Key Dates

Related Announcements

• April 25, 2023 – Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) for Early Stage Investigators (ESI) (R35 – Clinical Trial Optional), See  NOFO PAR-23-145  
• March 06, 2023 – Biomedical Technology Optimization and Dissemination Center (BTOD) (RM1 – Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PAR-23-110  
• February 03, 2023– Collaborative Program Grant for Multidisciplinary Teams (RM1 – Clinical Trial Optional). See NOFO PAR-23-077
• November 18, 2022 – Trailblazer Award for New and Early Stage Investigators (R21 Clinical Trial Optional). See NOFO PAR-24-022
• May 24, 2022 – Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (R35 – Clinical Trial Optional). See NOFO PAR-22-180  
• March 21, 2022 – Focused Technology Research and Development (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PAR-22-127
• March 21, 2022 – Technology Development Research for Establishing Feasibility and Proof of Concept (R21 – Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PAR-22-126  
• March 08, 2022 – Bioengineering Partnerships with Industry (U01 Clinical Trial Optional). See NOFO PAR-22-123
• January 10, 2022 – Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PAR-22-060
• January 10, 2022 – Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PAR-21-357
• May 19, 2021 – Academic Research Enhancement Award for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PAR-21-155
• May 19, 2021 –   Academic Research Enhancement Award for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required). SEE NOFO PAR-21-154
• February 10, 2021 – NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (Parent R13 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PA-21-151
• November 9, 2020 – Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PAR-21-038
• November 9, 2020 – Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant (R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required). See NOFO PAR-21-039
• May 07, 2020 – NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PA-20-195
• May 07, 2020 – NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PA-20-194
• May 07, 2020 – NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required). See NOFO PA-20-196
• May 05, 2020 – NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PA-20-185
• May 05, 2020 – NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PA-20-183
• May 05, 2020 – Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required). See NOFO PA-20-184
• May 05, 2020 – NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PA-20-188
• May 05, 2020 – NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PA-20-187
• May 05, 2020 – NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required). See NOFO PA-20-189 

Issued by

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)

National Eye Institute (NEI)

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to announce that the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), National Eye Institute (NEI), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), and National Cancer Institute (NCI) are soliciting applications proposing to advance research on quantum sensing directed toward biomedical applications.

Background

Quantum sensing harnesses the power of quantum physics and mechanics for measuring quantum states at the sub-atomic level to improve sensing performance. The atomic length scale of Quantum sensors and their coherence properties, which enable unprecedented spatial resolution and sensitivity, are gaining importance toward near-term and real-world applications in biomedical research. Quantum sensors can detect and measure the smallest changes in various electromagnetic fields and physical quantities such as pH, temperature, speed, position, pressure, force, vibration, and fluid property using many-fold lower power and decreased size than their classical counterparts. Therefore, quantum sensors can provide more granular data collection and given their compact size and non-cryogenic nature, they have the potential to improve health accessibility and equity by allowing biomedical technologies such as diagnostic devices to be used in broader population. Many of the emerging quantum sensing technologies have yet to be explored in biomedical use cases. Through further technology development and optimization, these novel sensing technologies could drastically enhance current biological imaging and sensing measurements, which provide unique opportunities and capacities to advance biomedical research and clinical translation. For more information on NIH’s Quantum Information Science Initiative, please refer to https://datascience.nih.gov/quantum-information-science.

Research Objectives

The goal of this NOSI is to support innovative and potentially transformative research projects in quantum science and sensing toward biomedical disciplines. This includes approaches to improve current biomedical imaging and bioengineering tools and technologies using quantum sensing for drug delivery, novel therapeutics, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of various diseases.

This NOSI further aims to catalyze application of innovative quantum-enabled technologies that leverage quantum sensing properties (coherence, interference, superposition and entanglement) of various materials (e.g., color centers, solid-state defects, 2D quantum materials), superconducting circuits, atomic magnetometry, integrated photonics, non-classical sources of light, quantum optical effects, hyperpolarized spin states, entangled photons, tunneling, quantum correlation, or other quantum phenomena.

The proposed project must be related to the programmatic interests of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) based on their scientific missions.

NIBIB Statement of Interest

NIBIB interests include the development and integration of advanced bioengineering, sensing, imaging, and computational technologies for the improvement of human health and medical care. An application is not within the NIBIB mission if its principal focus is the development of a technology with the goal of understanding basic biological function or pathological mechanisms. Additionally, NIBIB only supports projects developing platform technologies that are applicable to a broad spectrum of disorders and diseases. However, applicants may propose research that utilizes only a single tissue, organ, or physiological condition as a model system to facilitate the development of what is expected to be a more broadly applicable enabling technology.

For this NOSI, if an application proposes a clinical trial, NIBIB funding of clinical trials will be in accordance with NOT-EB-21-005 "NIBIB Guidance for Support of Clinical Trial Applications." Briefly, NIBIB will only support mission-focused (see NIBIB's program areas) early-stage clinical trial applications, i.e., feasibility, Phase I, first-in-human, safety, or other small clinical trials, that inform early stagetechnology development. NIBIB will not support applications proposing pivotal, Phase II, III, IV, or trials in which the primary outcome is efficacy, effectiveness, or a post-market concern. Also, mechanistic trials are not supported unless the primary focus of the project is on technology development.)

NEI Statement of Interest

The mission of the National Eye Institute (NEI) is to eliminate vision loss and improve quality of life through vision research. For this NOSI, NEI is particularly interested in supporting projects that develop novel quantum technology imaging systems to improve detection and diagnosis of diseases that affect the visual system, especially those that are relevant to NEI’s Strategic Plan.

NHLBI Statement of Interest

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) provides global leadership for a research, training, and education programs to promote the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders or conditions.

Under this NOSI, NHLBI is interested in supporting applications that utilize advances in quantum technologies to support research projects that align with the NHLBI mission. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Scientific/Research staff noted in this NOSI about proposed activities prior to submission.  Specific areas of interest include but not limited to the following:

• Next-generation quantum technology imaging systems to improve detection and diagnosis of diseases relevant to NHLBI
• Portable quantum sensors for ultrasensitive in vivo non-invasive measurements of early biomarkers of HLBS diseases or conditions (e.g. fetal magnetocardiography)
• Quantum sensor technologies to better understand biological mechanisms of HLBS diseases, track disease progression and response to treatment (e.g. SCD vaso-occlusive crises, lung fibrosis)
• The use and optimization of entangled photon light sources in HLBS biomedical research and enhancing detection efficiency, speed, error rate and image resolution.
• Innovative quantum sensing approaches to modalities including microscopy, spectroscopy, NMR, such as hyperpolarized MRI, quantum OCT and photon-counting CT
• Quantum technologies for developing lab-on-a-chip systems and microfluidic approaches for point-of-care diagnostics and screening new therapeutics for HLBS conditions
• Quantum sensors for drug efficacy assessment; quantum sensing NMR to study drug - target interactions at the atomic level
   

NIGMS Statement of Interest

NIGMS supports basic research that increases our understanding of biological processes and lays the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.  The Institute also supports research in specific clinical areas that affect multiple organ systems. New methods and technologies are critical to advancing NIGMS mission relevant research. For this NOSI, NIGMS is interested in quantum inspired technology development that transcends current technological limitations. Applications to NIGMS for this NOSI may focus solely on technology development that may be of interest to the broader biomedical research community or may incorporate development of quantum inspired technologies to advance understanding of NIGMS mission relevant biology and clinical interests. Applicants are encouraged to consult with NIGMS Program staff to discuss appropriate NIGMS funding mechanisms and programs including NOFOs that may have expired and will be reissued. 

NCATS Statement of Interest:

NCATS mission is to turn research observations into health solutions through translational science. The goal is more treatments for all people more quickly. The Center works to enhance the development, testing and implementation of diagnostics and therapeutics for a wide range of diseases and conditions including rare diseases. For this NOSI, NCATS’s interest is in supporting high quality scientific conferences (R13) to promote collaborations between quantum experts and biomedical scientists for applying quantum technologies (sensing, computing, imaging) to advance translation sciences relevant to NCATS mission, specifically in the areas described in the NCATS Strategic Plan.

NCI Statement of Interest

NCI’s mission is to lead, conduct, and support cancer research across the nation to advance scientific knowledge and help all people live longer, healthier lives. For this NOSI, NCI is particularly interested in supporting projects that develop novel quantum technology systems to improve detection, bio-sample conservation, and dynamic treatment analysis (e.g. biomarker discovery/analysis) related to both tumor and normal tissues, especially those that are relevant to NCI’s Strategic Plan.

 Application and Submission Information

This notice applies to due dates on or after January 16, 2024  and subsequent receipt dates through January 27, 2027.

Submit applications for this initiative using one of the following notices of funding opportunity (NOFO) or any reissues of these announcements through the expiration date of this notice. 

Applicants must select the IC and associated NOFO to use for submission of an application in response to the NOSI. The selection must align with the IC requirements listed in order to be considered responsive to that NOFO. Non-responsive applications will be withdrawn from consideration for this initiative. 

In addition, applicants using NIH Parent announcements (listed below) will be assigned to those participating ICs on this NOSI that have indicated those NOFOs are acceptable and based on usual application-IC assignment practices.

Investigators are strongly encouraged to reach out to the relevant contacts listed in the Inquiries Section of this NOSI to determine which NOFO and activity code are appropriate for their proposed research. Participating NIH Offices may consider co-funding meritorious applications depending on the alignment with office-specific missions and priorities and the availability of funds. The following ICs will accept applications to the NOFOs below or their subsequent reissued equivalents:

 All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and the notice of funding opportunity used for submission must be followed, with the following additions:

•  For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-EB-23-022 ” (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this initiative.

Applicants planning to submit an application in response to this NOSI are strongly encouraged to contact and discuss their proposed research/aims with an NIH Program Officer listed on this NOSI well in advance of the grant receipt date. Applications nonresponsive to terms of this NOSI will not be considered for the NOSI initiative.

Applications nonresponsive to terms of this NOSI will not be considered for the NOSI initiative.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to the Scientific/Research, Peer Review, and Financial/Grants Management contacts in Section VII of the listed notice of funding opportunity.

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

Afrouz Anderson Ph.D.
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Telephone: 301-496-4558
Email: afrouz.anderson@nih.gov

Tony Gover Ph.D.
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Telephone: 301-529-7370
Email: tony.gover@nih.gov

John Haller, Ph.D.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Telephone: 301-435-0513
Telephone: 301-435-0513
Email: john.haller@nih.govmailto:

Julia Berzhanskaya, Ph.D.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Telephone: 301-443-3707
Email: julia.berzhanskaya@nih.gov

Alvin Yeh, Ph.D.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES (NIGMS)
E-mail: alvin.yeh@nih.gov

Geetha Senthil, Ph.D.
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Telephone: 301-496-7876
Email: Senthilgs@mail.nih.gov

Jeff Buchsbaum MD, Ph.D., AM, DABR, FASTRO 
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 301-435-0513
Email: john.haller@nih.gov