements for life on Earth, such as better tissue models for disease research, improved biomaterials, enhanced understanding of tissue regeneration, or new insights into how mechanical forces shape biological development and repair.
The funding instrument for this program is a grant, and it is categorized under science and technology and other research and development. The listing indicates an expected number of awards of about four, suggesting a relatively selective competition focused on a small set of strong projects that are well matched to ISS capabilities and constraints. The award ceiling is listed as 0 in the source data, which usually means the maximum award amount is not specified in that particular summary field and applicants would need to consult the full solicitation or NSF guidance for budget expectations, allowable costs, and any ISS integration or flight-related considerations.
Eligibility has a key restriction tied to use of the ISS National Lab: to utilize the ISS through this solicitation, participating entities must qualify as "U.S. Persons" as defined in U.S. law (22 U.S. Code section 76010). In practical terms, that includes U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and U.S.-organized corporations, partnerships, or other organizations formed under U.S. law. The public-facing eligibility category is listed broadly as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," which signals that while NSF competitions often include universities and non-profits, this particular effort may allow a wider range of U.S.-based organizations as long as they meet the U.S. Person requirement and any other NSF and CASIS conditions. Because ISS work typically involves specialized hardware, safety review, and mission integration, teams often need the operational readiness and partnerships to carry a project from concept to flight, so the program is effectively looking for applicants who can propose strong science and also demonstrate a credible plan to execute within the ISS National Lab environment.
Administratively, the opportunity was created on December 1, 2022, with an original closing date of March 6, 2023. The program is associated with CFDA numbers 43.007 and 47.041, reflecting its connection to both space station-related research pathways and NSF research funding streams. In short, the program is a joint NSF and CASIS effort to fund a small portfolio of U.S.-led projects that use the ISS as a tool to push forward tissue engineering and mechanobiology, with an explicit expectation that the results will translate into tangible scientific or technological benefits on Earth.Apply for 23 522
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NSF/CASIS Collaboration on Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology on the International Space Station (ISS) to Benefit Life on Earth" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.007, 47.041.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 01, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 06, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NSF/CASIS Collaboration on Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology on the ISS (Funding Opportunity Number 23-522)?
It is a discretionary National Science Foundation (NSF) grant program, run in partnership with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), to support science and engineering research that uses the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory as the research platform. The program focuses specifically on tissue engineering and mechanobiology research designed to benefit life on Earth.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to fund research projects in tissue engineering and mechanobiology that take advantage of the space environment (especially microgravity) to generate knowledge and technology with clear benefits for health, medicine, and bioengineering applications on Earth.
Which NSF directorate and divisions manage this program?
The program is run through NSF's Engineering Directorate, specifically through the Divisions of Chemical, Bioengineering and Environmental Transport (CBET) and Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Infrastructure (CMMI).
What role does CASIS play in this program?
CASIS is the organization that manages access to the ISS National Laboratory for U.S. national laboratory users. In this collaboration, CASIS is the NSF partner connected to enabling and managing use of the ISS National Lab as a platform for the supported research.
What research areas are emphasized?
The solicitation emphasizes tissue engineering and mechanobiology. These areas address how cells behave in three-dimensional environments and how mechanical cues influence cell fate, tissue structure, and tissue function.
What kinds of mechanical cues are relevant to mechanobiology in this program?
The opportunity description highlights mechanical cues such as shear, stretch, compression, stiffness, and fluid forces, and how these physical inputs can shape cellular behavior and tissue formation.
Why does the program specifically involve the ISS?
The ISS provides conditions, especially microgravity, that can reduce or remove certain gravity-driven effects that can complicate ground-based experiments. This can enable experiments that may be difficult to replicate on Earth and can offer a different perspective on fundamental biology and materials-tissue interactions.
What gravity-driven effects on Earth can complicate tissue and cell experiments?
The description notes gravity-driven effects such as sedimentation, buoyancy-driven convection, and weight-bearing forces. These factors can influence how cells assemble into tissues and how experiments behave on Earth.
How is "benefit life on Earth" reflected in the program expectations?
The solicitation is framed around using the unique space setting in a way that translates into improvements on Earth. Examples described include better tissue models for disease research, improved biomaterials, enhanced understanding of tissue regeneration, and new insights into how mechanical forces shape biological development and repair.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
How is this opportunity categorized?
It is categorized under science and technology and other research and development.
How many awards are expected?
The expected number of awards is about four, indicating a relatively selective competition supporting a small set of projects aligned with ISS capabilities and constraints.
Is there a maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The summary listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates that the maximum award amount is not specified in that summary field. Applicants would need to consult the full solicitation or NSF guidance for budget expectations and allowable costs.
Are there special budgeting or cost considerations because the research uses the ISS?
The description indicates that applicants should consult the full solicitation or NSF guidance for budget expectations, allowable costs, and any ISS integration or flight-related considerations, since ISS work often involves specialized requirements.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes a key restriction tied to ISS National Lab use: participating entities must qualify as "U.S. Persons" as defined in U.S. law (22 U.S. Code section 76010). The public-facing eligibility category is listed broadly as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)."
What does "U.S. Person" mean for this opportunity?
In practical terms as described, "U.S. Persons" include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and U.S.-organized corporations, partnerships, or other organizations formed under U.S. law.
Does the opportunity only apply to universities and non-profits?
The listing suggests the program may allow a wider range of U.S.-based organizations beyond the typical university and non-profit applicants, as long as they meet the U.S. Person requirement and any other NSF and CASIS conditions described in the solicitation.
Why does eligibility emphasize "U.S. Persons"?
The requirement is tied to utilizing the ISS National Laboratory through this solicitation, and the eligibility language is linked directly to U.S. law and access conditions for ISS National Lab use.
What kinds of execution capabilities are important for a proposal using the ISS National Lab?
The description notes that ISS work typically involves specialized hardware, safety review, and mission integration. As a result, the program is effectively looking for teams that can propose strong science and also present a credible plan to execute within ISS National Lab constraints.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 23-522.
When was this opportunity created, and what were the key dates provided?
The opportunity was created on December 1, 2022, and the original closing date listed is March 6, 2023.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The program is associated with CFDA numbers 43.007 and 47.041.
What is the ISS National Laboratory in the context of this opportunity?
In this program, the ISS National Laboratory is the research platform used to perform the supported projects. CASIS is identified as the organization that manages access to the ISS National Lab for U.S. users.
What is meant by tissue engineering in this solicitation?
Based on the description, tissue engineering is treated as research focused on how biological tissues form and organize in three-dimensional environments, including the interactions between materials and tissues that can lead to improved models, biomaterials, and regenerative approaches.
What is meant by mechanobiology in this solicitation?
Based on the description, mechanobiology focuses on how tissues and cells respond to physical forces and mechanical cues, and how those cues influence cell fate, tissue structure, and function.
What kind of research advantage does microgravity offer for tissue engineering and mechanobiology?
The description indicates microgravity can reduce confounding gravity-driven effects (like sedimentation and buoyancy-driven convection), potentially making it easier to observe or isolate specific biological and physical interactions involved in tissue formation and response to forces.
Is this program described as a large portfolio or a small set of projects?
It is described as funding a small portfolio, with an expected number of awards of about four.
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