REPORT ON AWARDS FOR

INTERAGENCY OPPORTUNITIES IN METABOLIC ENGINEERING

 April 24, 2006

This is a report on results of a very successful Interagency Activity in Metabolic Engineering sponsored by the Metabolic Engineering Working Group (MEWG), an Interagency Working Group that is part of the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, which reports to the Committee on Science of the National Science and Technology Council. This Working Group issued on October 6, 2004 a Program Solicitation entitled "Interagency Opportunities in Metabolic Engineering" (NSF 05-502), which made known the availability of funds to support four topic areas of Metabolic Engineering that were highlighted in the Solicitation.

A copy of the Solicitation is available at: http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?nsf05502

67 Full-Proposals were received in response to the Solicitation.   Each of the participating agencies was asked to provide names of possible panelists for a Panel review of the Full-Proposals.  A Panel of 19 scientists and engineers with a variety of disciplines reviewed 62 Full-Proposals that were considered by the Working Group to be responsive to the Program Solicitation.   The Working Group agreed that the NSF Format and Review Criteria would be used along with additional Review Criteria provided by NIH to evaluate the Full-Proposals. Based on the recommendations of the Panel, 9 Awards were made, totaling $6,404,701. 

A data sheet is attached showing how the participating Agencies provided funding for the Awards.

The Working Group is pleased with the results of this sixth Interagency competition in Metabolic Engineering, and is currently discussing methods for carrying out a new Interagency competition in Metabolic Engineering.