President Joe Biden has proposed a two-trillion-dollar investment in research and development to boost the United States economy and spur innovation. This includes $50 billion to be set aside for the National Science Foundation (NSF) to fund research and development (R&D) projects in biomedical research, particularly in the field of biomonitoring and biomarkers. This particular initiative, known as the Biden 2T 50B R&D Bump Protocol, aims to develop novel biomonitoring and diagnostic technologies as a part of the NSF’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is the Biden 2T 50B R&D Bump Protocol?
The Biden 2T $50B R&D Bump Protocol is an ambitious program of biomedical research aimed at accelerating the discovery and implementation of biomonitoring and biomarker technologies. The emphasis of the program is on the development of technologies that can be used to detect, monitor, and diagnose a wide range of infectious diseases, including COVID-19.
The funds are earmarked for use in NSF’s research-oriented cluster, which comprises several sub-clusters of activities dedicated to advancing the areas of biomonitoring, biomarker development and validation, infectious disease diagnostics and vaccines, and smaller scale “therapeutic projects”. In addition to the funds being set aside for such activities, the initiative also seeks to establish partnerships with government laboratories, universities, and industry to bolster existing data-sharing networks and develop new ones.
FAQs
- What is biomonitoring?
Biomonitoring is the use of biological systems, such as cells, tissues, animals, or humans, to detect the presence of certain substances like chemicals or pollutants in the environment. It is often used to assess the environmental impacts of certain activities, such as industrial production or agricultural practices.
- What are biomarkers?
Biomarkers are biological indicators of disease or exposure to certain substances. They can be measured in a person’s body, such as a particular protein or enzyme, or in the environment, such as in water or soil. Biomarkers can be used to detect the presence of diseases or conditions, such as cancer, or to measure the effects of exposure to certain pollutants.
- What is the goal of the Biden 2T $50B R&D Bump Protocol?
The primary goal of the Biden 2T $50B R&D Bump Protocol is to accelerate the development of novel biomonitoring and biomarker technologies, which can be used to detect, monitor, and diagnose a wide range of infectious diseases, including COVID-19. In addition to providing funds for such activities, the initiative also seeks to establish partnerships with government laboratories, universities, and industry to bolster existing data-sharing networks and develop new ones.
Examples
Biomarker Examples:
- C-reactive protein (CRP) is a biomarker of inflammation and is an important indicator of heart attack risk. It is also used to track the progress of certain types of cancer.
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a biomarker used to detect prostate cancer in men.
- Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is a biomarker of total cholesterol and its fractions and is used to assess coronary artery disease risk.
Biomonitoring Examples:
- Environmental biomonitoring is used to assess the presence of chemicals or pollutants in water, air, soil, and food. For example, the presence of lead in water or mercury in fish.
- Biomonitoring can also be used to measure the exposure of humans or animals to specific chemicals or pollutants. This is done by measuring the concentration of a particular chemical in the person’s or animal’s urine, blood, or tissues.
- Biomonitoring can also be used to study the interactions between humans and their environment. This includes the effects of air pollution on health, the effects of certain farming practices on soil health, and the effects of noise on human health.
