The NSF Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences in the Directorate for Biological Sciences and Division of Physics in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (NSF/MCB and NSF/PHY) recently released Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) “ANR – NSF/Physics/MCB Lead Agency Opportunity at the Physics – Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Interface” (NSF 21-120). This DCL announces the continued collaboration between the French Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) and NSF to support projects that use multidisciplinary approaches to examine mechanisms underlying essential life processes at the molecular, subcellular, and cellular scales. Proposals that use physics based experimental and theoretical approaches are encouraged. 

Under the lead agency agreement, researchers can submit a single collaborative proposal that will go through a streamlined review process either at NSF or at ANR. In FY 2022 (October 2021-September 2022), NSF will serve as the lead agency for all proposals. Proposals should be submitted to: NSF 21-593 Division of Physics: Investigator Initiated Research Projects. The deadline for proposals is December 14, 2021. While proposals are submitted to NSF/PHY, they will be jointly reviewed by PHY and MCB.

Simultaneously, the French institution must submit a proposal with the identical Project Description, with any required additional information to ANR, via the ANR submission system (https://anr.fr/fr/appels/). The deadline for this is December 15, 2021.

For full details on submission guidelines, program priorities, and contact information, see the DCL: NSF 21-120.