Finding a Home at the NSF for Your Chemical Biology Proposal

George L. KenyonApril 30, 2009

Scripps Research Institute

A NSF “Experiment” at the Chemistry-Biology Interface

Main responsibilities of this position are to:• Facilitate and develop best practices for the

review of proposals at the chemistry-biology interface, and keep proposals from “falling through the cracks”.

• Facilitate the interactions between the MCB and CHE divisions

• Interact with the community to help identify the best program for their proposals.

“Experiment” - January 2008: Professor Wilfredo (Freddy) Colon joined the NSF as a rotator program director with a 50:50 appointment between the Division of Chemistry (CHE) and the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB).

Directorate forMathematical and Physical Sciences

Division ofMathematical

Sciences

Division ofMathematical

Sciences

Division ofChemistry

Division ofChemistry

Division ofPhysics

Division ofPhysics

Division ofMaterialsResearch

Division ofMaterialsResearch

Division ofAstronomical

Sciences

Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (OMA)Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (OMA)

AST CHE DMR DMS PHY

Directorate forBiological Sciences (BIO)

Division ofIntegrative Organismal

Systems

Division ofIntegrative Organismal

Systems

Division ofEnvironmental

Biology

Division ofEnvironmental

Biology

Division ofMolecular

and CellularBiosciences

Division ofMolecular

and CellularBiosciences

Emerging Frontiers

Emerging Frontiers

Division of Biological

Infrastructure

DBI DEB EF IOS MCB

CHE

Analytical and Surface

Chemistry

Inorganic, Bioinorganic,

and Organometallic

Chemistry

Organic andMacromolecular

Chemistry

Physical Chemistry

Integrated Chemistry Activities

MCB

CellularSystems Cluster

Genes and GenomesSystems Cluster

Biomolecular Systems Cluster

Structure of CHE and MCB

Most biochemistry proposals are submitted to the BMS in MCB cluster whereas most chemical biology proposals are submitted to CHE.

Biochemistry and Chemical Biology at the NSF

Biochemistry - the study of the chemistry and chemical processes in living organisms.

•Most biochemistry proposals are submitted to the Biomolecular Systems Cluster in MCB and are reviewed in the Molecular Biochemistry or Metabolic Biochemistry review panels supplemented with ad-hoc reviews. •Some biochemistry proposals that are more chemistry-oriented are submitted to CHE and are reviewed by different methods, depending on the Program.

Chemical Biology - involves the application of the tools and methods of chemistry to the study and manipulation of biological systems

•Most chemical biology proposals are submitted to a CHE program. •Some chemical biology proposals are submitted to other divisions in the BIO Directorate, usually MCB.

Biochemistry and Chemical Biology proposals are sometimes co-reviewed and co-funded by CHE and MCB

CHE

Analytical and Surface

Chemistry

Inorganic, Bioinorganic,

and Organometallic

Chemistry

Organic andMacromolecular

Chemistry

Physical Chemistry

Integrated Chemistry Activities

MCB

CellularSystems Cluster

Genes and GenomesSystems Cluster

Biomolecular Systems Cluster

Structure of CHE and MCB

chemical biology?

Recent Activities and Changes at the NSF to Address Proposals at the CHE-BIO Interface

• Wrote a commentary to inform the community about the present and future of chemical biology at the NSF:

•Chemical Biology at the US National Science Foundation, Nature Chemical Biology 4, 511-514

• New CHE-MCB review panel was created to facilitate the review of proposals at the che-bio interface, including chemical biology.

• Workshop on chemical biology is being planned for 2009 – to discuss leading edge, future trends, proposal review mechanism, funding opportunities, and education

• CHE is proposing to create a new program, Chemistry of Life Processes, that will serve as a home to chemical biology proposals.

CHE Town Hall Meeting

When: March 23, 2009Where: Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 3What Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM

Main Agenda: Introduce Proposed New Programs of the Chemistry Division

•Chemical Synthesis

•Chemical Structure, Dynamics and Mechanisms

•Chemical Measurement and Imaging

•Theory, Models and Computational Methods

•Environmental Chemical Sciences

•Chemistry of Life Processes

•Chemical Catalysis

•Macromolecular / Supramolecular / Nanochemistry

Draft of Program Description:

•The program supports research of novel chemistry in biological systems and the advancement of basic chemical research and transformative technologies through creative applications that address significant aspects of life processes.

•The program also encourages research projects that exploit biological systems to advance fundamental and enabling aspects of chemistry.

•Proposals that are compatible with the program are those that advance the knowledge and practice of chemistry.

•Proposals that focus on addressing a biological question and that do not primarily use chemical approaches are more appropriate for the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB).

•Proposals that address biomedical problems are more appropriate for the NIH.

Program Contact: Wilfredo Colon, (703) 292-8171, wcolon@nsf.govE-mail questions, comments, or suggestions to chemplans@nsf.gov

Proposed Program: Chemistry of Life Processes

Examples of Research Interest that would fit the Chemistry of Life Processes Program

Research of interest to the program includes fundamental chemistry

centered projects at the interface with biology. Some examples include,

but are not limited to:

• synthetic methods for site-specific modifications of biomacromolecules;

• the application of advanced spectroscopic techniques to study energy

transformations in biological systems;

• metal speciation, coordination and function;

• chemical (bottom-up) synthetic biology;

• chemical basis of ligand-biomacromolecule recognition;

• studies of enzyme and ribozyme catalysis that focus on the chemistry;

• the design and synthesis of riboswitches and small molecules that

modulate biological systems.

Finding a Home: Submit to CHE or MCB?

Advise #1: Understand the key differences between CHE and MCB –MCB is mainly interested in the fundamental biological problem or question being addressed (i.e. the impact on Biology)–CHE is mainly interested in the novelty and significance of the chemical approach (i.e. the impact on Chemistry)–CHE and MCB do not support disease related proposals.

Advice #2: Determine the focus and impact of your proposal–If the proposal is traditional biochemistry and the main focus is to understand the relationship between structure and function - submit to MCB–If the proposal focuses primarily on the chemical details or chemical approaches (e.g. synthesis, imaging/sensor, metal coordination, spectroscopy) - submit to CHE–Submit the proposal to the program that would be impacted the most by the research. Where is the greatest impact: the chemistry or the biology?

Advice #3: If in doubt about the best program for your proposal, consult with program director

Advice #4: Address both review criteria: the intellectual merit and broader impact

–Understand the meaning of “broader impact” and take it seriously.

Review Criteria

Criterion 1: intellectual merit? (The focus is one the science)

• Advancement of knowledge and understanding? • How qualified is the investigator(s)? • Impact of prior work? • Exploration of creative, original or potentially transformative concepts?

(since Jan. 2008; revolutionizing entire disciplines; creating entirely new fields; or disrupting accepted theories and perspectives)

• How well conceived and organized? • Resources?

Criterion 2: broader impacts? (The focus is on the people)

• Promotion of teaching, training, and learning? • Broadening participation? • Enhancement of infrastructure? • Dissemination? • Benefits to society?

The Project Description must describe, as an integral part of the narrative, the broader impacts resulting from the proposed activities.

Summary• Most proposals at the chemistry-biology interface may be submitted to CHE or

MCB, depending on the focus of the proposal and the impact of the research.

• The proposed Chemistry of Life Processes program will provide a common and clear home for chemical biology proposals.

• Communicate with Program Directors if there is any doubt about the most appropriate program for your proposal.

• If you want your proposal to be co-reviewed by another division/program, you may identify a second program in Fastlane at the time of submission.

• Take the broader impact criteria seriously.

• If your proposal does not fit the program, the PDs will try to transfer it to the appropriate program, and will do their best to obtain a competent and fair review.