Bio-protocol reports: The 2013 project application guidelines for the National Basic Research Program (referred to as the 973 Program, including the National Major Scientific Research Program) have been recently issued. This time, the 973 Program projects will be applied online. The submission period for 2013 projects is from 8:00 am on March 25 to 5:00 pm on April 9 this year, and late submissions will not be accepted. The online application process and relevant matters will be separately announced on the website of the National Science and Technology Program Project Application Center in early March.
The National Basic Research Development Program (referred to as the 973 Program, including the National Major Scientific Research Program) is a basic research development plan that is strategically, prospectively, comprehensively, and leadingly oriented towards national major needs, and plays a significant role in China's future development and scientific and technological progress. The main task of the 973 Program is to solve key scientific problems in China's economic construction, social development, and national security, and to obtain a batch of major original innovative results in the mainstream direction of world scientific development.
This project application guideline starts with the agricultural science field, and biological projects are mainly concentrated in the agricultural science field, health science field (Traditional Chinese Medicine theory special topic, important infectious diseases basic research special topic), and comprehensive interdisciplinary science field. Among these, the new direction worth noting is synthetic biology. This research area involves the artificial creation of biological systems, which differs from the traditional biological method of dissecting life forms to study their internal structure. The research direction of synthetic biology is completely opposite; it builds components step by step from the most fundamental factors. Unlike genetic engineering, which continuously alters and transfers genes from one species to another, the goal of synthetic biology is to establish artificial biological systems (artificial biosystems) that operate like circuits.
Currently, many important synthetic biology research results have been achieved abroad, such as last year when the United States first realized the semi-artificial synthesis of chromosomes in eukaryotic organisms, or complex organisms, marking another big step forward in large-scale genome engineering of eukaryotic organisms.
Synthetic biology is hailed as a pioneer in the fourth wave of scientific revolution because it can turn "impossible" into "everything is possible," playing an increasingly important role in solving human energy, environmental, medical, and drug production issues.
Details of the 973 Program application:
Agricultural Science Field:
1. Research on the molecular mechanisms of reproductive development in major crops and improving the efficiency of hybrid advantage utilization.
2. Research on the molecular mechanisms of fatty acid and special nutritional component composition and regulation in crops.
3. Research on the molecular basis of crop organ senescence and its regulation of yield and quality trait formation.
4. Research on the genetic mechanisms of fertility and excellent production traits in agricultural animals.
5. Basic research on safe and efficient breeding of agricultural animals.
6. Basic research on improving grassland productivity and efficient water and nutrient use in farmland.
7. Biological control mechanisms and integrated management of harmful agricultural and forestry pests.
8. Biological research on the use of fungi and prevention and control of pathogenic fungi.
Health Science Field:
1. Basic research on immune response, immune regulation, and treatment of immune-related diseases.
2. Pathophysiological mechanisms of fat metabolism and obesity.
3. Biological basis of organ aging and age-related diseases.
4. Basic research on the pathogenesis and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
5. Research on the pathogenesis and intervention of heart failure or arrhythmia.
6. Research on mitochondrial dysfunction and its pathogenesis and intervention strategies.
7. Environmental and genetic mechanism research on cancer occurrence.
8. Neurobiological research on depression.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory Special Topic:
1. Research on the spleen’s function of transportation and blood control.
2. Key scientific issues of Chinese medicine pharmacological theory based on traditional functions.
3. Research on the mechanism of acupuncture anesthesia and body protection.
4. Research on the framework of Traditional Chinese Medicine theory.
Special Topic on Fundamental Research of Important Infectious Diseases:
1. Research on gut microbiota and infection and metabolism.
2. Research on anti-infective vaccines and adjuvants.
3. Research on the interaction between fungi and hosts.
4. Research on important bacterial resistance mechanisms and novel antimicrobial molecules.
Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Science Field:
6. Synthetic Biology
7. Green Chemical Engineering and Biochemical Process Engineering
8. Interdisciplinary Research in Life Sciences and Biotechnology
Major Scientific Frontiers Field:
Protein Research:
1. Research on the structure-function relationship of important protein complexes.
2. Structural basis research on important membrane protein functions.
3. Proteomic research on physiological and pathological activities.
4. New technologies and methods for protein research.
5. Regulation research on protein translation and modification.
6. Mechanism research on important regulatory proteins related to tumor occurrence and development.
7. Functional and mechanistic research on important proteins in metabolic regulation processes.
8. Research on protein interaction networks and functions.
Development and Reproduction Research:
1. Cellular and molecular basis of major tissue development.
2. Molecular mechanisms of organ development, aging, or regeneration.
3. Molecular mechanisms of abnormal tissue and organ development.
4. Molecular network regulation mechanisms of important plant organ development and pollination fertilization.
5. Regulatory mechanisms of germ cell fate determination and gonad development.
6. Genetic and epigenetic regulation research on sperm production and maturation.
7. Molecular mechanisms of oocyte maturation and early embryonic development.
8. Molecular relationships between hormones, metabolic disorders, or environmental factors and reproductive dysfunction.
Stem Cell Research:
1. Immunological research on stem cell development.
2. Basic biological research on cancer stem cells.
3. Research on directed differentiation and mechanisms of pluripotent stem cells.
4. Research on molecular mechanisms of cell reprogramming.
5. Identification of stem cell marker molecules based on stem cell resource libraries.
6. Research on interactions and mechanisms between stem cells and microenvironments.
7. Methods and mechanisms of stem cell therapy for major diseases.
8. Basic and clinical translational research on stem cell therapy for visual system diseases.