The Bioengineering Research Grants (BRG) program, offered by the Department of Health and Human Services through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), supports projects aimed at solving biomedical problems through multidisciplinary bioengineering approaches that bridge life and physical sciences. This funding opportunity, reissued as PAR-22-242, seeks research proposals that apply innovative bioengineering methods to address clinical, translational, or basic science challenges, with an emphasis on developing, optimizing, and translating technologies that can impact healthcare. Research teams, typically small and multidisciplinary, may submit projects that integrate quantitative sciences, such as physics and engineering, with biomedical sciences to improve understanding of health and disease. This FOA does not support clinical trials, and projects are restricted to technology or method development, excluding projects focused solely on hypothesis testing without technological advancement.

The BRG program is open to innovative approaches in areas such as disease prevention, diagnostics, treatment, and monitoring. Supported projects might involve advanced diagnostic imaging, predictive modeling, delivery systems for therapeutic agents, and development of in vitro models that closely mimic human physiology. NIH encourages projects that address complex questions by increasing measurement accuracy, throughput, and predictive value in various biomedical applications. Specific areas of interest differ among participating NIH Institutes, with the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), for example, focusing on oral and craniofacial tissue regeneration, and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) prioritizing technologies that facilitate cancer diagnostics and monitoring, including biospecimen quality assessment and wearable devices for lifestyle monitoring.

Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit entities, government bodies, and foreign institutions. Applicants should have experience in bioengineering research, and teams are encouraged to ensure complementary skills across fields. There are no restrictions on the budget size, but requested budgets must accurately reflect project needs. Projects may last up to five years, depending on the specific NIH institute’s policy. Applicants requesting over $500,000 in direct costs per year are required to consult NIH staff six weeks before submission.

Submission is managed electronically via the NIH ASSIST system, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system solution. Application deadlines occur multiple times yearly: February 5, June 5, and October 5, with standard NIH advisory and review cycles following each deadline. Applicants must adhere to the NIH SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for formatting and submission requirements. Non-compliance with any instruction, including required forms, may result in disqualification. Applications must also include a Data Management and Sharing Plan to address scientific data sharing as per NIH policy, alongside a Resource Sharing Plan.

Evaluation criteria for submissions are based on significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, approach, and environment. Reviewers will assess the potential impact on biomedical research, considering the novelty of the project, feasibility, and integration of interdisciplinary methods. Additionally, the proposal should address potential risks, limitations, and metrics for success. The applicant's environment, available resources, and institutional support will also be evaluated for suitability to the project.

Upon submission, applications are reviewed by the NIH Center for Scientific Review and will receive an impact score based on their scientific and technical merit. The top half of applications will proceed for further review and scoring by advisory councils. Applicants will be notified of their application’s outcome, and scoring summaries will be accessible through the NIH’s eRA Commons. Applications are encouraged to highlight their alignment with the goals of the NIH institutes or centers to strengthen their appeal in the review process.