The BRAIN Initiative (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) is a collaborative, public-private research initiative with the goal of supporting the development and application of innovative technologies that can create a dynamic understanding of brain function. In support of the BRAIN Initiative, the NSF announced a funding opportunity to support transformative and integrative research to accelerate our understanding of neural and cognitive systems as part of The BRAIN Initiative. NSF Director France Cordova commended the initiative, stating, "The BRAIN Initiative is truly an exciting and potentially game-changing effort to unlock the secrets of one of humankind's most enduring mysteries". The BRAIN Initiative was kicked off with a total of $100 million in initial commitments from NSF, the (U.S.) National Institutes of Health, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and a number of private research institutes. Since its launch, the initiative has expanded to include the participation of several other federal agencies, scientific societies, and nonprofit organizations.
The Biomaterials program supports fundamental materials research related to (1) biological materials, (2) biomimetic, bioinspired, and bio-enabled materials, (3) synthetic materials intended for applications in contact with biological systems, and (4) the processes through which nature produces biological materials. Projects are typically interdisciplinary and may encompass scales from the nanoscopic to the bulk. They may involve characterization, design, preparation, and modification; studies of structure-property relationships and interfacial behavior; and combinations of experiment, theory, and/or simulation. The emphasis is on novel materials design and development and discovery of new phenomena.
General information on all the programs in DMR can be found on the DMR Web page: http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=DMR. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to interact “one on one" with NSF BMAT Program Director.