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Research Proposal Topics In Biotechnology

Biotechnology is a fascinating subject that blends biology and technology and provides a huge chance to develop new ideas. However, before pursuing a career in this field, a person needs to complete a number of studies and have a thorough knowledge of the matter. When we begin our career must we conduct study to discover some innovative innovations that could benefit people around the world. Biotechnology is one of a variety of sciences of life, including pharmacy. Students who are pursuing graduation, post-graduation or PhD must complete the research work and compose their thesis to earn the satisfaction in their education. When choosing a subject for biotechnology-related research it is important to choose one that is likely to inspire us. Based on our passion and personal preferences, the subject to study may differ.

What is Biotechnology?

In its most basic sense, biotechnology is the science of biology that enables technology Biotechnology harnesses the power of the biomolecular and cellular processes to create products and technologies that enhance our lives and the wellbeing of the planet. Biotechnology has been utilizing microorganisms' biological processes for over six thousand years to create useful food items like cheese and bread as well as to keep dairy products in good condition.

Modern biotechnology has created breakthrough products and technology to treat rare and debilitating illnesses help reduce our footprint on the environment and feed hungry people, consume less energy and use less and provide safer, more clean and productive industrial production processes.

Introduction

Biotechnology is credited with groundbreaking advancements in technological development and development of products to create sustainable and cleaner world. This is in large part due to biotechnology that we've made progress toward the creation of more efficient industrial manufacturing bases. Additionally, it assists in the creation of greener energy, feeding more hungry people and not leaving a large environmental footprint, and helping humanity fight rare and fatal diseases.

Our writing services for assignments within the field of biotechnology covers all kinds of subjects that are designed to test and validate the skills of students prior to awarding their certificates. We assist students to successfully complete their course in all kinds of biotechnology-related courses. This includes biological sciences for medical use (red) and eco-biotechnology (green) marine biotechnology (blue) and industrial biotechnology (white).

What do we hope to gain from all these Initiatives?

Our primary goal in preparing this list of the top 100 biotechnology assignment subjects is to aid students in deciding on effective time management techniques. We've witnessed a large amount of cases where when looking for online help with assignments with the topic, examining sources of information, and citing the correct order of reference students find themselves stuck at various points. In the majority of cases, students have difficulty even to get through their dilemma of choosing a topic. This is why we contribute in our effort to help make the process easier for students in biotech quickly and efficiently. Our students are able to save time and energy in order to help them make use of the time they are given to write the assignment with the most appropriate topics.

Let's look at some of the newest areas of biotechnology research and the related areas.

• Renewable Energy Technology Management Promoting Village
• Molasses is a molasses-based ingredient that can be used to produce and the treatment of its effluent
• Different ways to evapotranspirate
• Scattering Parameters of Circulator Bio-Technology
• Renewable Energy Technology Management Promoting Village.

Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases

A variety of studies are being conducted into the techniques used by pathogens in order to infect humans and other species and for designing strategies for countering the disease. The main areas that are available to study by biotech researchers include:

• inlA from Listeria monocytogenes when combined with E-cadherin from humans.
• InlC in Listeria monocytogenes that are multipart with human Tuba.
• Phospholipase PatA of Legionella pnemophila.
• The inactivation process of mammalian TLR2 by inhibiting antibody.
• There are many proteins that come originate from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Plant Biotechnology

Another significant area for research in biotechnology for plants is to study the genetic causes of the plant's responses to scarcity and salinity, which have a significant impact on yields of the crop and food.

• Recognition and classification of genes that influence the responses of plants to drought and salinity.
• A component of small-signing molecules in plants' responses to salinity and drought.
• Genetic enhancement of plant sensitivity salinity and drought.

Pharmacogenetics

It's also a significant area for conducting research in biotechnology. One of the most important reasons for doing so could be the identification of various genetic factors that cause differences in drug effectiveness and susceptibility for adverse reactions. Some of the subjects which can be studied are,

• Pharmacogenomics of Drug Transporters
• Pharmacogenomics of Metformin's response to type II mellitus
• The pharmacogenomics behind anti-hypertensive medicines
• The Pharmacogenomics of anti-cancer drugs

Forensic DNA

A further area of research in biotechnology research is the study of the genetic diversity of humans for its applications in criminal justice. Some of the topics that could be studied include,

• Y-chromosome Forensic Kit, Development of commercial prototype.
• Genetic testing of Indels in African populations.
• The Y-chromosome genotyping process is used for African populations.
• Study of paternal and maternal ancestry of mixed communities in South Africa.
• The study of the local diversity in genetics using highly mutating Y-STRs and Indels.
• South African Innocence Project: The study of DNA extracted from historical crime scene.
• Nanotechnology is a new technology that can be applied to DNA genotyping.
• Nanotechnology methods to isolate DNA.

Food Biotechnology

It is possible to conduct research in order to create innovative methods and processes in the fields of food processing and water. The most fascinating topics include:

• A molecular-based technology that allows for the rapid identification and detection of foodborne pathogens in intricate food chains.
• The effects of conventional and modern processing techniques on the bacteria that are associated with Aspalathus lineriasis.
• DNA-based identification of species of animals that are present in meat products that are sold raw.
• The phage assay and PCR are used to detect and limit the spread of foodborne pathogens.
• Retention and elimination of pathogenic, heat-resistant and other microorganisms that are treated by UV-C.
• Analysis of an F1 generation of the cross Bon Rouge x Packham's Triumph by Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR/microsatellite).
• The identification of heavy metal tolerant and sensitive genotypes
• Identification of genes that are involved in tolerance to heavy metals
• The isolation of novel growth-promoting bacteria that can help crops cope with heavy metal stress . Identification of proteins that signal lipids to increase the tolerance of plants to stress from heavy metals

This topic includes high-resolution protein expression profiling for the investigation of proteome profiles. The following are a few of the most fascinating topics:

• The identification and profile of stress-responsive proteins that respond to abiotic stress in Arabidopsis Thalian and Sorghum bicolor.
• Analyzing sugar biosynthesis-related proteins in Sorghum bicolor, and study of their roles in drought stress tolerance
• Evaluation of the viability and long-term sustainability of Sweet Sorghum for bioethanol (and other by-products) production in South Africa
• In the direction of developing an environmentally sustainable, low-tech hypoallergenic latex Agroprocessing System designed specifically especially for South African small-holder farmers.

Bioinformatics

This is an additional aspect of biotechnology research. The current trend is to discover new methods to combat cancer. Bioinformatics may help identify proteins and genes as well as their role in the fight against cancer. Check out some of the areas that are suitable to study.

• Prediction of anticancer peptides with HIMMER and the the support vector machine.
• The identification and verification of innovative therapeutic antimicrobial peptides for Human Immunodeficiency Virus In the lab and molecular method.
• The identification of biomarkers that are associated with cancer of the ovary using an molecular and in-silico method.
• Biomarkers identified in breast cancer, as possible therapeutic and diagnostic agents with a combination of molecular and in-silico approaches.
• The identification of MiRNA's as biomarkers for screening of cancerous prostates in the early stages an in-silico and molecular method
• Identification of putatively identified the genes present in breast cancer tissues as biomarkers for early detection of lobular and ductal breast cancers.
• Examining the significance of Retinoblastoma Binding Protein 6 (RBBP6) in the regulation of the cancer-related protein Y-Box Binding Protein 1 (YB-1).
• Examining the role played by Retinoblastoma Binding Protein 6 (RBBP6) in the regulation of the cancer suppressor p53 through Mouse Double Minute 2 (MDM2).
• Structural analysis of the anti-oxidant properties of the 1-Cys peroxiredoxin Prx2 found in the plant that resurrects itself Xerophyta viscosa.

Nanotechnology

This is a fascinating aspect of biotechnology, which can be used to identify effective tools to address the most serious health issues.

• Evaluation of cancer-specific peptides to determine their applications for the detection of cancer.
• The development of a quantum dot-based detection systems for breast cancer.
• The creation of targeted Nano-constructs for in vivo imaging as well as the treatment of tumors.
• Novel quinone compounds are being tested as anti-cancer medicines.
• Embedelin is delivered to malignant cells in a specific manner.
• The anti-cancer activities of Tulbaghia Violacea extracts were studied biochemically .
• Novel organic compounds are screened for their anti-cancer potential.
• To treat HIV, nanotechnology-based therapeutic techniques are being developed.

Top 100 Biotechnology Research Proposal Topics to Consider in 2022

We've prepared a list of the top 100 most suggested dissertation topics, which were compiled by our experts in research. They've made sure to offer a an extensive list of topics that cover all aspects of the topic. We hope that this list will meet all of the requirements for assistance with your dissertation . Let us start with our list of subjects, one at a time each one

• Achieving effective control of renewable power technologies to help the village
• The production of ethanol through the aid of molasses and the treatment of its effluent
• Different approaches and aspects of Evapotranspiration
• Its scattering parameter is biotechnology circulator
• The inactivation of mammalian TLR2 via an inhibiting antibody
• The number of proteins produced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• Recognition and classification of genes that shape the responses of plants to drought and salinity.
• The small sign molecules that are involved in the response that plants have to the effects of salinity as well as drought
• Genetic improvement of the plant's sensitivity to drought and saltiness
• The pharmacogenomics of drug transporters
• The anti-cancer drugs' pharmacogenomics are based on pharmac
• The pharmacogenomics of antihypertensive medications
• Indels genotyping of African populations
• Genomics of the Y-chromosomes of African populations
• The profiling of DNA extracted from historical crime scenes Consider the implications of South African Innocence Project
• Nanotechnology-related methods for DNA isolation
• Nanotechnology applications in the context of DNA genotyping
• Recognizing the heavy metals that are tolerant with genotypes that are sensitive.
• Genetic characteristics that play a role within the procedure of gaining tolerance to metals
• The animal's DNA is authenticated by the species by the commercial production of raw meat products
• The use of molecular-based technology is in the sense of detection and identification of foodborne pathogens in complicated food systems
• Assessing the effectiveness of cancer-specific peptides that are suitable for efficient implementations in the area of diagnosis and treatment for cancer
• Quantum Dot-based detection system is being developed in relation to a positive breast cancer diagnosis
• It is targeted delivery of the embelin to cancerous cells
• Exploring the potential of novel quinone compounds as anti-cancer agents
• Treatment strategies for treating HIV in addition to the significance of nanotechnology the treatment of HIV.
• A review of the medicinal value the antioxidants found in nature.
• An in-depth examination of the structure of COVID spike proteins
• A review of the immune response to the stem therapy using cells
• CRISPR-Cas9 technology to aid in the process of editing the genome
• Tissue engineering and delivery of drugs through the application of Chitosan
• Evaluation of beneficial effects of cancer vaccines
• Use of PacBio sequencing in relation to genome assembly of model organisms
• Examining the connection between mRNA suppression and its effect on the growth of stem cells
• Biomimicry is a method of identifying of cancer cells
• The sub-classification and characterisation of the Yellow enzymes
• The process of producing food products that are hypoallergenic and fermented.
• The production of hypoallergenic milk
• The purification process for the thermostable phytase
• Bioconversion of the cellulose produce products that are significant for industry
• The investigation of the gut microbiota of the model organisms
• The use of fungal enzymes for the manufacture of chemical glue
• A look at those inhibitors to exocellulase as well as endocellulase
• Examine the value of microorganisms to aid in the recovery of gas from shale.
• Examine the thorough analysis of the method of natural decomposition
• Examine ways to recycle bio-wastes
• Improved bio-remediation in the case of oil spills
• The process of gold biosorption is accomplished with the aid of the cyanobacterium
• A healthy equilibrium between the biotic and the abiotic elements by using biotechnological devices
• The measurement of the mercury level in fish by means of markers
• Exploring the biotechnological capabilities from Jellyfish related microbiomes Jellyfish related microbiome
• What is the role of marine fungi to aid in attempts to break down plastics and polymers?
• Examine the biotechnological possibilities that can be extracted of dinoflagellates
• Removing endosulfan residues using the use of biotechnology the agriculture sector
• The creation of the ELISA method for the detection of crop virus
• Enhancing the quality of drinking water by the aid of the E.coli consortium
• The characterisation of E.coli is its isolation from the feces of Zoo animals
• Enhancing the resistance of crops to the attack of insects
• The reduction of the expenditure on agriculture by using efficient bio-tools
• Are there the most efficient ways to stop erosion of soils using the help of biotechnology-based tools?
• What can biotechnology do to assist in increasing the levels of vitamin content in GM food items?
• Enhancing the distribution of pesticides by using biotechnology
• Comparing the biofortification of folate in various types of corpses
• Examine the photovoltaic-based generation of ocean-based crop
• What is the best way to use nanotechnology will improve the efficiency of the agriculture sector?
• Analyzing the mechanisms that govern resistance to water stresses in models of plants
• Production and testing of human immune boosters within the test organisms
• Comparing genomic analysis to the usefulness of tools intended for bioinformatics
• The Arabinogalactan protein sequence and its value in the field of computational methods
• Analyzing and interpreting gut microbiota from model organisms
• Different methods of purification of proteins A comparative analysis
• The diagnosis of microbes and their function in micro-arrays of oligonucleotide oligonu
• The use of diverse techniques within the biomedical research field that includes micro-arrays technology
• The use of microbial community to produce the greenhouse effect
• Evaluation of the computational properties of various proteins that are derived from the marine microbiota
• E.coli gene mapping through the help of different tools for microbial research
• Intensifying the strains of Cyanobacterium the aid of gene sequencing
• Assessment and description by computation of crystallized proteins that are found in the natural world.
• MTERF protein and the use of it to end the process of transcription that occurs in mitochondrial DNA inside algae
• Reverse column chromatography in phase and its use in the separation of proteins
• The study of the various proteins that are found within Mycobacterium leprae.
• A review of the methods that are ideal to ensure the success of cloning RNA
• Examine the most common mistakes of biotechnology in conserving the ecology and natural environment.
• Is there a method to ensure that the medicinal plants are free of insects? Discuss
• What are the dangers caused by pest resistant animals on birds and human beings?
• What are the many areas of biotechnology that remain unexplored in terms research?
• What's the future of biotechnology in the medical field?
• Recombinant DNA technology to develop of new medical treatments
• What is the reason for the type of bacteria that is used to make vaccines with the aid of biotechnology?
• How can biotechnology aid in the development of new medicines that are resistant to the mutations of viruses and bacteria?
• Is there a long-term treatment for cancer that is available in the near term? Biotechnology could play an essential role in this?
• What is the reason it is so important that students remember the DNA codes in biotechnology?
• How can we create hybrid seeds with assistance of biotechnology?
• How can one create resistant plants to pests and what are the benefits of these seeds in final yields in agriculture?
• Examine bio-magnification and its effects on the ecology
• What are the causes to the reasons ecologists do not approve the use of pest-resistant seed, even though they are in application in agriculture?
• How has biotechnology influenced the lives of farmers in developing countries?
• Biotechnology can be used to boost the yield of plant species?
• Examine the role played by biotechnology to increase the production of the seasonal crops
• Are there any adverse side effects associated with pharmaceutical drugs when they are manufactured with biotechnological techniques? Let the issue with real-world examples

We attempted to cover the essential topics needed for research work. Other topics are available that could be picked based on our interests, the facilities available and resources available for the research, as well as resources and time limits.

We have reached the end of this list. We feel it was beneficial in satisfying the selection criteria. Furthermore, the inclusion of biotechnology-related assignment themes was done in such a manner that they may help us with the requirements of assignment writing kinds and forms. The themes listed above can meet our demands for topic selection linked to aid with case studies and essay assistance, research paper writing help , or thesis writing help .

Frequently asked questions

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200+ Biotechnology Research Topics: Let’s Shape the Future

In the dynamic landscape of scientific exploration, biotechnology stands at the forefront, revolutionizing the way we approach healthcare, agriculture, and environmental sustainability. This interdisciplinary field encompasses a vast array of research topics that hold the potential to reshape our world. 

In this blog post, we will delve into the realm of biotechnology research topics, understanding their significance and exploring the diverse avenues that researchers are actively investigating.

Overview of Biotechnology Research

Table of Contents

Biotechnology, at its core, involves the application of biological systems, organisms, or derivatives to develop technologies and products for the benefit of humanity. 

The scope of biotechnology research is broad, covering areas such as genetic engineering, biomedical engineering, environmental biotechnology, and industrial biotechnology. Its interdisciplinary nature makes it a melting pot of ideas and innovations, pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

How to Select The Best Biotechnology Research Topics?

• Identify Your Interests

Start by reflecting on your own interests within the broad field of biotechnology. What aspects of biotechnology excite you the most? Identifying your passion will make the research process more engaging.

• Stay Informed About Current Trends

Keep up with the latest developments and trends in biotechnology. Subscribe to scientific journals, attend conferences, and follow reputable websites to stay informed about cutting-edge research. This will help you identify gaps in knowledge or areas where advancements are needed.

• Consider Societal Impact

Evaluate the potential societal impact of your chosen research topic. How does it contribute to solving real-world problems? Biotechnology has applications in healthcare, agriculture, environmental conservation, and more. Choose a topic that aligns with the broader goal of improving quality of life or addressing global challenges.

• Assess Feasibility and Resources

Evaluate the feasibility of your research topic. Consider the availability of resources, including laboratory equipment, funding, and expertise. A well-defined and achievable research plan will increase the likelihood of successful outcomes.

• Explore Innovation Opportunities

Look for opportunities to contribute to innovation within the field. Consider topics that push the boundaries of current knowledge, introduce novel methodologies, or explore interdisciplinary approaches. Innovation often leads to groundbreaking discoveries.

• Consult with Mentors and Peers

Seek guidance from mentors, professors, or colleagues who have expertise in biotechnology. Discuss your research interests with them and gather insights. They can provide valuable advice on the feasibility and significance of your chosen topic.

• Balance Specificity and Breadth

Strike a balance between biotechnology research topics that are specific enough to address a particular aspect of biotechnology and broad enough to allow for meaningful research. A topic that is too narrow may limit your research scope, while one that is too broad may lack focus.

• Consider Ethical Implications

Be mindful of the ethical implications of your research. Biotechnology, especially areas like genetic engineering, can raise ethical concerns. Ensure that your chosen topic aligns with ethical standards and consider how your research may impact society.

• Evaluate Industry Relevance

Consider the relevance of your research topic to the biotechnology industry. Industry-relevant research has the potential for practical applications and may attract funding and collaboration opportunities.

• Stay Flexible and Open-Minded

Be open to refining or adjusting your research topic as you delve deeper into the literature and gather more information. Flexibility is key to adapting to new insights and developments in the field.

200+ Biotechnology Research Topics: Category-Wise

Genetic engineering.

• CRISPR-Cas9: Recent Advances and Applications
• Gene Editing for Therapeutic Purposes: Opportunities and Challenges
• Precision Medicine and Personalized Genomic Therapies
• Genome Sequencing Technologies: Current State and Future Prospects
• Synthetic Biology: Engineering New Life Forms
• Genetic Modification of Crops for Improved Yield and Resistance
• Ethical Considerations in Human Genetic Engineering
• Gene Therapy for Neurological Disorders
• Epigenetics: Understanding the Role of Gene Regulation
• CRISPR in Agriculture: Enhancing Crop Traits

Biomedical Engineering

• Tissue Engineering: Creating Organs in the Lab
• 3D Printing in Biomedical Applications
• Advances in Drug Delivery Systems
• Nanotechnology in Medicine: Theranostic Approaches
• Bioinformatics and Computational Biology in Biomedicine
• Wearable Biomedical Devices for Health Monitoring
• Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine
• Precision Oncology: Tailoring Cancer Treatments
• Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications
• Biomechanics in Biomedical Engineering

Environmental Biotechnology

• Bioremediation of Polluted Environments
• Waste-to-Energy Technologies: Turning Trash into Power
• Sustainable Agriculture Practices Using Biotechnology
• Bioaugmentation in Wastewater Treatment
• Microbial Fuel Cells: Harnessing Microorganisms for Energy
• Biotechnology in Conservation Biology
• Phytoremediation: Plants as Environmental Cleanup Agents
• Aquaponics: Integration of Aquaculture and Hydroponics
• Biodiversity Monitoring Using DNA Barcoding
• Algal Biofuels: A Sustainable Energy Source

Industrial Biotechnology

• Enzyme Engineering for Industrial Applications
• Bioprocessing and Bio-manufacturing Innovations
• Industrial Applications of Microbial Biotechnology
• Bio-based Materials: Eco-friendly Alternatives
• Synthetic Biology for Industrial Processes
• Metabolic Engineering for Chemical Production
• Industrial Fermentation: Optimization and Scale-up
• Biocatalysis in Pharmaceutical Industry
• Advanced Bioprocess Monitoring and Control
• Green Chemistry: Sustainable Practices in Industry

Emerging Trends in Biotechnology

• CRISPR-Based Diagnostics: A New Era in Disease Detection
• Neurobiotechnology: Advancements in Brain-Computer Interfaces
• Advances in Nanotechnology for Healthcare
• Computational Biology: Modeling Biological Systems
• Organoids: Miniature Organs for Drug Testing
• Genome Editing in Non-Human Organisms
• Biotechnology and the Internet of Things (IoT)
• Exosome-based Therapeutics: Potential Applications
• Biohybrid Systems: Integrating Living and Artificial Components
• Metagenomics: Exploring Microbial Communities

Ethical and Social Implications

• Ethical Considerations in CRISPR-Based Gene Editing
• Privacy Concerns in Personal Genomic Data Sharing
• Biotechnology and Social Equity: Bridging the Gap
• Dual-Use Dilemmas in Biotechnological Research
• Informed Consent in Genetic Testing and Research
• Accessibility of Biotechnological Therapies: Global Perspectives
• Human Enhancement Technologies: Ethical Perspectives
• Biotechnology and Cultural Perspectives on Genetic Modification
• Social Impact Assessment of Biotechnological Interventions
• Intellectual Property Rights in Biotechnology

Computational Biology and Bioinformatics

• Machine Learning in Biomedical Data Analysis
• Network Biology: Understanding Biological Systems
• Structural Bioinformatics: Predicting Protein Structures
• Data Mining in Genomics and Proteomics
• Systems Biology Approaches in Biotechnology
• Comparative Genomics: Evolutionary Insights
• Bioinformatics Tools for Drug Discovery
• Cloud Computing in Biomedical Research
• Artificial Intelligence in Diagnostics and Treatment
• Computational Approaches to Vaccine Design

Health and Medicine

• Vaccines and Immunotherapy: Advancements in Disease Prevention
• CRISPR-Based Therapies for Genetic Disorders
• Infectious Disease Diagnostics Using Biotechnology
• Telemedicine and Biotechnology Integration
• Biotechnology in Rare Disease Research
• Gut Microbiome and Human Health
• Precision Nutrition: Personalized Diets Using Biotechnology
• Biotechnology Approaches to Combat Antibiotic Resistance
• Point-of-Care Diagnostics for Global Health
• Biotechnology in Aging Research and Longevity

Agricultural Biotechnology

• CRISPR and Gene Editing in Crop Improvement
• Precision Agriculture: Integrating Technology for Crop Management
• Biotechnology Solutions for Food Security
• RNA Interference in Pest Control
• Vertical Farming and Biotechnology
• Plant-Microbe Interactions for Sustainable Agriculture
• Biofortification: Enhancing Nutritional Content in Crops
• Smart Farming Technologies and Biotechnology
• Precision Livestock Farming Using Biotechnological Tools
• Drought-Tolerant Crops: Biotechnological Approaches

Biotechnology and Education

• Integrating Biotechnology into STEM Education
• Virtual Labs in Biotechnology Teaching
• Biotechnology Outreach Programs for Schools
• Online Courses in Biotechnology: Accessibility and Quality
• Hands-on Biotechnology Experiments for Students
• Bioethics Education in Biotechnology Programs
• Role of Internships in Biotechnology Education
• Collaborative Learning in Biotechnology Classrooms
• Biotechnology Education for Non-Science Majors
• Addressing Gender Disparities in Biotechnology Education

Funding and Policy

• Government Funding Initiatives for Biotechnology Research
• Private Sector Investment in Biotechnology Ventures
• Impact of Intellectual Property Policies on Biotechnology
• Ethical Guidelines for Biotechnological Research
• Public-Private Partnerships in Biotechnology
• Regulatory Frameworks for Gene Editing Technologies
• Biotechnology and Global Health Policy
• Biotechnology Diplomacy: International Collaboration
• Funding Challenges in Biotechnology Startups
• Role of Nonprofit Organizations in Biotechnological Research

Biotechnology and the Environment

• Biotechnology for Air Pollution Control
• Microbial Sensors for Environmental Monitoring
• Remote Sensing in Environmental Biotechnology
• Climate Change Mitigation Using Biotechnology
• Circular Economy and Biotechnological Innovations
• Marine Biotechnology for Ocean Conservation
• Bio-inspired Design for Environmental Solutions
• Ecological Restoration Using Biotechnological Approaches
• Impact of Biotechnology on Biodiversity
• Biotechnology and Sustainable Urban Development

Biosecurity and Biosafety

• Biosecurity Measures in Biotechnology Laboratories
• Dual-Use Research and Ethical Considerations
• Global Collaboration for Biosafety in Biotechnology
• Security Risks in Gene Editing Technologies
• Surveillance Technologies in Biotechnological Research
• Biosecurity Education for Biotechnology Professionals
• Risk Assessment in Biotechnology Research
• Bioethics in Biodefense Research
• Biotechnology and National Security
• Public Awareness and Biosecurity in Biotechnology

Industry Applications

• Biotechnology in the Pharmaceutical Industry
• Bioprocessing Innovations for Drug Production
• Industrial Enzymes and Their Applications
• Biotechnology in Food and Beverage Production
• Applications of Synthetic Biology in Industry
• Biotechnology in Textile Manufacturing
• Cosmetic and Personal Care Biotechnology
• Biotechnological Approaches in Renewable Energy
• Advanced Materials Production Using Biotechnology
• Biotechnology in the Automotive Industry

Miscellaneous Topics

• DNA Barcoding in Species Identification
• Bioart: The Intersection of Biology and Art
• Biotechnology in Forensic Science
• Using Biotechnology to Preserve Cultural Heritage
• Biohacking: DIY Biology and Citizen Science
• Microbiome Engineering for Human Health
• Environmental DNA (eDNA) for Biodiversity Monitoring
• Biotechnology and Astrobiology: Searching for Life Beyond Earth
• Biotechnology and Sports Science
• Biotechnology and the Future of Space Exploration

Challenges and Ethical Considerations in Biotechnology Research

As biotechnology continues to advance, it brings forth a set of challenges and ethical considerations. Biosecurity concerns, especially in the context of gene editing technologies, raise questions about the responsible use of powerful tools like CRISPR. 

Ethical implications of genetic manipulation, such as the creation of designer babies, demand careful consideration and international collaboration to establish guidelines and regulations. 

Moreover, the environmental and social impact of biotechnological interventions must be thoroughly assessed to ensure responsible and sustainable practices.

Funding and Resources for Biotechnology Research

The pursuit of biotechnology research topics requires substantial funding and resources. Government grants and funding agencies play a pivotal role in supporting research initiatives. 

Simultaneously, the private sector, including biotechnology companies and venture capitalists, invest in promising projects. Collaboration and partnerships between academia, industry, and nonprofit organizations further amplify the impact of biotechnological research.

Future Prospects of Biotechnology Research

As we look to the future, the integration of biotechnology with other scientific disciplines holds immense potential. Collaborations with fields like artificial intelligence, materials science, and robotics may lead to unprecedented breakthroughs. 

The development of innovative technologies and their application to global health and sustainability challenges will likely shape the future of biotechnology.

In conclusion, biotechnology research is a dynamic and transformative force with the potential to revolutionize multiple facets of our lives. The exploration of diverse biotechnology research topics, from genetic engineering to emerging trends like synthetic biology and nanobiotechnology, highlights the breadth of possibilities within this field. 

However, researchers must navigate challenges and ethical considerations to ensure that biotechnological advancements are used responsibly for the betterment of society. 

With continued funding, collaboration, and a commitment to ethical practices, the future of biotechnology research holds exciting promise, propelling us towards a more sustainable and technologically advanced world.

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10 Helpful Steps for Writing a Graduate Research Proposal

The road to obtain a graduate degree is unquestionably long. But we have ten incredibly helpful steps for writing your graduate research proposal. When you finally reach your destination, it will all be worthwhile.

As a graduate student, when you start your journey, you must write, present and defend a graduate research proposal in front of a committee of professors, also known as a graduate advisory committee.

A research proposal is usually short, with only fewer than ten pages, but it has to cover the proposed research in detail. After the committee approves it, you should follow the research plan explained in the research proposal to complete your research project.

Figure 1. The typical timeline in graduate school.

Why is it important to write a research proposal?

There are eight major reasons for graduate students to write a research proposal in graduate school:

• It's required by the graduate school before performing research.
• Students become more familiar with the research project
• They develop research skills and academic writing skills.
• Students develop literature review skills.
• Students learn how to identify the research problem, objective, research questions and hypothesis.
• They learn to explore different methods to collect and analyze data, and to select the most appropriate methods for solving research problems.
• They learn to design research experiments based on logical and chronological steps.
• The process nurtures critical thinking and logical reasoning skills.

What to include in a research proposal

The common elements to include in a good research proposal are:

• Title : The title of a research proposal should be clear and brief.
• Introduction : This part contains the background information of the proposed study leading to the research problem.
• Statement of purpose : This element should include the research objectives.
• Literature review : It should include an overview of findings from the previous studies, the gaps in the previous studies and the findings from a preliminary study.
• Research questions and hypothesis : This includes the research questions and hypothesis.
• Methodology : This element contains a full description of the research procedures, possible problems and alternatives strategies.
• The significance and impact of the study : This part shows how the proposed research will contribute to the field of study.

The 10 steps to writing an incredible research proposal

Below are ten steps for writing a research proposal:

1.Choose a research topic and develop a working title

Having a strong interest in your research topic will certainly help you to keep going when the journey becomes more challenging. The research topic is the subject of your research, which is a part of a broader field of study.

When you pick a research topic, find a topic that is not too narrow nor too broad. You can limit your topic, for example, by focusing on a certain treatment, population group, species, geographical area, period, methodology, or other specific factors.

After selecting a research topic, develop a working title to help you focus on your topic. As you write the proposal, you can keep changing the working title to formulate the perfect title.

2.Perform a literature review

The next step is to conduct a literature review. This step is important because when you write out the background information and knowledge gaps in your topic area, it will help you become more familiar with your research topic.

In addition, performing a literature review will direct you to a research problem . A research problem is a specific area of concern serving as the focus of your proposed research.

When performing a literature review, a graduate student can also discover some ideas for designing their research plan.

To help you conduct a literature review, answer the following questions below:

What have others done so far to solve the research problem?

Some helpful steps to answer this question:

• Understand the experimental designs from previous studies to help you design your own research experiments.
• Learn about appropriate sample sizes, data collection, and statistical analyses from previous studies.
• Investigate and make a list the reagents and equipment you’ll possibly need for your research.
• Learn the research questions, the findings, the impact and the significance of previous studies.
• Find out about any ethical concerns.

What additional studies are still needed to solve the research problem?

• Pay attention to the strength and limitation part of the discussion section of scientific articles. From this part, make notes about the limitations of previous studies to give you an idea about a potential research problem.
• Read the suggestions for future research part of scientific articles. That can serve as a call to action for you to solve those unanswered questions from previous studies.

3.Write an introduction

The introduction of your research proposal builds a framework for the research. This framework is the structure that supports your study and contains the background information. Its function is similar to the role of a foundation in supporting a building—if it is weak, a building will fall apart. Likewise, if your research lacks a strong background as a framework, it’s hard for others to see why it matters.

Writing your introduction can feel a little overwhelming. Where do you begin? How do you know you’re not missing anything?

You might want to read over our article:

How to Write an Effective Introduction Section of a Scientific Article

While the article is more specific to the introduction section of a formal research paper, there are some parts and tips you might find helpful.

4. Write research objectives or aims

In the next step, include research objectives or aims in the research proposal. A research objective is a goal you want to achieve in your research project ( Al-Riyami, 2008 ). Your research objectives must have a strong connection with your research problem.

When developing research objectives, identify all variables associated with the research problem. A variable in the research is a characteristic that you manipulate or observe in your experiment.

There are different types of variables, including an independent variable and dependent variable (Al-Riyami, 2008). An independent variable is a variable you can change in your experiment, whereas a dependent variable is a variable you observe in response to the independent variable. After identifying the variables, connect them to the research objective.

An example of a research objective: to determine the effect of different doses of a novel antibiotic X on the growth rate of some resistant bacterial strains . In this example, the independent variable is the treatment (the different doses of antibiotic X), and the dependent variable is the growth rate of some bacterial strains.

5.State a research question

The next step is to identify a research question. A research question is the key question you want to answer in your proposed study ( Farrugia et al ., 2010 ). A research project can contain several research questions.

Keep in mind that your research question must meet the criteria of a good research question, including specific, feasible, interesting, novel, ethical, and relevant (Farrugia et al ., 2010).

In term of feasibility, use current methods and technology to answer the question during your limited time in the graduate school.

An example of a research question : What doses of the antibiotic X are effective to inhibit the growth of some resistant bacterial strains?

6.Formulate a research hypothesis

After developing the research objectives and question, the next step is to formulate a research hypothesis. A research hypothesis is a statement of a possible research outcome.

Some criteria of a good hypothesis ( Prasad et al., 2010 ; Al-Riyami, 2008):

• Logical, precise, and clear
• Testable with research experiments
• Makes a prediction about the relationship between variables

An example of a research hypothesis: The new antibiotic X will significantly prevent the growth of some resistant bacterial strains.

7.Explain research methods

The methodology section containing proposed experimental procedures is required for a research proposal. This section has the detailed plan to solve the research problem. It also reflects the research questions and hypothesis.

After reviewing the credibility and validity of your research methods, your advisory committee will make a decision about the fate of your proposed study. Therefore, when writing the methodology section, keep in mind that others should be able to follow each step in the research design to perform the same experiment.

In this section, you should include these following key points:

• Experimental design : This is the research strategy you choose to solve your problem.
• Samples : It contains the description about the samples for each group of treatment in the proposed study.
• Sample size : This information is important to make sure your sample size is sufficient.
• Materials : It contains the reagents and chemicals needed in the proposed study.
• Equipment : This has the list of equipment needed for the proposed study.
• Protocols of data collection : It contains the procedures needed before collecting your data.
• Ethical issues and consent forms : You may need to include these if your proposed studies will need human participants.
• Data analysis : This part should include the steps to analyze the data.
• Gantt chart : This chart contains tasks in each research project with the timeline for each task.

8.Include potential problems and alternative strategies

When performing your study, you may encounter potential problems. Therefore, include some of the possible problems that may occur during your study and the potential solution for them. By doing so, you can use your backup plan to solve each potential problem when the problems actually occurs.

9.Conduct and include a preliminary study

Perform and include the findings from a preliminary study in your research proposal. A preliminary study is a small-scale pilot study, conducted to test the experimental design ahead of time and increase the likelihood of success. By including the findings from a preliminary study, your advisory committee can visualize and assess the feasibility of your large-scale study.

10.State the potential impact and significance

In the last paragraph of your research proposal, include the potential impact and significance of your proposed study.

The potential impact of your study means the changes that your proposed research would make. These changes can be positive or negative, immediate or long-term, and direct or indirect.

Whereas, the potential significance of your study means the contribution that your proposed research would make. For example, you can explain its contribution to the knowledge in your field of study.

After putting it all together, evaluate the entire proposal to make sure it is strong and well written.

Al-Riyami, A. (2008). How to prepare a Research Proposal. Oman Medical Journal, 23(2), 66–69. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC32824...

Benedetti, A. (n.d.). Research Guides: Advanced Research Methods: Writing a Research Proposal. Guides.library.ucla.edu. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from https://guides.library.ucla.edu/c.php?g=180334&p=1289236.

Crawford, L. (2020). LITERATURE-BASED DEFINITIONS OF CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS. https://us.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-assets/105274_book_item_105274.pdf.

Farrugia, P., Petrisor, B. A., Farrokhyar, F., & Bhandari, M. (2010). Practical tips for surgical research: Research questions, hypotheses and objectives. Canadian Journal of Surgery. Journal Canadien de Chirurgie, 53(4), 278–281. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC29120...

How to choose a research area. (2016, April 8). ASCB. https://www.ascb.org/careers/choose-research-area/

How to Select a Research Topic | University of Michigan-Flint. (2019). Umflint.edu; UM-Flint. https://www.umflint.edu/library/how-select-research-topic.

How To Write a Proposal | Science & Quantitative Reasoning. (n.d.). Science.yalecollege.yale.edu. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from https://science.yalecollege.yale.edu/fellowships/how-write-proposal.

Jacobs, R. L. (2013). Developing a dissertation research problem: A guide for doctoral students in human resource development and adult education. New Horizons in Adult Education and Human Resource Development, 25(3), 103–117. https://doi.org/10.1002/nha3.20034.

Kivunja, C. (2018). Distinguishing between Theory, Theoretical Framework, and Conceptual Framework: A Systematic Review of Lessons from the Field. International Journal of Higher Education, 7(6), 44. https://doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v7n6p44.

LibGuides: Writing a Research Proposal: Parts of a Proposal. (2017). Illinois.edu. https://guides.library.illinois.edu/c.php?g=504643&p=3454882.

LibGuides: Research Process: Finding a Research Topic. (2019). Libguides.com. https://ncu.libguides.com/researchprocess/researchtopic.

LibGuides: Research Process: Literature Gap and Future Research. (2012). Libguides.com. https://ncu.libguides.com/researchprocess/literaturegap.

Pajares, F. (n.d.). THE ELEMENTS OF A PROPOSAL. https://www.uky.edu/~eushe2/Pajares/ElementsOfaProposal.pdf.

Prasad, S., Rao, A., & Rehani, E. (2001). DEVELOPING HYPOTHESES & RESEARCH QUESTIONS DEVELOPING HYPOTHESIS AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS. https://www.public.asu.edu/~kroel/www500/hypothesi...

Shardlow, M., Batista-Navarro, R., Thompson, P., Nawaz, R., McNaught, J., & Ananiadou, S. (2018). Identification of research hypotheses and new knowledge from scientific literature. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-018-0639-1

Steps in Developing a Research Proposal. Open.lib.umn.edu; University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing edition, 2015. This edition adapted from a work originally produced in 2010 by a publisher who has requested that it not receive attribution. https://open.lib.umn.edu/writingforsuccess/chapter...

Vining, S. (2019, July 22). Dissertation Proposal | Genetics and Genomics. https://genetics.mcb.uconn.edu/dissertation-propos...

Writing a Research Plan. (2017, December 11). Science | AAAS. https://www.sciencemag.org/careers

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How To Write A Research Paper In Biotechnology

Table of Contents:

Current research in biotechnology: Exploring the biotech forefront . Biotechnology is an evolving research field that covers a broad range of topics. Here we aimed to evaluate the latest research literature, to identify…

Highlights – View PDFCurrent research in biotechnology: Exploring the biotech forefrontUnder a Creative Commons licenseopen accessHighlights•Biotechnology literature since 2017 was analyzed. •The United States of America, China, Germany, Brazil and India were most productive. •Metabolic engineering was among the most prevalent study themes. •Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were frequently used. •Nanoparticles and nanotechnology are trending research themes in biotechnology. AbstractBiotechnology is an evolving research field that covers a broad range of topics. Here we aimed to evaluate the latest research literature, to identify prominent research themes, major contributors in terms of institutions, countries/regions, and journals. The Web of Science Core Collection online database was searched to retrieve biotechnology articles published since 2017. In total, 12,351 publications were identified and analyzed. Over 8500 institutions contributed to these biotechnology publications, with the top 5 most productive ones scattered over France, China, the United States of America, Spain, and Brazil.

Video advice: 7 Most Effective Tips For Writing a Better Scientific Research Paper

Thesis Writing, Research paper Writing, Research Methodology \u0026 Scientific Writing Course – https://btnk.org/btn-certification

BMC Biotechnology

BMC Biotechnology is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on the manipulation of biological macromolecules or organisms for use in …

• Ethics approval and consent to participate
• Consent for publication
• Availability of data and materials
• Competing interests
• Authors’ contributions
• Acknowledgements
• Authors’ information

All manuscripts must contain the following sections under the heading ‘Declarations’: Ethics approval and consent to participate Consent for publication Availability of data and materials Competing interests Funding Authors’ contributions Acknowledgements Authors’ information (optional)Please see below for details on the information to be included in these sections. If any of the sections are not relevant to your manuscript, please include the heading and write ‘Not applicable’ for that section. Ethics approval and consent to participateManuscripts reporting studies involving human participants, human data or human tissue must: include a statement on ethics approval and consent (even where the need for approval was waived) include the name of the ethics committee that approved the study and the committee’s reference number if appropriateStudies involving animals must include a statement on ethics approval and for experimental studies involving client-owned animals, authors must also include a statement on informed consent from the client or owner.

Top Ten Exclusive Research Paper Topics On Biotechnology

Looking for some unique ideas for your paper on biotechnology? Check out the list of suggestions provided in the article and feel free to take your pick.

A Selection Of Great Research Paper Topics On Biotechnology – Like a student, you’ll frequently need to write complex academic assignments that need effort, search, critically planning and exploring new aspects. You are able to only produce a winning assignment if you opt to talk about fresh ideas and new breakthroughs. Its likely the first couple of topics which come for your mind under this subject could be already taken. You have to make certain the niche you decide to address is exclusive and fresh. If other scientific study has already spoken relating to this before you decide to, then there’s no reason on paper it.

Free Term Papers On Biotechnology – Writing a good paper on biotechnology is a challenging task. If you struggling to complete it, be sure to take a quick look at the following article.

You can find free research papers online as well. There are several documents that are available online. You can download them. You can check the image search as well if you are having trouble locating one. Try typing it into the search engine of the web browser and the image browser for the best results.

Video advice: HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PAPER

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PAPER |Beginners Guide to Writing Quality Essays from An Oxford Grad Student

Guide for authors

Get more information about Current Research in Biotechnology. Check the Author information pack on Elsevier.com.

INTRODUCTION Current Research in Biotechnology is definitely an worldwide peer reviewed journal dedicated to publishing original research and short communications caused by research in Analytical biotechnology, Plant biotechnology, Food biotechnology, Energy biotechnology, Ecological biotechnology, Systems biology, Nanobiotechnology, Tissue, cell and path engineering, Chemical biotechnology, and Pharmaceutical biotechnology. The Journal publishes Research Papers, Short Communications, Graphical Reviews and Reviews. We offer the “Your Paper The Right Path” Elsevier guideline which enables authors to submit their primary manuscript file with no formatting needs. Research Papers aren’t limited in dimensions. However, we all do highly recommend to authors to become as succinct as you possibly can within the welfare from the readers and also the distribution from the work. Short Communications possess the following soft limits. The manuscript should ideally contain a maximum of 4-6 Figures/Tables and 4000 words, such as the title page, all parts of the manuscript (such as the references), and Figure/Table legends.

Structure for writing a scientific research proposal in biotechnology

The aim or goal and objective of the biotechnology research proposal should give a broad indication of the expected research outcome and the hypothesis to be tested can also be the aim of your study. The objective can be categorized as primary and secondary according to the parameters and tools used to achieve the goal.

Writing an investigation proposal in our era is definitely an entirely challenging mission due to the constant evolution within the research design and the necessity to incorporate innovative concepts and medical advances within the methodology section. A properly-formatted research proposal in the area of biotechnology is going to be written based on the needed guidelines forms the mainstay for that research, and therefore proposal writing is a vital step while performing research. The primary objective in preparing an investigation proposal would be to obtain approval from the 3 committees like the ethics committee and grant committee.

Research Papers – Learn more about research papers for the Master of Biotechnology Program at Northwestern University.

Alison Chow et al., “Metabolic engineering of the non-sporulating, non-solventogenic Clostridium acetobutylicum strain M5 to produce butanol without acetone demonstrate the robustness of the acid-formation pathways and the importance of the electron balance”, Metabolic Engineering 2008.

Natural Products and Biotechnology

Natural Products and Biotechnology (NatProBiotech) is an International Journal and only accepting English manuscripts. NatProBiotech publishes original research articles and review articles only.

• Research Article
• Review Article

Current Issue

Natural Products and Biotechnology (Nat. Pro. Biotech. ) (ISSN: 2791-674X) is an International Journal and only accepting English manuscripts. Natural Products and Biotechnology publishes original research articles and review articles only and publishes twice a year. There is no fee for article submission, article processing, or publication processes. Please write the article in good English. Choose only one of the British or American usage, you should not use both together. If the language of the article is not good enough, please have it edited by anEnglish Language Editing service. The article will be reviewed by the Spelling and Language editor, if the editor decides that it is not written in good English, your article will be send to corresponding author for edit before the referee process. Research articles should report the results of original research. The article should not have been published elsewhere. Review articles should cover current topics and comply with the journal’s publication guidelines and should not have been published anywhere before.

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How To Write Research Paper | Step-by-Step Research Paper Writing Process | by Aditi Sharma

What are the research topics in biotechnology?

• Research Areas.
• Cancer Biotechnology.
• Cardiovascular Biology & Transplantation Biology.
• Cell & Molecular Biology.
• Developmental Biology & Neurobiology.
• Diagnostics & Medical Devices.
• Drug Discovery & Delivery.
• Microbial & Environmental Biotechnology.

How do you publish a research paper in biotechnology?

How to publish your research paper in an international journal

• International journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology (IJEAB) publish research paper of related fields. ...
• Your research paper that you are going to submit should follow the same format that is mentioned in journal.

How do you research biotechnology?

Step-By-Step Guide To Becoming a Biotechnologist

• Step One: Earn a Bachelor's Degree (Four years) ...
• Step Two: Gain Practical Work Experience (Optional, Timeline Varies) ...
• Step Three: Earn a Certificate or Master's Degree In Biotechnology (One to Three Years)

How do you write a research paper step by step?

Basic Steps in the Research Process

• Step 1: Identify and develop your topic. ...
• Step 2 : Do a preliminary search for information. ...
• Step 3: Locate materials. ...
• Step 4: Evaluate your sources. ...
• Step 5: Make notes. ...
• Step 6: Write your paper. ...
• Step 7: Cite your sources properly. ...
• Step 8: Proofread.

What is biotechnology research?

Biotechnologists identify practical uses of biological material – including the physical, chemical, and genetic properties of cells – to improve agricultural, environmental, or pharmaceutical products, although biotechnologists also work in related capacities, as in marine biotechnology. ...

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• How To Write Research Proposal For Phd In Biotechnology
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• How To Write A Computer Science Paper
• How To Write A Review Paper In Chemistry

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Research Methodology in Bioscience and Biotechnology

Research Mindset • Best Practices • Integrity • Publications • Societal Impact

• © 2023
• Kian Mau Goh 0

Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia

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• Provides an overview of good research practices and mindsets
• Shortens the learning curve for beginners in science writing and presentation
• Underline the importance of research integrity and ethics despite the KPI pressure

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About this book

This monograph offers a comprehensive guide to good research practices and mindsets, covering a wide range of topics across 8  chapters. Readers will find numerous themes and strategies that can help them develop their research skills and achieve their objectives, from effective proposal writing to stress management and upskilling. This book explains the purpose, process, tips, and mistakes of writing proposals, theses, articles, and reviews in clear and straightforward language, allowing readers to develop good research plans. By applying the advice and insights offered in this book, students and researchers can improve the quality of their work, cultivate research integrity, and develop good publication plans, write well, and reduce rejection rates. Research outputs will be more likely to be of high quality if students and researchers are encouraged to cultivate these pieces of advice. The focus of the book is not solely on the outcomes of research. Rather, it also delves into mindset, habits, adaptability, time management, stress management, recent tools for upskilling, planning, and execution. Throughout the book, the author seeks to instill a growth mindset in the readers, encouraging them to develop positive research habits and behaviors. KPIs, particularly publications, shall not be used as a reason to erode research integrity and ethnicity; therefore, plagiarism, self-citation, falsifying data, exaggerating findings, authorship in publications, the use of AI tools, CRediT, and COPE are discussed. This book contains interviews with high-profile researchers, top management at institutions, policy advisers, etc., whose opinions and advice the readers will find valuable. Overall, this all-in-one guide is an essential resource for postgraduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and academics who are struggling to find a survival strategy in the rapidly changing research environment. The book assists readers in developing right mindset, planning their research and publications, and in achieving their predetermined objectives.

• Research methodology
• Journal publication
• Research proposal
• Thesis writing
• Good research practice
• Research integrity

Table of contents (8 chapters)

Front matter, science and philosophy.

Kian Mau Goh

Student’s Proposal, Dissertation, or Thesis

Research integrity and publication ethics, good research practices, publication 101, improving writing and presentation skills, lessons learned from nature’s reports, success can be learned, back matter, authors and affiliations, about the author.

Kian Mau Goh obtained his Bachelor's degree in Chemical-Bioprocess Engineering from the esteemed engineering faculty in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in 2002. After graduation, he gained invaluable experience as a research scientist at A*STAR/National University of Singapore for two years before returning to UTM to complete his PhD in Protein Engineering in 2007. His team focuses on extremophiles, primarily thermophiles and halophiles, and his research interests include protein engineering, enzymology, metataxonomics, and metagenomics, as well as microbial comparative genomics and transcriptomics.

Bibliographic Information

Book Title : Research Methodology in Bioscience and Biotechnology

Book Subtitle : Research Mindset • Best Practices • Integrity • Publications • Societal Impact

Authors : Kian Mau Goh

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-2812-5

Publisher : Springer Singapore

eBook Packages : Biomedical and Life Sciences , Biomedical and Life Sciences (R0)

Copyright Information : The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023

Hardcover ISBN : 978-981-99-2811-8 Published: 29 July 2023

Softcover ISBN : 978-981-99-2814-9 Published: 30 July 2024

eBook ISBN : 978-981-99-2812-5 Published: 28 July 2023

Edition Number : 1

Number of Pages : XXIII, 241

Number of Illustrations : 1 b/w illustrations

Topics : Plant Sciences , Biological Techniques , Biotechnology

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• How to Write a Great PhD Research Proposal | FindAPhD.com

How to Write a Great PhD Research Proposal

Written by Mark Bennett

You'll need to write a research proposal if you're submitting your own project plan as part of a PhD application. A good PhD proposal outlines the scope and significance of your topic and explains how you plan to research it.

It's helpful to think about the proposal like this: if the rest of your application explains your ability to do a PhD, the proposal demonstrates the actual PhD you plan to do. Of course, being able to effectively plan and explain a research project is one of the key qualifications for being able to complete one, which is why the proposal is such an important part of the PhD application process.

Thankfully, the secret to writing a good research proposal isn't complicated. It's simply a case of understanding what the proposal is for, what it needs to do and how it needs to be put together.

On this page

What is a phd research proposal.

First things first, do you need a research proposal for your PhD? It depends on the kind of project you want to do:

• If your PhD is advertised by a university, you probably won't need to submit a research proposal for it. The broad aims and objectives for your PhD will already be defined: you just need to prove you're the right person to do it.
• But, if you're proposing your own research topic to research within a university's PhD programme, you will need to write a proposal for it (the clue is in the word "proposing")

As a rule, advertised PhDs are very common in STEM subjects, whereas Arts, Humanities and Social Science students are more likely to propose their own PhDs.

Some PhD programmes actually wait and ask students to develop their research proposal during the degree (usually after they've completed some initial training). This is normal in the USA , but it's becoming more common for some UKRI-funded UK PhDs.

For the purposes of this guide we're going to assume that you do need to write a good research proposal for your PhD application. So let's explore what's involved in that.

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What should a research proposal for PhD admission include?

It's natural to be a little intimidated at the thought of structuring a PhD proposal, particularly if you've never written anything like this before.

But here's the thing: a research proposal isn't a fiendish test designed to catch you out and stop you ever doing a PhD. It's actually much more boring than that.

All a research proposal really is is a document that demonstrates three things:

• Your PhD is worthwhile
• Your PhD is feasible
• You are capable of completing it at this university

Or to put it even more simply: the PhD is worth doing, it's doable and you can do it.

Demonstrate your PhD is worthwhile (the what and the why)

A successful PhD project has to make a significant original contribution to knowledge. If it doesn't, it won't meet the criteria for a doctoral degree and will probably fail the viva exam .

Your PhD proposal itself doesn't have to meet those criteria (or pass a viva!) but it does need to indicate that your PhD project eventually will.

It does that by first demonstrating that your research topic is original. That means nobody else has studied this same topic (or one very similar) before.

There are all sorts of ways a PhD can be original. You might examine new data or primary sources, to look at existing material from a fresh perspective, or deal with the impact of new events. It doesn't matter how your project is original, so long as your proposal is really specific about what makes it original.

You also need to explain why your proposed research will be academically significant. To do this properly, you'll need to acknowledge relevant existing scholarship and explain how your research will relate to it. You don't need to be exhaustive at this point, but you should be able to show how your PhD will contribute to its field and – ideally – indicate some of the gaps in knowledge it will aim to fill.

The final step in demonstrating your PhD is worthwhile is to suggest what will become possible as a result of your research. How could other researchers use or build upon your results? What might closing those gaps in academic knowledge mean for audiences outside the unviversity?

Demonstrate your PhD is feasible (the how)

It isn't enough just to show that your research is worth doing; it also needs to actually be doable.

The length of a full-time PhD is around three to four years in most countries (it's longer in for a PhD in the USA , but you don't spend all that time doing research).

Three years may seem like a long time, but researching a PhD is a lot of work and you'll probably spend at least some of your time on other activities like teaching, conference presentations or even publication.

So, one of the things your proposal needs to do is demonstrate that your project is feasible: that it fits within the scope of a PhD.

The most important criteria for this is to be clear about what you plan to do. It should be obvious from your proposal what the scope of your project is – what is and isn't included within it.

You also need to outline how you plan to go about your research. Where will you start and what order do you expect to proceed in? Is the logic for that obvious? If not, it's probably a good idea to explain it.

Finally, you need to explain the methodology you plan to use. This could include techniques for collecting data and sources, theoretical perspectives for analysing them – or both. You may also need to detail specific equipment you expect to use or fieldwork you'll need to undertake (including trips to archives or other external resources).

None of this needs to be exact or completely final. The key word here is 'plan' – but you do need to have one.

Demonstrate that you can complete it at this university (the who and the where)

So far we've thought about the project itself: what makes it worth doing and how it's going to get done. But your proposal also needs to address the who and the where: why are you the right person to carry out this research, and why do you want to do it at this particular university?

The first part of this is easier than it probably looks. Writing a good research proposal demonstrates enthusiasm for your project much more convincingly than simply saying you're very interested in it (a classic case of 'show, don't tell').

You also don't need to repeat your grades and academic achievements (other parts of your PhD application will cover those). Instead, try to underline experiences that relate to this project. Has a particular module or Masters dissertation topic prepared you with useful subject knowledge or methodological skills? If so, highlight it.

It's also fine, within reason, to be honest about the skills you don't have and to identify your training needs. This shows you're being practical about your project and thinking seriously about what it will require. Just make sure you can realistically acquire the skills and training you need within the time available (this goes back to the feasibility).

Showing your project is a good fit for the university is also relatively simple. There should already be some reasons why you've chosen this university for your PhD so make sure you explain what they are. Perhaps there's a particular supervisor you'd like to work with , or facilities and resources your research could use. The key is to emphasise the fit between the project and the university – so don't just say you want to research there because it's highly ranked .

PhD research proposal structure

Hopefully the above sections have given you a few ideas for the things your proposal needs to include. Let's be honest though, the scariest thing about a proposal isn't deciding what to include: it's actually writing it.

But, if we flip that on its head, we remember that all a research proposal really is is a piece of writing that follows a pretty standard format. And that's a lot less scary.

Research proposal structure

Because proposals for PhD all have to do the same things, they mostly follow a similar structure. Yours will probably go something like this:

• Title – Keep it simple and descriptive: the clever alliteration and quotes can come later when you write up your thesis. For now, you just want the person reading this to know exactly what your research is about and, perhaps, which prospective supervisor to send it to.
• Overview – Start by defining your research question (the what) and explaining how it contributes to current work in your field (the why). This is also a good place to reference one or two pieces of scholarship: the full literature review can wait until your PhD begins, but you should show that you have some understanding of relevant academic research.
• Methodology – Make sure the reader understands the practical and / or theoretical approaches you'll take to your research. What data will you collect, how will you collect it and how will you analyse it? Ideally refer to relevant research methods and models. It's also a good idea to provide some sort of roadmap for how you'll go about things. Don't worry, you can change it later (and you will).
• Outcomes and impact – What will exist as a result of your research (other than just another PhD on a library shelf) and what will it make possible? You don't need to identify every specific outcome from your project (blue sky research is fine) but you should think about what some potential outcomes might be.

You probably won't need to include a specific conclusion - it should be obvious, by now, what your project is doing, how you're going to do it and why that matters. A quick summary sentence is fine though, if you think it will help.

Writing tips

Being able to effectively communicate academic concepts, ideas and results is a key skill for PhD research in all subjects . Think of your proposal as a chance to demonstrate this.

The good news is that the key principles of good proposal writing aren't that different from other work you've probably done as a Bachelors or Masters student:

• Be clear – The person reading your research proposal should know exactly what it is you're proposing to research, with no room for ambiguity and confusion. This is important on a practical level (they need to know where to send it) but it's also important to the success of your application: a confusing proposal suggests a confused project. Try having a friend read it and ask them "do you know what it is I'm proposing to do here?" (even if they don't understand the details).
• Be concise – You will have more ideas than you can include in your proposal. That's fine. Choose the best ones and leave the others for your interview .
• be coherent – Follow something like the structure above. Don't start with your methodology, then say what it is you want to research.

How long should a PhD research proposal be?

Honestly? As long as the university asks for it to be. Most will have guidelines and you should follow them closely if so.

If you honestly can't find a suggested word count for your proposal, then consider asking a prospective supervisor . If you still aren't sure, aim for somewhere between 1,000-2,000 words .

As a very general rule, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences are a bit longer than STEM proposals (and a lot of STEM students don't have to write one anyway, as we've explained).

Research proposal for PhD admission - dos and don'ts

Research proposals are a popular topic over on the FindAPhD blog , where we've shared stories of how students wrote theirs , along with mistakes to avoid and a counter-intuitive look at the things a PhD proposal doesn't actually need to do .

Here are a few general tips and mistakes to avoid:

#1 Give yourself enough time to do a good job

Preparing to write a PhD proposal takes time and effort. None of this is wasted as the process of evaluating and framing your ideas for a proposal will improve your project plan immensely. So will the need to decide which ideas to include.

But you need time and space to do that, so make sure you get it. How long it will take to write your PhD proposal is heavily dependent on your personal working style, but you'll likely need to give yourself at least a few weeks to do a good job.

#2 Set out to impress

A good proposal isn't a begging letter. You're approaching the university with a great idea that's going to contribute to and enhance their research. Be honest, be realistic, but don't be unnecessarily humble. They should want you and your project.

#3 Demonstrate original thinking!

You may not need to present original research findings yet, but your proposal does need to present original ideas – and it should be clear why and how those ideas are original.

Make sure you indicate how your project is going to expand, enhance or even correct existing work in your field. Remember that making an "original contribution to knowledge" is a key part of what a PhD is .

#1 Send the same proposal to several universities

A good proposal needs to explain why you want to do your research at a particular university. That's a big part of the feasibility (the fit between project, person and place) and methodology (how are you going to use this university's equipment and archives; when and where will you need to travel).

It's OK to apply to more than one university in parallel, but, in that case, you're writing research proposals .

#2 Use online proposal templates (without evaluating them first!)

It can be tempting to search for PhD proposal samples on the internet, but make sure you evaluate what you find. Some websites may host old proposals from previous PhD students, but there's no way of knowing how relevant these are to your subject and university – or if they were even successful! More 'generic' research proposal examples can offer guidance, but they won't be tailored to your specific project.

The best place to look for a PhD proposal sample is your university. Consider asking your supervisor if they can share a good proposal from a previous student in your subject – or put you in touch with a current student you can ask.

#3 Confuse the proposal with the PhD

We've covered this on the blog , but it's simple enough to include here too.

You're setting out to do a PhD, but you (probably!) haven't done one yet. So you don't need to include research findings, in-depth analysis or a comprehesive literature review. You need to make a case for the research and analysis you want to do.

#4 Ignore your university's help and guidance

The advice on this page is necessarily quite general. We're considering adding guides to writing PhD proposals in specific subjects in future but, for now, the best place to get specific advice for your academic field is probably the university you're applying to.

See if you can get some subject-specific tips by contacting a supervisor , or just checking with the admissions team for your department.

And remember: if they give you a structure and a word count, stick to it.

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We've answered some of the most frequently asked questions about PhDs, covering course types, applications, funding and the benefits of further study.

Getting ready to apply for a PhD? Our guides explain research proposals, references and entry tests for doctoral programmes.

Our guide explains how to contact a potential PhD supervisor to discuss your proposal or ideas with them before applying.

A checklist of the things you'll need to do when making an international PhD application, from meeting the entry requirements to sorting out your visa.

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Research Proposal Example/Sample

Detailed Walkthrough + Free Proposal Template

If you’re getting started crafting your research proposal and are looking for a few examples of research proposals , you’ve come to the right place.

In this video, we walk you through two successful (approved) research proposals , one for a Master’s-level project, and one for a PhD-level dissertation. We also start off by unpacking our free research proposal template and discussing the four core sections of a research proposal, so that you have a clear understanding of the basics before diving into the actual proposals.

• Research proposal example/sample – Master’s-level (PDF/Word)
• Research proposal example/sample – PhD-level (PDF/Word)
• Proposal template (Fully editable) 

If you’re working on a research proposal for a dissertation or thesis, you may also find the following useful:

• Research Proposal Bootcamp : Learn how to write a research proposal as efficiently and effectively as possible
• 1:1 Proposal Coaching : Get hands-on help with your research proposal

PS – If you’re working on a dissertation, be sure to also check out our collection of dissertation and thesis examples here .

FAQ: Research Proposal Example

Research proposal example: frequently asked questions, are the sample proposals real.

Yes. The proposals are real and were approved by the respective universities.

Can I copy one of these proposals for my own research?

As we discuss in the video, every research proposal will be slightly different, depending on the university’s unique requirements, as well as the nature of the research itself. Therefore, you’ll need to tailor your research proposal to suit your specific context.

You can learn more about the basics of writing a research proposal here .

How do I get the research proposal template?

You can access our free proposal template here .

Is the proposal template really free?

Yes. There is no cost for the proposal template and you are free to use it as a foundation for your research proposal.

Where can I learn more about proposal writing?

For self-directed learners, our Research Proposal Bootcamp is a great starting point.

For students that want hands-on guidance, our private coaching service is recommended.

Psst… there’s more!

This post is an extract from our bestselling short course, Research Proposal Bootcamp . If you want to work smart, you don't want to miss this .

13 Comments

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Top 50 Research Topics in Biotechnology

Table of Contents

Biotechnology

Research in biotechnology can helps in bringing massive changes in humankind and lead to a better life. In the last few years, there have been so many leaps, and paces of innovations as scientists worldwide worked to develop and produce novel mRNA vaccinations and brought some significant developments in biotechnology. During this period, they also faced many challenges. Disturbances in the supply chain and the pandemic significantly impacted biotech labs and researchers, forcing lab managers to become ingenious in buying lab supplies, planning experiments, and using technology for maintaining research schedules.

The Biotech Research Technique is changing

How research is being done is changing, as also how scientists are conducting it. Affected by both B2C eCommerce and growing independence in remote and cloud-dependent working, most of the biotechnology labs are going through some digital transformations. This implies more software, automation, and AI in the biotech lab, along with some latest digital procurement plans and integrated systems for various lab operations.

Look at some of the top trends in biotech research and recent Biotechnology Topics that are bringing massive changes in this vast world of science, resulting in some innovation in life sciences and biotechnology ideas .

We share different job or exam notices on Labmonk Notice Board . You can search “ Labmonk Notice Board ” on google search to check out latest jobs of your field.

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How to Write a Research Proposal: (with Examples & Templates)

Table of Contents

Before conducting a study, a research proposal should be created that outlines researchers’ plans and methodology and is submitted to the concerned evaluating organization or person. Creating a research proposal is an important step to ensure that researchers are on track and are moving forward as intended. A research proposal can be defined as a detailed plan or blueprint for the proposed research that you intend to undertake. It provides readers with a snapshot of your project by describing what you will investigate, why it is needed, and how you will conduct the research.  

Your research proposal should aim to explain to the readers why your research is relevant and original, that you understand the context and current scenario in the field, have the appropriate resources to conduct the research, and that the research is feasible given the usual constraints.  

This article will describe in detail the purpose and typical structure of a research proposal , along with examples and templates to help you ace this step in your research journey.  

What is a Research Proposal ?  

A research proposal¹ ,²  can be defined as a formal report that describes your proposed research, its objectives, methodology, implications, and other important details. Research proposals are the framework of your research and are used to obtain approvals or grants to conduct the study from various committees or organizations. Consequently, research proposals should convince readers of your study’s credibility, accuracy, achievability, practicality, and reproducibility.   

With research proposals , researchers usually aim to persuade the readers, funding agencies, educational institutions, and supervisors to approve the proposal. To achieve this, the report should be well structured with the objectives written in clear, understandable language devoid of jargon. A well-organized research proposal conveys to the readers or evaluators that the writer has thought out the research plan meticulously and has the resources to ensure timely completion.  

Purpose of Research Proposals  

A research proposal is a sales pitch and therefore should be detailed enough to convince your readers, who could be supervisors, ethics committees, universities, etc., that what you’re proposing has merit and is feasible . Research proposals can help students discuss their dissertation with their faculty or fulfill course requirements and also help researchers obtain funding. A well-structured proposal instills confidence among readers about your ability to conduct and complete the study as proposed.  

Research proposals can be written for several reasons:³  

• To describe the importance of research in the specific topic  
• Address any potential challenges you may encounter  
• Showcase knowledge in the field and your ability to conduct a study  
• Apply for a role at a research institute  
• Convince a research supervisor or university that your research can satisfy the requirements of a degree program  
• Highlight the importance of your research to organizations that may sponsor your project  
• Identify implications of your project and how it can benefit the audience  

What Goes in a Research Proposal?    

Research proposals should aim to answer the three basic questions—what, why, and how.  

The What question should be answered by describing the specific subject being researched. It should typically include the objectives, the cohort details, and the location or setting.  

The Why question should be answered by describing the existing scenario of the subject, listing unanswered questions, identifying gaps in the existing research, and describing how your study can address these gaps, along with the implications and significance.  

The How question should be answered by describing the proposed research methodology, data analysis tools expected to be used, and other details to describe your proposed methodology.   

Research Proposal Example  

Here is a research proposal sample template (with examples) from the University of Rochester Medical Center. 4 The sections in all research proposals are essentially the same although different terminology and other specific sections may be used depending on the subject.  

Structure of a Research Proposal  

If you want to know how to make a research proposal impactful, include the following components:¹  

1. Introduction  

This section provides a background of the study, including the research topic, what is already known about it and the gaps, and the significance of the proposed research.  

2. Literature review  

This section contains descriptions of all the previous relevant studies pertaining to the research topic. Every study cited should be described in a few sentences, starting with the general studies to the more specific ones. This section builds on the understanding gained by readers in the Introduction section and supports it by citing relevant prior literature, indicating to readers that you have thoroughly researched your subject.  

3. Objectives  

Once the background and gaps in the research topic have been established, authors must now state the aims of the research clearly. Hypotheses should be mentioned here. This section further helps readers understand what your study’s specific goals are.  

4. Research design and methodology  

Here, authors should clearly describe the methods they intend to use to achieve their proposed objectives. Important components of this section include the population and sample size, data collection and analysis methods and duration, statistical analysis software, measures to avoid bias (randomization, blinding), etc.  

5. Ethical considerations  

This refers to the protection of participants’ rights, such as the right to privacy, right to confidentiality, etc. Researchers need to obtain informed consent and institutional review approval by the required authorities and mention this clearly for transparency.  

6. Budget/funding  

Researchers should prepare their budget and include all expected expenditures. An additional allowance for contingencies such as delays should also be factored in.  

7. Appendices  

This section typically includes information that supports the research proposal and may include informed consent forms, questionnaires, participant information, measurement tools, etc.  

8. Citations  

Important Tips for Writing a Research Proposal  

Writing a research proposal begins much before the actual task of writing. Planning the research proposal structure and content is an important stage, which if done efficiently, can help you seamlessly transition into the writing stage. 3,5  

The Planning Stage  

• Manage your time efficiently. Plan to have the draft version ready at least two weeks before your deadline and the final version at least two to three days before the deadline.
• What is the primary objective of your research?  
• Will your research address any existing gap?  
• What is the impact of your proposed research?  
• Do people outside your field find your research applicable in other areas?  
• If your research is unsuccessful, would there still be other useful research outcomes?  

  The Writing Stage  

• Create an outline with main section headings that are typically used.  
• Focus only on writing and getting your points across without worrying about the format of the research proposal , grammar, punctuation, etc. These can be fixed during the subsequent passes. Add details to each section heading you created in the beginning.   
• Ensure your sentences are concise and use plain language. A research proposal usually contains about 2,000 to 4,000 words or four to seven pages.  
• Don’t use too many technical terms and abbreviations assuming that the readers would know them. Define the abbreviations and technical terms.  
• Ensure that the entire content is readable. Avoid using long paragraphs because they affect the continuity in reading. Break them into shorter paragraphs and introduce some white space for readability.  
• Focus on only the major research issues and cite sources accordingly. Don’t include generic information or their sources in the literature review.  
• Proofread your final document to ensure there are no grammatical errors so readers can enjoy a seamless, uninterrupted read.  
• Use academic, scholarly language because it brings formality into a document.  
• Ensure that your title is created using the keywords in the document and is neither too long and specific nor too short and general.  
• Cite all sources appropriately to avoid plagiarism.  
• Make sure that you follow guidelines, if provided. This includes rules as simple as using a specific font or a hyphen or en dash between numerical ranges.  
• Ensure that you’ve answered all questions requested by the evaluating authority.  

Key Takeaways   

Here’s a summary of the main points about research proposals discussed in the previous sections:  

• A research proposal is a document that outlines the details of a proposed study and is created by researchers to submit to evaluators who could be research institutions, universities, faculty, etc.  
• Research proposals are usually about 2,000-4,000 words long, but this depends on the evaluating authority’s guidelines.  
• A good research proposal ensures that you’ve done your background research and assessed the feasibility of the research.  
• Research proposals have the following main sections—introduction, literature review, objectives, methodology, ethical considerations, and budget.  

Frequently Asked Questions  

Q1. How is a research proposal evaluated?  

A1. In general, most evaluators, including universities, broadly use the following criteria to evaluate research proposals . 6  

• Significance —Does the research address any important subject or issue, which may or may not be specific to the evaluator or university?  
• Content and design —Is the proposed methodology appropriate to answer the research question? Are the objectives clear and well aligned with the proposed methodology?  
• Sample size and selection —Is the target population or cohort size clearly mentioned? Is the sampling process used to select participants randomized, appropriate, and free of bias?  
• Timing —Are the proposed data collection dates mentioned clearly? Is the project feasible given the specified resources and timeline?  
• Data management and dissemination —Who will have access to the data? What is the plan for data analysis?  

Q2. What is the difference between the Introduction and Literature Review sections in a research proposal ?  

A2. The Introduction or Background section in a research proposal sets the context of the study by describing the current scenario of the subject and identifying the gaps and need for the research. A Literature Review, on the other hand, provides references to all prior relevant literature to help corroborate the gaps identified and the research need.  

Q3. How long should a research proposal be?  

A3. Research proposal lengths vary with the evaluating authority like universities or committees and also the subject. Here’s a table that lists the typical research proposal lengths for a few universities.  

Q4. What are the common mistakes to avoid in a research proposal ?  

A4. Here are a few common mistakes that you must avoid while writing a research proposal . 7  

• No clear objectives: Objectives should be clear, specific, and measurable for the easy understanding among readers.  
• Incomplete or unconvincing background research: Background research usually includes a review of the current scenario of the particular industry and also a review of the previous literature on the subject. This helps readers understand your reasons for undertaking this research because you identified gaps in the existing research.  
• Overlooking project feasibility: The project scope and estimates should be realistic considering the resources and time available.   
• Neglecting the impact and significance of the study: In a research proposal , readers and evaluators look for the implications or significance of your research and how it contributes to the existing research. This information should always be included.  
• Unstructured format of a research proposal : A well-structured document gives confidence to evaluators that you have read the guidelines carefully and are well organized in your approach, consequently affirming that you will be able to undertake the research as mentioned in your proposal.  
• Ineffective writing style: The language used should be formal and grammatically correct. If required, editors could be consulted, including AI-based tools such as Paperpal , to refine the research proposal structure and language.  

Thus, a research proposal is an essential document that can help you promote your research and secure funds and grants for conducting your research. Consequently, it should be well written in clear language and include all essential details to convince the evaluators of your ability to conduct the research as proposed.  

This article has described all the important components of a research proposal and has also provided tips to improve your writing style. We hope all these tips will help you write a well-structured research proposal to ensure receipt of grants or any other purpose.  

References  

• Sudheesh K, Duggappa DR, Nethra SS. How to write a research proposal? Indian J Anaesth. 2016;60(9):631-634. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5037942/  
• Writing research proposals. Harvard College Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. Harvard University. Accessed July 14, 2024. https://uraf.harvard.edu/apply-opportunities/app-components/essays/research-proposals  
• What is a research proposal? Plus how to write one. Indeed website. Accessed July 17, 2024. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/research-proposal  
• Research proposal template. University of Rochester Medical Center. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/MediaLibraries/URMCMedia/pediatrics/research/documents/Research-proposal-Template.pdf  
• Tips for successful proposal writing. Johns Hopkins University. Accessed July 17, 2024. https://research.jhu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Tips-for-Successful-Proposal-Writing.pdf  
• Formal review of research proposals. Cornell University. Accessed July 18, 2024. https://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/surveys/survey-assessment-review-group/research-proposals  
• 7 Mistakes you must avoid in your research proposal. Aveksana (via LinkedIn). Accessed July 17, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/7-mistakes-you-must-avoid-your-research-proposal-aveksana-cmtwf/  

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Important information for proposers

All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in this funding opportunity and in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted. It is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets these requirements. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

Funding Opportunities for Engineering Research in Biotechnology

Dear Colleague:

With this Dear Colleague Letter, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Engineering (ENG) encourages the submission of research and education proposals related to Biotechnology as an Emerging Industry .

The U.S. is a world leader in biotechnology, a field that comprises the data, tools, research infrastructure, workforce capacity, and innovations that enable the discovery, utilization, and reprogramming of living organisms, their constituent components, and their biologically related processes. Advances supported by NSF and the Engineering Directorate include genome sequencing, editing, and synthesis; synthetic and engineered biology; imaging and biosensing; and tissue engineering and biomanufacturing. These capabilities also provide solutions to societal challenges, such as climate change and infectious disease, and provide the foundational and use-inspired research that will lead to the creation of goods and services that contribute to agriculture, health, security, manufacturing, energy, and environmental needs of the nation.

NSF supports research and education activities that address national needs and support the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, White House strategies (including Executive Order 14081, Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe and Secure American Bioeconomy ) and other policy directives to enable biotechnology discoveries and innovations.

Engineering Directorate Interests

The Directorate for Engineering encourages the submission of all types of research and education proposals related to biotechnology, including proposals in the following areas:

Synthetic biology and related biotechnology: Biotechnology for the engineering (through design and construction) of live biological systems and related components, such as functional enzymes, genetic circuits, therapeutic cells, and pharmaceuticals; novel synthetic biology approaches for the development of cell-free and cell-based biosensors.

Environmental biotechnology: Biotechnology applied to the study of natural and engineered systems associated with pollution prevention, environmental restoration, clean water and wastewater, renewable energy or biomass production, and using biological processes to meet environmental goals; sustainability through reduction of water, energy and resource needs and yield enhancement for biomanufacturing processes.

Novel biorecognition elements: Design of transducing systems to enable adaptable and/or reconfigurable operating parameters in response to environmental changes or application needs at levels of device, system, or data analysis; sensing technologies that can enable monitoring and surveillance of the environment and/or individuals for novel infectious agents.

Biological separations: Downstream processing of biotechnology-derived chemicals, therapeutic proteins, and biologics for increased throughput and purity.

Biomanufacturing using cells: Understanding mechanisms of cell differentiation to enhance biomanufacturing, leading to novel products, biomaterials, and significant improvements in personalized medicine, environmental control and monitoring, and adaptive sensing.

Tissue biomanufacturing: Understanding mechanisms and design rules for manufacturing three-dimensional tissues, organs, and organoids; development of validated and reproducible models (in vitro or in silico) of healthy and pathological tissues and organ systems.

Mechano-biotechnologies: Mechanics-related research advancing biotechnology including mechanomics; sub-cellular, cell, cellular matrix and tissue physiology; pathophysiology; development, differentiation, proliferation, regeneration, or repair that are related to mechanical stimuli from applied forces or changes in mechanical properties of cells or tissue microenvironment.

Biological heat and mass transport: Understanding intra- and extra-cellular heat and mass transport; freeze resistance mechanisms; thermotherapy and thermoregulation; organ conservation (freezing and thawing); and mass transport in biomedical and health systems.

Biophotonic technologies: Research at the frontiers of photonics principles and engineering that will enable new technologies for biology, manufacturing, medical diagnostics, and therapies.

Biofluids: Understanding the motion of biofluids in biological and physiological systems to improve predictions of the behavior of cells, drug delivery vehicles, and other devices (for example, biobots).

Scalable design, planning and control of biomanufacturing systems and supply chains: Development of scalable data-driven and model-drivel approaches to the planning, design and control of large-scale, resilient and effective biomanufacturing systems and supply chains, including optimization of feedstock, facility location, processes, and operations for bioproduction.

Bioelectronic and biomagnetic sensing systems: Innovations in design, fabrication, and characterization of biomolecules integrated in devices and circuits for sensing and neurostimulation applications in biology and medicine, platforms for cell-based sensors, and interfaces between the nervous systems and electronics; fundamental advances in synthetic biology integrated with semiconductor technology for information processing, interconnects, storage, communication, and sensing; hybrid semiconductor-biological systems, cell-semiconductor interfaces, biological pathways, and other approaches for fabrication and integration of devices with biological systems.

Programs and Contacts

The Engineering Directorate encourages the submission of biotechnology-related proposals to the ENG core programs listed below, and to other relevant programs. To determine which program best fits a project idea, Principal Investigators are encouraged to read the program descriptions and reach out to program contacts with questions.

• Advanced Manufacturing : [email protected]
• Biophotonics : Adam Wax, [email protected]
• Biomechanics and Mechanobiology : [email protected]
• Biosensing : Aleksandr Simonian, [email protected]
• Cellular and Biochemical Engineering : Steve Peretti, [email protected]
• Communications, Circuits, and Sensing-Systems : Jenshan Lin, [email protected] ; Rosa (Ale) Lukaszew, [email protected]
• Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering : Steven M. Zehnder, [email protected]
• Engineering of Biomedical Systems : Stephanie George, [email protected]
• Environmental Engineering : Mamadou Diallo, [email protected] ; Karl Rockne, [email protected]
• Environmental Sustainability : Bruce Hamilton, [email protected]  
• Fluid Dynamics : Ron Joslin, [email protected]
• Interfacial Engineering : Christy Payne, [email protected]
• Operations Engineering : Georgia-Ann Klutke, [email protected] ; Reha Uzsoy [email protected]
• Particulate and Multiphase Processes Shahab Shojaei-Zadeh, [email protected]

The Engineering Directorate also encourages proposals for research centers, which tackle grand challenges and spur industrial innovation, and for workforce development, which provides experiential learning opportunities and opens new career paths.

• Engineering Research Centers (ERC) : [email protected]
• Industry–University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRC) : Prakash Balan, [email protected]
• Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN) : Prakash Balan, [email protected]
• Research Experiences for Teachers (RE T) : Amelia Greer, [email protected]
• Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) : [email protected] (REU for ERCs: [email protected] )

Submission Guidance

Proposals submitted in response to this DCL should focus on scientific research and education relevant to biotechnology. Proposal titles should begin with “ ENG-BIOTECH :” followed by any other relevant prefixes and the project name.

For consideration during fiscal year 2024, proposals to programs without deadlines should be submitted by April 30, 2024; proposals submitted later will be considered for fiscal year 2025.

NSF welcomes proposals that broaden geographic and demographic participation to engage the full spectrum of diverse talent in STEM. Proposals from minority-serving institutions, emerging research institutions, primarily undergraduate institutions, two-year colleges, and institutions in EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions, along with collaborations between these institutions and those in non-EPSCoR jurisdictions, are encouraged.

This DCL does not constitute a new competition or program. Proposals submitted in response to this DCL should be prepared and submitted in accordance with guidelines in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and instructions found in relevant program descriptions.

Susan Margulies Assistant Director, Engineering

Organization(s)

• Engineering Education and Centers (ENG/EEC)
• Office of Emerging Frontiers and Multidisciplinary Activities (ENG/EFMA)
• Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (ENG/CMMI)
• Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems (ENG/CBET)
• Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ENG/ECCS)
• Directorate for Engineering (ENG)

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Top 50 Emerging Research Topics in Biotechnology

Trending Research Topics in Biotechnology

Biotechnology is a dynamic field that continuously shapes our world, enabling innovation, breakthroughs, and solutions to various challenges. As we move into the future, numerous emerging research areas promise to revolutionize healthcare, agriculture, environmental sustainability, and more. The top 50 emerging research topics in biotechnology are presented in this article.

1. Gene Editing and Genomic Engineering

a. CRISPR and Gene Editing

Precision Medicine : Developing targeted therapies for various diseases using CRISPR/Cas9 and other gene-editing tools.

Ethical Implications : Exploring and addressing ethical concerns surrounding CRISPR use in human embryos and germline editing.

Agricultural Advancements : Enhancing crop resistance and nutritional content through gene editing of improved farm outcomes.

Gene Drive Technology : Investigating the potential of gene drive technology to control vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever.

Regulatory Frameworks : Establishing global regulations for responsible gene editing applications in different fields.

b. Synthetic Biology

Bioengineering Microbes : Creating engineered microorganisms for sustainable production of fuels, pharmaceuticals, and materials.

Designer Organisms : Designing novel organisms with specific functionalities for environmental remediation or industrial processes.

Cell-Free Systems : Developing cell-free systems for various applications, including drug production and biosensors.

Biosecurity Measures : Addressing concerns regarding the potential misuse of synthetic biology for bioterrorism.

Standardization and Automation : Standardizing synthetic biology methodologies and automating processes to streamline production.

2. Personalized Medicine and Pharmacogenomics

a. Precision Medicine

Individualized Treatment : Tailoring medical treatment based on a person’s genetic makeup and environmental factors.

Cancer Therapy : Advancing targeted cancer therapies based on the genetic profile of tumors and patients.

Data Analytics : Implementing big data and AI for comprehensive analysis of genomic and clinical data to improve treatment outcomes.

Clinical Implementation : Integrating genetic testing into routine clinical practice for personalized healthcare.

Public Health and Policy : Addressing the challenges of integrating personalized medicine into public health policies and practices.

b. Pharmacogenomics

Drug Development : Optimizing drug development based on individual genetic variations to improve efficacy and reduce side effects.

Adverse Drug Reactions : Understanding genetic predispositions to adverse drug reactions and minimizing risks.

Dosing Optimization : Tailoring drug dosage based on an individual’s genetic profile for better treatment outcomes.

Economic Implications : Assessing the economic impact of pharmacogenomics on healthcare systems.

Education and Training : Educating healthcare professionals on integrating pharmacogenomic data into clinical practice.

3. Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine

a. Nanoparticles in Medicine

Drug Delivery Systems : Developing targeted drug delivery systems using nanoparticles for enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects.

Theranostics : Integrating diagnostics and therapeutics through nanomaterials for personalized medicine.

Imaging Techniques : Advancing imaging technologies using nanoparticles for better resolution and early disease detection.

Biocompatibility and Safety : Ensuring the safety and biocompatibility of nanoparticles used in medicine.

Regulatory Frameworks : Establishing regulations for the use of nanomaterials in medical applications.

b. Nanosensors and Diagnostics

Point-of-Care Diagnostics : Developing portable and rapid diagnostic tools for various diseases using nanotechnology.

Biosensors : Creating highly sensitive biosensors for detecting biomarkers and pathogens in healthcare and environmental monitoring.

Wearable Health Monitors : Integrating nanosensors into wearable devices for continuous health monitoring.

Challenges and Limitations : Addressing challenges in scalability, reproducibility, and cost-effectiveness of nanosensor technologies.

Future Applications : Exploring potential applications of nanosensors beyond healthcare, such as environmental monitoring and food safety.

4. Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development

a. Cancer Immunotherapy

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors : Enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors and understanding resistance mechanisms.

CAR-T Cell Therapy : Improving CAR-T cell therapy for a wider range of cancers and reducing associated side effects.

Combination Therapies : Investigating combination therapies for better outcomes in cancer treatment.

Biomarkers and Predictive Models : Identifying predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy response.

Long-Term Effects : Studying the long-term effects and immune-related adverse events of immunotherapies.

b. Vaccine Technology

mRNA Vaccines : Advancing mRNA vaccine technology for various infectious diseases and cancers.

Universal Vaccines : Developing universal vaccines targeting multiple strains of viruses and bacteria.

Vaccine Delivery Systems : Innovating vaccine delivery methods for improved stability and efficacy.

Vaccine Hesitancy : Addressing vaccine hesitancy through education, communication, and community engagement.

Pandemic Preparedness : Developing strategies for rapid vaccine development and deployment during global health crises.

5. Environmental Biotechnology and Sustainability

a. Bioremediation and Bioenergy

Biodegradation Techniques : Using biotechnology to enhance the degradation of pollutants and contaminants in the environment.

Biofuels : Developing sustainable biofuel production methods from renewable resources.

Microbial Fuel Cells : Harnessing microbial fuel cells for energy generation from organic waste.

Circular Economy : Integrating biotechnological solutions for a circular economy and waste management.

Ecosystem Restoration : Using biotechnology for the restoration of ecosystems affected by pollution and climate change.

b. Agricultural Biotechnology

Genetically Modified Crops : Advancing genetically modified crops for improved yields, pest resistance, and nutritional content.

Precision Agriculture : Implementing biotechnological tools for precise and sustainable farming practices.

Climate-Resilient Crops : Developing crops resilient to climate change-induced stresses.

Micro-biome Applications : Leveraging the plant micro-biome for enhanced crop health and productivity.

Consumer Acceptance and Regulation : Addressing consumer concerns and regulatory challenges related to genetically modified crops.

The field of biotechnology is a beacon of hope for addressing the challenges of our time, offering promising solutions for healthcare, sustainability, and more. As researchers explore these emerging topics, the potential for ground-breaking discoveries and transformative applications is immense.

I hope this article will help you to find the top research topics in biotechnology that promise to revolutionize healthcare, agriculture, environmental sustainability, and more.

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Biotechnology Research Paper Topics

This collection of biotechnology research paper topics provides the list of 10 potential topics for research papers and overviews the history of biotechnology.

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Get 10% off with 24start discount code, 1. animal breeding: genetic methods.

Modern animal breeding relies on scientific methods to control production of domesticated animals, both livestock and pets, which exhibit desired physical and behavioral traits. Genetic technology aids animal breeders to attain nutritional, medical, recreational, and fashion standards demanded by consumers for animal products including meat, milk, eggs, leather, wool, and pharmaceuticals. Animals are also genetically designed to meet labor and sporting requirements for speed and endurance, conformation and beauty ideals to win show competitions, and intelligence levels to perform obediently at tasks such as herding, hunting, and tracking. By the late twentieth century, genetics and mathematical models were appropriated to identify the potential of immature animals. DNA markers indicate how young animals will mature, saving breeders money by not investing in animals lacking genetic promise. Scientists also successfully transplanted sperm-producing stem cells with the goal of restoring fertility to barren breeding animals. At the National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa, researchers created a gene-based test, which uses a cloned gene of the organism that causes Johne’s disease in cattle in order to detect that disease to avert epidemics. Researchers also began mapping the dog genome and developing molecular techniques to evaluate canine chromosomes in the Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL). Bioinformatics incorporates computers to analyze genetic material. Some tests were developed to diagnose many of several hundred genetic canine diseases including hip dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). A few breed organizations modified standards to discourage breeding of genetically flawed animals and promote heterozygosity.

2. Antibacterial Chemotherapy

In the early years of the twentieth century, the search for agents that would be effective against internal infections proceeded along two main routes. The first was a search for naturally occurring substances that were effective against microorganisms (antibiosis). The second was a search for chemicals that would have the same effect (chemotherapy). Despite the success of penicillin in the 1940s, the major early advances in the treatment of infection occurred not through antibiosis but through chemotherapy. The principle behind chemotherapy was that there was a relationship between chemical structure and pharmacological action. The founder of this concept was Paul Erhlich (1854–1915). An early success came in 1905 when atoxyl (an organic arsenic compound) was shown to destroy trypanosomes, the microbes that caused sleeping sickness. Unfortunately, atoxyl also damaged the optic nerve. Subsequently, Erhlich and his co-workers synthesized and tested hundreds of related arsenic compounds. Ehrlich was a co-recipient (with Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov) of the Nobel Prize in medicine in 1908 for his work on immunity. Success in discovering a range of effective antibacterial drugs had three important consequences: it brought a range of important diseases under control for the first time; it provided a tremendous stimulus to research workers and opened up new avenues of research; and in the resulting commercial optimism, it led to heavy postwar investment in the pharmaceutical industry. The therapeutic revolution had begun.

3. Artificial Insemination and in Vitro Fertilization

Artificial insemination (AI) involves the extraction and collection of semen together with techniques for depositing semen in the uterus in order to achieve successful fertilization and pregnancy. Throughout the twentieth century, the approach has offered animal breeders the advantage of being able to utilize the best available breeding stock and at the correct time within the female reproductive cycle, but without the limitations of having the animals in the same location. AI has been applied most intensively within the dairy and beef cattle industries and to a lesser extent horse breeding and numerous other domesticated species.

Many of the techniques involved in artificial insemination would lay the foundation for in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the latter half of the twentieth century. IVF refers to the group of technologies that allow fertilization to take place outside the body involving the retrieval of ova or eggs from the female and sperm from the male, which are then combined in artificial, or ‘‘test tube,’’ conditions leading to fertilization. The fertilized eggs then continue to develop for several days ‘‘in culture’’ until being transferred to the female recipient to continue developing within the uterus.

4. Biopolymers

Biopolymers are natural polymers, long-chained molecules (macromolecules) consisting mostly of a repeated composition of building blocks or monomers that are formed and utilized by living organisms. Each group of biopolymers is composed of different building blocks, for example chains of sugar molecules form starch (a polysaccharide), chains of amino acids form proteins and peptides, and chains of nucleic acid form DNA and RNA (polynucleotides). Biopolymers can form gels, fibers, coatings, and films depending on the specific polymer, and serve a variety of critical functions for cells and organisms. Proteins including collagens, keratins, silks, tubulins, and actin usually form structural composites or scaffolding, or protective materials in biological systems (e.g., spider silk). Polysaccharides function in molecular recognition at cell membrane surfaces, form capsular barrier layers around cells, act as emulsifiers and adhesives, and serve as skeletal or architectural materials in plants. In many cases these polymers occur in combination with proteins to form novel composite structures such as invertebrate exoskeletons or microbial cell walls, or with lignin in the case of plant cell walls.

The use of the word ‘‘cloning’’ is fraught with confusion and inconsistency, and it is important at the outset of this discussion to offer definitional clarification. For instance, in the 1997 article by Ian Wilmut and colleagues announcing the birth of the first cloned adult vertebrate (a ewe, Dolly the sheep) from somatic cell nuclear transfer, the word clone or cloning was never used, and yet the announcement raised considerable disquiet about the prospect of cloned human beings. In a desire to avoid potentially negative forms of language, many prefer to substitute ‘‘cell expansion techniques’’ or ‘‘therapeutic cloning’’ for cloning. Cloning has been known for centuries as a horticultural propagation method: for example, plants multiplied by grafting, budding, or cuttings do not differ genetically from the original plant. The term clone entered more common usage as a result of a speech in 1963 by J.B.S. Haldane based on his paper, ‘‘Biological possibilities for the human species of the next ten-thousand years.’’ Notwithstanding these notes of caution, we can refer to a number of processes as cloning. At the close of the twentieth century, such techniques had not yet progressed to the ability to bring a cloned human to full development; however, the ability to clone cells from an adult human has potential to treat diseases. International policymaking in the late 1990s sought to distinguish between the different end uses for somatic cell nuclear transfer resulting in the widespread adoption of the distinction between ‘‘reproductive’’ and ‘‘therapeutic’’ cloning. The function of the distinction has been to permit the use (in some countries) of the technique to generate potentially beneficial therapeutic applications from embryonic stem cell technology whilst prohibiting its use in human reproduction. In therapeutic applications, nuclear transfer from a patient’s cells into an enucleated ovum is used to create genetically identical embryos that would be grown in vitro but not be allowed to continue developing to become a human being. The resulting cloned embryos could be used as a source from which to produce stem cells that can then be induced to specialize into the specific type of tissue required by the patient (such as skin for burns victims, brain neuron cells for Parkinson’s disease sufferers, or pancreatic cells for diabetics). The rationale is that because the original nuclear material is derived from a patient’s adult tissue, the risks of rejection of such cells by the immune system are reduced.

6. Gene Therapy

In 1971, Australian Nobel laureate Sir F. MacFarlane Burnet thought that gene therapy (introducing genes into body tissue, usually to treat an inherited genetic disorder) looked more and more like a case of the emperor’s new clothes. Ethical issues aside, he believed that practical considerations forestalled possibilities for any beneficial gene strategy, then or probably ever. Bluntly, he wrote: ‘‘little further advance can be expected from laboratory science in the handling of ‘intrinsic’ types of disability and disease.’’ Joshua Lederberg and Edward Tatum, 1958 Nobel laureates, theorized in the 1960s that genes might be altered or replaced using viral vectors to treat human diseases. Stanfield Rogers, working from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 1970, had tried but failed to cure argininemia (a genetic disorder of the urea cycle that causes neurological damage in the form of mental retardation, seizures, and eventually death) in two German girls using Swope papilloma virus. Martin Cline at the University of California in Los Angeles, made the second failed attempt a decade later. He tried to correct the bone marrow cells of two beta-thalassemia patients, one in Israel and the other in Italy. What Cline’s failure revealed, however, was that many researchers who condemned his trial as unethical were by then working toward similar goals and targeting different diseases with various delivery methods. While Burnet’s pessimism finally proved to be wrong, progress in gene therapy was much slower than antibiotic or anticancer chemotherapy developments over the same period of time. While gene therapy had limited success, it nevertheless remained an active area for research, particularly because the Human Genome Project, begun in 1990, had resulted in a ‘‘rough draft’’ of all human genes by 2001, and was completed in 2003. Gene mapping created the means for analyzing the expression patterns of hundreds of genes involved in biological pathways and for identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that have diagnostic and therapeutic potential for treating specific diseases in individuals. In the future, gene therapies may prove effective at protecting patients from adverse drug reactions or changing the biochemical nature of a person’s disease. They may also target blood vessel formation in order to prevent heart disease or blindness due to macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy. One of the oldest ideas for use of gene therapy is to produce anticancer vaccines. One method involves inserting a granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor gene into prostate tumor cells removed in surgery. The cells then are irradiated to prevent any further cancer and injected back into the same patient to initiate an immune response against any remaining metastases. Whether or not such developments become a major treatment modality, no one now believes, as MacFarland Burnet did in 1970, that gene therapy science has reached an end in its potential to advance health.

7. Genetic Engineering

The term ‘‘genetic engineering’’ describes molecular biology techniques that allow geneticists to analyze and manipulate deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). At the close of the twentieth century, genetic engineering promised to revolutionize many industries, including microbial biotechnology, agriculture, and medicine. It also sparked controversy over potential health and ecological hazards due to the unprecedented ability to bypass traditional biological reproduction.

For centuries, if not millennia, techniques have been employed to alter the genetic characteristics of animals and plants to enhance specifically desired traits. In a great many cases, breeds with which we are most familiar bear little resemblance to the wild varieties from which they are derived. Canine breeds, for instance, have been selectively tailored to changing esthetic tastes over many years, altering their appearance, behavior and temperament. Many of the species used in farming reflect long-term alterations to enhance meat, milk, and fleece yields. Likewise, in the case of agricultural varieties, hybridization and selective breeding have resulted in crops that are adapted to specific production conditions and regional demands. Genetic engineering differs from these traditional methods of plant and animal breeding in some very important respects. First, genes from one organism can be extracted and recombined with those of another (using recombinant DNA, or rDNA, technology) without either organism having to be of the same species. Second, removing the requirement for species reproductive compatibility, new genetic combinations can be produced in a much more highly accelerated way than before. Since the development of the first rDNA organism by Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer in 1973, a number of techniques have been found to produce highly novel products derived from transgenic plants and animals.

At the same time, there has been an ongoing and ferocious political debate over the environmental and health risks to humans of genetically altered species. The rise of genetic engineering may be characterized by developments during the last three decades of the twentieth century.

8. Genetic Screening and Testing

The menu of genetic screening and testing technologies now available in most developed countries increased rapidly in the closing years of the twentieth century. These technologies emerged within the context of rapidly changing social and legal contexts with regard to the medicalization of pregnancy and birth and the legalization of abortion. The earliest genetic screening tests detected inborn errors of metabolism and sex-linked disorders. Technological innovations in genomic mapping and DNA sequencing, together with an explosion in research on the genetic basis of disease which culminated in the Human Genome Project (HGP), led to a range of genetic screening and testing for diseases traditionally recognized as genetic in origin and for susceptibility to more common diseases such as certain types of familial cancer, cardiac conditions, and neurological disorders among others. Tests were also useful for forensic, or nonmedical, purposes. Genetic screening techniques are now available in conjunction with in vitro fertilization and other types of reproductive technologies, allowing the screening of fertilized embryos for certain genetic mutations before selection for implantation. At present selection is purely on disease grounds and selection for other traits (e.g., for eye or hair color, intelligence, height) cannot yet be done, though there are concerns for eugenics and ‘‘designer babies.’’ Screening is available for an increasing number of metabolic diseases through tandem mass spectrometry, which uses less blood per test, allows testing for many conditions simultaneously, and has a very low false-positive rate as compared to conventional Guthrie testing. Finally, genetic technologies are being used in the judicial domain for determination of paternity, often associated with child support claims, and for forensic purposes in cases where DNA material is available for testing.

9. Plant Breeding: Genetic Methods

The cultivation of plants is the world’s oldest biotechnology. We have continually tried to produce improved varieties while increasing yield, features to aid cultivation and harvesting, disease, and pest resistance, or crop qualities such as longer postharvest storage life and improved taste or nutritional value. Early changes resulted from random crosspollination, rudimentary grafting, or spontaneous genetic change. For centuries, man kept the seed from the plants with improved characteristics to plant the following season’s crop. The pioneering work of Gregor Mendel and his development of the basic laws of heredity showed for other first time that some of the processes of heredity could be altered by experimental means. The genetic analysis of bacterial (prokaryote) genes and techniques for analysis of the higher (eukaryotic) organisms such as plants developed in parallel streams, but the rediscovery of Mendel’s work in 1900 fueled a burst of activity on understanding the role of genes in inheritance. The knowledge that genes are linked along the chromosome thereby allowed mapping of genes (transduction analysis, conjugation analysis, and transformation analysis). The power of genetics to produce a desirable plant was established, and it was appreciated that controlled breeding (test crosses and back crosses) and careful analysis of the progeny could distinguish traits that were dominant or recessive, and establish pure breeding lines. Traditional horticultural techniques of artificial self-pollination and cross-pollination were also used to produce hybrids. In the 1930s the Russian Nikolai Vavilov recognized the value of genetic diversity in domesticated crop plants and their wild relatives to crop improvement, and collected seeds from the wild to study total genetic diversity and use these in breeding programs. The impact of scientific crop breeding was established by the ‘‘Green revolution’’ of the 1960s, when new wheat varieties with higher yields were developed by careful crop breeding. ‘‘Mutation breeding’’— inducing mutations by exposing seeds to x-rays or chemicals such as sodium azide, accelerated after World War II. It was also discovered that plant cells and tissues grown in tissue culture would mutate rapidly. In the 1970s, haploid breeding, which involves producing plants from two identical sets of chromosomes, was extensively used to create new cultivars. In the twenty-first century, haploid breeding could speed up plant breeding by shortening the breeding cycle.

10. Tissue Culturing

The technique of tissue or cell culture, which relates to the growth of tissue or cells within a laboratory setting, underlies a phenomenal proportion of biomedical research. Though it has roots in the late nineteenth century, when numerous scientists tried to grow samples in alien environments, cell culture is credited as truly beginning with the first concrete evidence of successful growth in vitro, demonstrated by Johns Hopkins University embryologist Ross Harrison in 1907. Harrison took sections of spinal cord from a frog embryo, placed them on a glass cover slip and bathed the tissue in a nutrient media. The results of the experiment were startling—for the first time scientists visualized actual nerve growth as it would happen in a living organism—and many other scientists across the U.S. and Europe took up culture techniques. Rather unwittingly, for he was merely trying to settle a professional dispute regarding the origin of nerve fibers, Harrison fashioned a research tool that has since been designated by many as the greatest advance in medical science since the invention of the microscope.

From the 1980s, cell culture has once again been brought to the forefront of cancer research in the isolation and identification of numerous cancer causing oncogenes. In addition, cell culturing continues to play a crucial role in fields such as cytology, embryology, radiology, and molecular genetics. In the future, its relevance to direct clinical treatment might be further increased by the growth in culture of stem cells and tissue replacement therapies that can be tailored for a particular individual. Indeed, as cell culture approaches its centenary, it appears that its importance to scientific, medical, and commercial research the world over will only increase in the twenty-first century.

History of Biotechnology

Biotechnology grew out of the technology of fermentation, which was called zymotechnology. This was different from the ancient craft of brewing because of its thought-out relationships to science. These were most famously conceptualized by the Prussian chemist Georg Ernst Stahl (1659–1734) in his 1697 treatise Zymotechnia Fundamentalis, in which he introduced the term zymotechnology. Carl Balling, long-serving professor in Prague, the world center of brewing, drew on the work of Stahl when he published his Bericht uber die Fortschritte der zymotechnische Wissenschaften und Gewerbe (Account of the Progress of the Zymotechnic Sciences and Arts) in the mid-nineteenth century. He used the idea of zymotechnics to compete with his German contemporary Justus Liebig for whom chemistry was the underpinning of all processes.

By the end of the nineteenth century, there were attempts to develop a new scientific study of fermentation. It was an aspect of the ‘‘second’’ Industrial Revolution during the period from 1870 to 1914. The emergence of the chemical industry is widely taken as emblematic of the formal research and development taking place at the time. The development of microbiological industries is another example. For the first time, Louis Pasteur’s germ theory made it possible to provide convincing explanations of brewing and other fermentation processes.

Pasteur had published on brewing in the wake of France’s humiliation in the Franco–Prussian war (1870–1871) to assert his country’s superiority in an industry traditionally associated with Germany. Yet the science and technology of fermentation had a wide range of applications including the manufacture of foods (cheese, yogurt, wine, vinegar, and tea), of commodities (tobacco and leather), and of chemicals (lactic acid, citric acid, and the enzyme takaminase). The concept of zymotechnology associated principally with the brewing of beer began to appear too limited to its principal exponents. At the time, Denmark was the world leader in creating high-value agricultural produce. Cooperative farms pioneered intensive pig fattening as well as the mass production of bacon, butter, and beer. It was here that the systems of science and technology were integrated and reintegrated, conceptualized and reconceptualized.

The Dane Emil Christian Hansen discovered that infection from wild yeasts was responsible for numerous failed brews. His contemporary Alfred Jørgensen, a Copenhagen consultant closely associated with the Tuborg brewery, published a widely used textbook on zymotechnology. Microorganisms and Fermentation first appeared in Danish 1889 and would be translated, reedited, and reissued for the next 60 years.

The scarcity of resources on both sides during World War I brought together science and technology, further development of zymotechnology, and formulation of the concept of biotechnology. Impending and then actual war accelerated the use of fermentation technologies to make strategic materials. In Britain a variant of a process to ferment starch to make butadiene for synthetic rubber production was adapted to make acetone needed in the manufacture of explosives. The process was technically important as the first industrial sterile fermentation and was strategically important for munitions supplies. The developer, chemist Chaim Weizmann, later became well known as the first president of Israel in 1949.

In Germany scarce oil-based lubricants were replaced by glycerol made by fermentation. Animal feed was derived from yeast grown with the aid of the new synthetic ammonia in another wartime development that inspired the coining of the word biotechnology. Hungary was the agricultural base of the Austro–Hungarian empire and aspired to Danish levels of efficiency. The economist Karl Ereky (1878–1952) planned to go further and build the largest industrial pig-processing factory. He envisioned a site that would fatten 50,000 swine at a time while railroad cars of sugar beet arrived and fat, hides, and meat departed. In this forerunner of the Soviet collective farm, peasants (in any case now falling prey to the temptations of urban society) would be completely superseded by the industrialization of the biological process in large factory-like animal processing units. Ereky went further in his ruminations over the meaning of his innovation. He suggested that it presaged an industrial revolution that would follow the transformation of chemical technology. In his book entitled Biotechnologie, he linked specific technical injunctions to wide-ranging philosophy. Ereky was neither isolated nor obscure. He had been trained in the mainstream of reflection on the meaning of the applied sciences in Hungary, which would be remarkably productive across the sciences. After World War I, Ereky served as Hungary’s minister of food in the short-lived right wing regime that succeeded the fall of the communist government of Bela Kun.

Nonetheless it was not through Ereky’s direct action that his ideas seem to have spread. Rather, his book was reviewed by the influential Paul Lindner, head of botany at the Institut fu¨ r Ga¨ rungsgewerbe in Berlin, who suggested that microorganisms could also be seen as biotechnological machines. This concept was already found in the production of yeast and in Weizmann’s work with strategic materials, which was widely publicized at that very time. It was with this meaning that the word ‘‘Biotechnologie’’ entered German dictionaries in the 1920s.

Biotechnology represented more than the manipulation of existing organisms. From the beginning it was concerned with their improvement as well, and this meant the enhancement of all living creatures. Most dramatically this would include humanity itself; more mundanely it would include plants and animals of agricultural importance. The enhancement of people was called eugenics by the Victorian polymath and cousin of Charles Darwin, Francis Galton. Two strains of eugenics emerged: negative eugenics associated with weeding out the weak and positive eugenics associated with enhancing strength. In the early twentieth century, many eugenics proponents believed that the weak could be made strong. People had after all progressed beyond their biological limits by means of technology.

Jean-Jacques Virey, a follower of the French naturalist Jean-Baptiste de Monet de Lamarck, had coined the term ‘‘biotechnie’’ in 1828 to describe man’s ability to make technology do the work of biology, but it was not till a century later that the term entered widespread use. The Scottish biologist and town planner Patrick Geddes made biotechnics popular in the English-speaking world. Geddes, too, sought to link life and technology. Before World War I he had characterized the technological evolution of mankind as a move from the paleotechnic era of coal and iron to the neotechnic era of chemicals, electricity, and steel. After the war, he detected a new era based on biology—the biotechnic era. Through his friend, writer Lewis Mumford, Geddes would have great influence. Mumford’s book Technics and Civilization, itself a founding volume of the modern historiography of technology, promoted his vision of the Geddesian evolution.

A younger generation of English experimental biologists with a special interest in genetics, including J. B. S. Haldane, Julian Huxley, and Lancelot Hogben, also promoted a concept of biotechnology in the period between the world wars. Because they wrote popular works, they were among Britain’s best-known scientists. Haldane wrote about biological invention in his far-seeing work Daedalus. Huxley looked forward to a blend of social and eugenics-based biological engineering. Hogben, following Geddes, was more interested in engineering plants through breeding. He tied the progressivism of biology to the advance of socialism.

The improvement of the human race, genetic manipulation of bacteria, and the development of fermentation technology were brought together by the development of penicillin during World War II. This drug was successfully extracted from the juice exuded by a strain of the Penicillium fungus. Although discovered by accident and then developed further for purely scientific reasons, the scarce and unstable ‘‘antibiotic’’ called penicillin was transformed during World War II into a powerful and widely used drug. Large networks of academic and government laboratories and pharmaceutical manufacturers in Britain and the U.S. were coordinated by agencies of the two governments. An unanticipated combination of genetics, biochemistry, chemistry, and chemical engineering skills had been required. When the natural mold was bombarded with high-frequency radiation, far more productive mutants were produced, and subsequently all the medicine was made using the product of these man-made cells. By the 1950s penicillin was cheap to produce and globally available.

The new technology of cultivating and processing large quantities of microorganisms led to calls for a new scientific discipline. Biochemical engineering was one term, and applied microbiology another. The Swedish biologist, Carl-Goran Heden, possibly influenced by German precedents, favored the term ‘‘Biotechnologi’’ and persuaded his friend Elmer Gaden to relabel his new journal Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering. From 1962 major international conferences were held under the banner of the Global Impact of Applied Microbiology. During the 1960s food based on single-cell protein grown in fermenters on oil or glucose seemed, to visionary engineers and microbiologists and to major companies, to offer an immediate solution to world hunger. Tropical countries rich in biomass that could be used as raw material for fermentation were also the world’s poorest. Alcohol could be manufactured by fermenting such starch or sugar rich crops as sugar cane and corn. Brazil introduced a national program of replacing oil-based petrol with alcohol in the 1970s.

It was not, however, just the developing countries that hoped to benefit. The Soviet Union developed fermentation-based protein as a major source of animal feed through the 1980s. In the U.S. it seemed that oil from surplus corn would solve the problem of low farm prices aggravated by the country’s boycott of the USSR in1979, and the term ‘‘gasohol‘‘ came into currency. Above all, the decline of established industries made the discovery of a new wealth maker an urgent priority for Western governments. Policy makers in both Germany and Japan during the 1970s were driven by a sense of the inadequacy of the last generation of technologies. These were apparently maturing, and the succession was far from clear. Even if electronics or space travel offered routes to the bright industrial future, these fields seemed to be dominated by the U.S. Seeing incipient crisis, the Green, or environmental, movement promoted a technology that would depend on renewable resources and on low-energy processes that would produce biodegradable products, recycle waste, and address problems of the health and nutrition of the world.

In 1973 the German government, seeking a new and ‘‘greener’’ industrial policy, commissioned a report entitled Biotechnologie that identified ways in which biological processing was key to modern developments in technology. Even though the report was published at the time that recombinant DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) was becoming possible, it did not refer to this new technique and instead focused on the use and combination of existing technologies to make novel products.

Nonetheless the hitherto esoteric science of molecular biology was making considerable progress, although its practice in the early 1970s was rather distant from the world of industrial production. The phrase ‘‘genetic engineering’’ entered common parlance in the 1960s to describe human genetic modification. Medicine, however, put a premium on the use of proteins that were difficult to extract from people: insulin for diabetics and interferon for cancer sufferers. During the early 1970s what had been science fiction became fact as the use of DNA synthesis, restriction enzymes, and plasmids were integrated. In 1973 Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer successfully transferred a section of DNA from one E. coli bacterium to another. A few prophets such as Joshua Lederberg and Walter Gilbert argued that the new biological techniques of recombinant DNA might be ideal for making synthetic versions of expensive proteins such as insulin and interferon through their expression in bacterial cells. Small companies, such as Cetus and Genentech in California and Biogen in Cambridge, Massachusetts, were established to develop the techniques. In many cases discoveries made by small ‘‘boutique’’ companies were developed for the market by large, more established, pharmaceutical organizations.

Many governments were impressed by these advances in molecular genetics, which seemed to make biotechnology a potential counterpart to information technology in a third industrial revolution. These inspired hopes of industrial production of proteins identical to those produced in the human body that could be used to treat genetic diseases. There was also hope that industrially useful materials such as alcohol, plastics (biopolymers), or ready-colored fibers might be made in plants, and thus the attractions of a potentially new agricultural era might be as great as the implications for medicine. At a time of concern over low agricultural prices, such hopes were doubly welcome. Indeed, the agricultural benefits sometimes overshadowed the medical implications.

The mechanism for the transfer of enthusiasm from engineering fermenters to engineering genes was the New York Stock Exchange. At the end of the 1970s, new tax laws encouraged already adventurous U.S. investors to put money into small companies whose stock value might grow faster than their profits. The brokerage firm E. F. Hutton saw the potential for the new molecular biology companies such as Biogen and Cetus. Stock market interest in companies promising to make new biological entities was spurred by the 1980 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to permit the patenting of a new organism. The patent was awarded to the Exxon researcher Ananda Chakrabarty for an organism that metabolized hydrocarbon waste. This event signaled the commercial potential of biotechnology to business and governments around the world. By the early 1980s there were widespread hopes that the protein interferon, made with some novel organism, would provide a cure for cancer. The development of monoclonal antibody technology that grew out of the work of Georges J. F. Kohler and Cesar Milstein in Cambridge (co-recipients with Niels K. Jerne of the Nobel Prize in medicine in 1986) seemed to offer new prospects for precise attacks on particular cells.

The fear of excessive regulatory controls encouraged business and scientific leaders to express optimistic projections about the potential of biotechnology. The early days of biotechnology were fired by hopes of medical products and high-value pharmaceuticals. Human insulin and interferon were early products, and a second generation included the anti-blood clotting agent tPA and the antianemia drug erythropoietin. Biotechnology was also used to help identify potential new drugs that might be made chemically, or synthetically.

At the same time agricultural products were also being developed. Three early products that each raised substantial problems were bacteria which inhibited the formation of frost on the leaves of strawberry plants (ice-minus bacteria), genetically modified plants including tomatoes and rapeseed, and the hormone bovine somatrotropin (BST) produced in genetically modified bacteria and administered to cattle in the U.S. to increase milk yields. By 1999 half the soy beans and one third of the corn grown in the U.S. were modified. Although the global spread of such products would arouse the best known concern at the end of the century, the use of the ice-minus bacteria— the first authorized release of a genetically engineered organism into the environment—had previously raised anxiety in the U.S. in the 1980s.

In 1997 Dolly the sheep was cloned from an adult mother in the Roslin agricultural research institute outside Edinburgh, Scotland. This work was inspired by the need to find a way of reproducing sheep engineered to express human proteins in their milk. However, the public interest was not so much in the cloning of sheep that had just been achieved as in the cloning of people, which had not. As in the Middle Ages when deformed creatures had been seen as monsters and portents of natural disasters, Dolly was similarly seen as monster and as a portent of human cloning.

The name Frankenstein, recalled from the story written by Mary Shelley at the beginning of the nineteenth century and from the movies of the 1930s, was once again familiar at the end of the twentieth century. Shelley had written in the shadow of Stahl’s theories. The continued appeal of this book embodies the continuity of the fears of artificial life and the anxiety over hubris. To this has been linked a more mundane suspicion of the blending of commerce and the exploitation of life. Discussion of biotechnology at the end of the twentieth century was therefore colored by questions of whose assurances of good intent and reassurance of safety could be trusted.

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Experimental molecular biology: biotechnology ii, scientific comm..

This course includes significant instruction in scientific communications. During the term, Dr. Marilee Ogren-Balkema presents ten lectures on a range of reading, presentation and writing topics.

Background reading

Gopen, George D., and Judith A. Swan. “ The Science of Scientific Writing .” The American Scientist 78 (1990): 550-558.

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1: Basic Scientific Communication ( PDF )

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6: How to Write a Research Paper I: Illustrations ( PDF - 1.2 MB )

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Excellent opening paragraph stating why is the research important and leading to the research goals

Clear and concise presentation of research aims \(questions\)

Research plan is well \ detailed starting from third paragraph.

Pronoun problem: who is the "w\ e"? Earlier, "I" is very clear, but this "we" lacks a clear antecedent.

Writing tip: good use of "signa\ l" words \("first," "second"\) to organize information and highlight key points.

Contributors: P. Pazos, Searle Center for Teaching Excellence and P. Hirsch, The Writing Program, [email protected]

Posted: 2008

TITLE: The Mitochondrial Stress Response and the Communication of Stress Responses Between Subcellular Compart\ ments

Compelling presentation of preparation from courses and prior lab experience.

Very detailed presentation of techni\ ques learned that are relevant to the project

Writing tip: "data" is a p\ lural word. Say, "The data suggest. . . " and "they [meaning the data] indicate."

Overall comments:

Good quality proposal overall. The author clearly explains the aims a\ nd methods to carry out those aims.

Research question: Analysis of mitochondria's unfolding protein response and its crosstalk with other folding envir\ onments in the cell.

Compelling presentation of prior experience in courses and labs. Could include specific techniques learned.

Good use of citations and references

Suggestions:

Should add headings to make it more readable and add some structure.

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• In line with the Government of India’s ease of doing business and digital India, all applications are received, and recommendations are communicated through the an online web portal, namely Indian Biosafety Knowledge Portal (IBKP, https://ibkp.dbtindia.gov.in/ ).The Portal facilitates registration of IBSC, and maintains the transparency and accountability of regulatory approval process. All the regulatory guidelines, manuals, protocols, SOPs and other documents are notifying on the Indian Biosafety Knowledge Portal.
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Structure for writing a scientific research proposal in biotechnology

Clinical Psychology: psychopathology by systematically examining the history, classification, causes and treatment of psychological disorders.

IMPORTANCE OF LITERATURE REVIEW WRITING IN RESEARCH ARTICLE AND DISSERTATION ON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH

• The intention of writing a research proposal in biotechnology is to get approval for research work from a committee irrespective of what you are applying.
• The researcher aims to clearly describe the research in a way that a non-specialist can understand.
• The research proposal in biotechnology must not only define how the research will be carried out but also need to provide detail description about the required timeline.

Introduction:

Writing a research proposal in the present era is an entirely challenging mission because of the constant evolution in the research design and the need to incorporate innovative concepts and medical advances in the methodology section. A well-formatted research proposal in the field of biotechnology will be written according to the required guidelines forms the mainstay for the research, and hence proposal writing is an essential step in the process of conducting research . The main objective in preparing a research proposal is to obtain approval from several committees such as the ethics committee and grant committee.

Basic requirements for an effective research proposal:

The primary purpose of every proposal that needs to address how your proposed research will fit into what is already know and the proposal should add innovative addition to the present findings in biotechnology while specifying the research question to be answered, its significance and implications. For example, TB is the deadly infectious disease in the world, but unfortunately, not all drugs are adversely affecting the Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Thus the proposing research should be innovative in finding the existing problems and identify solutions.

The research proposal must be capable of convincing the committee evaluating the proposal about the practicality, reproducibility of the proposed research in biotechnology, its achievability and credibility.

In most cases, the evaluation committee consists of the audience with different expectations and committee members from various fields such as academic professionals, policy-makers, practitioners and general audience.

In order to overcome all the challenges that come during the process of writing a quality research proposal in biotechnology, expert guidance is advisable and recommended. We have experienced professional in various fields like biotechnology , management , engineering , science and medicine , and they are ready to support in writing a full research proposal from developing innovative ideas, literature review, experimental design till budget evaluation and citation. We also provide consultations for the same and specific writing, editing , and proofreading support for your research proposal in the field of biotechnology.

See also : A Good Start For Your Research Proposal Writing

Contents of a research proposal:

In general, the research proposal format varies depending on what you are applying for, e.g. grant proposal , PhD proposal, master thesis proposal, and research position proposal. The requirements vary according to the evaluation committee and are generally provided in advance by the institution or evaluation committee.

The well-proven structure we use for writing the research proposal are:

• Aims and objectives
• Introduction
• Literature review
• Research design and methods

Title page :

Like every research document , the biotechnology research proposal will have a title page that includes.

• The title of your proposed research project (For example: “A translational recovery mechanism may provide a novel target for drug-resistant of M. tuberculosis. ”
• Name of the student
• Name of the supervisor
• The department and Institution

It is suitable for a research project, to know the specific structure for your requirements, reach out to us.

See also : Recent PhD Research Topic Ideas for Public Health

Aims and objectives :

The aim or goal and objective of the biotechnology research proposal should give a broad indication of the expected research outcome and the hypothesis to be tested can also be the aim of your study. The objective can be categorized as primary and secondary according to the parameters and tools used to achieve the goal.

Introduction :

The introduction is the initial pitch for the research proposal, and it is mandatory to explain what you want to do and why. The introduction should

• Explain the topic
• Give the background and context of the topic
• Overview of the proposed problem statement and research question

The proposal should also focus on some essential questions to guide the introduction

• Who has an interest in the topic or the target audience?
• What are the existing issues and the missing elements from the current trend?
• What new insights will your research contribute?
• Why is this research worth doing?

See also : Mastering The Art Of Writing A Cancer Biology Research Proposal

Literature review :

A literature review is the crucial part of any research work, and it helps in exploring and familiarizing much about the topic. A strong review convinces the reader and makes the audience understand the importance of the proposed research in biotechnology.

A review must demonstrate precisely how the proposed research will contribute to the technological development in biotechnology

• Compare and contrast the main theories, existing methods and controversies
• Explain the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches?
• Show how your research fits in overcoming the challenges

See also : What is a Literature review; The factors involved and its development

Research design and methods :

The objective of producing the research design and methods is to analyze how the researcher is addressing the research problem, and it is an opportunity to impress the evaluation committee by providing a well-driven research design chosen from an appropriate source. This section of the research proposal should explain the sources and methods to be incorporated in the conduct of research and discuss the specific requirements of the proposed project. In addition, the search strategy used for information gathering and analysis should be clearly explained, and it is advised to restate the main objective of the proposed project to bring back the attention as this avoids diversion. The research design and methods section should clearly describe the approach, and practical steps will be taken to address the research questions.

Research methods should state

• What tools and procedures will be used to conduct an experiment, collect and analyze data?
• Why will the chosen method be the best to answer the research questions?

Make sure not to mention a list of methods instead explain the most appropriate and reliable approach to answering the formulated research questions.

See also : Why Research Proposal Often Gets Rejected? Top 5 Reasons For Writing An Effective Research Proposal For Healthcare Dissertation

While preparing a research budget, the researcher should predict the required fund and add additional fund for unexpected delays and rising costs, and it should be justified. If the proposal is written explicitly for research funding , the researcher must categorize the budget on each part. Pubrica has experts to support in estimating the appropriate fund for any project, and we categorize each segment to determine the exact value.

Make sure to check the type of costs the funding agencies will agree to cover and include relevant items in your budget. For each category, include:

• How much money do you need?
• Why is this fund necessary to complete the research?
• How did you calculate the amount?

To determine your budget, think about:

• Materials cost
• Assistance or support staff required
• Travel costs
• Required timeline

See also : Writing a Research Grant Proposal and a Research Grant Protocol in Medical Research

Appendices:

Appendices are the support document provided for a proposal, and it will be specific for each proposal include supporting documents, questionnaires, and details of measurement tools.

Citation is the process of citing the original research paper in which the idea or methods used for composing a research proposal. And it is mandatory for any scientific research articles.

In summary, a research proposal in biotechnology should communicate the researcher’s knowledge on the project, methods and explain the need for the study. A research proposal has written for multiple reasons as mentioned, and an expert’s support will be an added advantage on any specific purpose as it gives you an edge over other participants. We provide a complete biotechnology research proposal writing service for clients who lacks background knowledge on biotechnology and specified service that you wish to hire an expert.

• K Sudheesh, Devika Rani Duggappa, and SS Nethra, How to write a research proposal? Indian J Anaesth. 2016 Sep; 60(9): 631–634.DOI: 10.4103/0019-5049.190617
• Nte AR, Awi DD, Niger, Research proposal writing: breaking the myth. J Med. 2006 Oct-Dec; 15(4):373-81.
• Labaree RV. Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: Writing a Research Proposal. Available from: http://www.libguides.usc.edu/writingguide
• Guide to ALM thesis. Available from: https://thesis.extension.harvard.edu/

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31 July 2024 Hematology Reports  | Call for Special Issue Proposal

Hematology Reports (ISSN: 2038-8330) is a new open access journal that offers rapid dissemination of innovative, informative, and impactful results on all aspects of the prevention, diagnosis and management of disorders of the blood, as well as blood-related molecular and cell biology, genetics, pathophysiology, epidemiology, and controlled trials. The editorial team of Hematology Reports   is pleased to announce this open call for Special Issue proposals. Special Issues offer a group of authors the possibility to work on an interconnected set of papers on an innovative topic. We would like to solicit high-quality proposals that will be evaluated in a competitive procedure on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Proposed Special Issues should have a well-articulated unifying topic and reflect, at an international level, the best work in a particular research area, either a mature area or an important emerging area, in which future investigations may be boosted by the publication of a set of excellent papers. Hence, an international group of Guest Editors and a few high-quality planned papers are always encouraged in the proposals.

Proposals for Special Issues should be sent by 30 June 2025 to the Editorial Office , who will forward them to the Editors of  Hematology Reports  for evaluation.

Information to be provided in a proposal:

• A 300–500-word summary to explain the significance, novelty, technical advancement, and adherence to the scope of the journal of the proposed topic;
• A few keywords on the topic;
• A plan for obtaining high-quality papers or a list of at least three planned papers;
• A brief resume of the proposed Guest Editors together with their information (title, name, email, affiliation, personal website, keywords of interests);
• A proposed submission deadline (Special Issues normally run for 6–8 months).

Role of Guest Editor(s):

• Once the proposal is accepted, the GE(s) will circulate the Call for Papers for the Special Issue and invite submissions;
• Each submission will undergo a formal peer-review process, after which we will ask the GE, the Editor-in-Chief, or a suitable Editorial Board Member to decide whether the paper is acceptable for publication in  Hematology Reports ;
• If ten or more papers are published in this Special Issue, we can make a Special Issue book and send a hard copy to each Guest Editor.

Role of Editorial Office: The Editorial Office will take care of setting up the Special Issue website, arranging promotional materials, assisting with invitations to contribute papers, and taking care of administrative tasks associated with peer review, including inviting reviewers, collating reports, contacting authors, and professional production before publication.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Editorial Office if you are interested and would like further details and clarifications.

We look forward to receiving your creative proposals  here .

Hematology Reports  Editorial Office

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CMS Releases CY 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule

• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the calendar year (CY) 2025 Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Other Revisions to Medicare Part B (CMS-1807-P) Proposed Rule, which includes proposals related to Medicare physician payment and the Quality Payment Program (QPP).
• The Proposed Rule is open for a 60-day comment period that will close on Sept. 9 2024. The Final Rule with comment is expected to be issued on or before Nov. 1, 2024.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the calendar year (CY) 2025 Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Other Revisions to Medicare Part B (CMS-1807-P) Proposed Rule. This includes proposals related to Medicare physician payment and the Quality Payment Program (QPP). Notably, CMS aims to make permanent some telehealth flexibilities introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency also recognizes the importance of addressing health-related social needs and is requesting information on recently implemented service categories. The rule introduces changes to the valuation of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Preexposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) services. Additionally, CMS has proposed excluding 340B units from Part D inflation rebates and is exploring the concept of a Medicare Part D claims repository to support this exclusion in future years.

The Proposed Rule is open for a 60-day comment period, closing on Sept. 9, 2024. The Final Rule with comment is expected to be issued on or before Nov. 1, 2024.

To learn more about the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule, review the following resources:

• Proposed Regulations
• Press Release
• CY 2025 Quality Payment Program Proposal Fact Sheet
• 2025 Proposed and Modified MVPs Guide

To access specific content in this Holland & Knight alert, use the following links:

Key Proposals of Note

Extended telehealth flexibilities, including frequency limitation suspensions and audio-only communication options, drugs and biological products paid under medicare part b, medicare shared savings program (mssp), mips and mvps, requests for information (rfi).

Notable proposals made by CMS in the rule include:

• addition of a new Hospital Inpatient or Observation (I/O) Evaluation and Management (E/M) add-on for Infectious Diseases
• expanding the definition of "Telecommunications System" to include audio-only services
• relaxing direct supervision requirements for certain provider types and services
• expanding the usability of the add-on code for complexity, G2211, by allowing it to be billed when the underlying E/M service is performed on the same day as an annual wellness visit, vaccine administration or any Medicare Part B preventive service furnished in the office or outpatient setting
• codifying policies established in the revised guidance for the Medicare Part B Drug Inflation Rebate Program and Medicare Part D Drug Inflation Rebate Program
• establishing an APP+ quality measure set
• maintaining the performance threshold at 75 points for the CY 2025 performance period
• maintaining the data completeness threshold at 75 percent through the 2028 performance period
• adding six new Merit Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathways (MVPs) related to ophthalmology, dermatology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, urology and surgical care
• modifying currently finalized MVPs, including the consolidation of two neurology-focused MVPs into a single neurological MVP

Conversion Factor and Specialty Impacts

CMS proposes an MPFS conversion factor (CF) of $32.36 for CY 2025, reflecting a 93-cent (or 2.8 percent) decrease from the current CF of $33.29. This conversion factor accounts for the statutorily required zero percent overall update for CY 2025, which incorporates expiration of the 2.93 percent increase in payment for CY 2024 required by statute and a small estimated 0.05 percent adjustment necessary to account for changes in work relative value units (RVUs) for some services. Table 128 in the Proposed Rule shows the impact by specialty, which varies based on several factors. Notably, the table does not reflect the statutory fix, which expires on Dec. 31, 2024. Thus, the actual impact on specialties would be approximately 2.93 percent lower than what is shown in Table 128. Ultimately, the rule outlines the limitations of the current fee schedule structure. And though Congress has provided temporary partial fixes to physician payment in the last several years, the relief expires at the end of 2024 unless legislation is passed.

Determination of Practice Expense RVUs

CMS did not receive new wage data or other information for use in clinical labor pricing prior to the CY 2025 Proposed Rule and, thus, proposes that CY 2025 clinical labor pricing be based upon CY 2024 pricing finalized in the CY 2024 final rule. However, CMS has incorporated utilization data for two new specialties: Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) and Mental Health Counselor (MHC). CMS is not proposing to use the 2017-based Medicare Economic Index (MEI) for PFS rate setting in CY 2025.

Add-On Codes

In the CY 2024 PFS final rule, CMS finalized the change in status for Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code G2211, or the other outpatient (O/O) E/M visit complexity add-on code, to make it separately payable by assigning an "active" status indicator. This add-on code is billed in addition to the standard codes for office and O/O E/M visits and provides extra payment meant to capture the effort required by clinicians to build a longitudinal relationship with patients. Payment of G2211 was not allowed when reported with the payment modifier "-25," which indicates an independently billable E/M service provided by the same practitioner on the same day as a procedure or other service. Many practitioners expressed to CMS that this prevents the add-on code from being billed for an E/M visit taking place on the same day as a preventive immunization, annual wellness visit (AWV) or other Medicare preventive service. In response to these concerns, CMS proposes to allow payment of G2211 when the O/O E/M base code is reported on the same day and by the same practitioner as any Part B preventative service furnished in the office or outpatient setting beginning CY 2025.

Additionally, CMS proposes to create a new Hospital Inpatient or Observation (I/O) Evaluation and Management (E/M) add-on for Infectious Diseases (HCPCS code GIDXX). The code would describe intensity and complexity inherent to hospital inpatient or observation care associated with a confirmed or suspected infectious disease performed by a physician with specialized training in infectious diseases and would be valued at a work RVU of 0.89. CMS believes that there will be an analogous relationship between G2211 and its common base code of 99213 with the proposed GIDXX and 99223. GIDXX could be billed based on visit level or initial, same-day discharge, or subsequent hospital inpatient or observation codes. Additionally, the code would be separately reportable to 99221-99223 and 99231-99236.

Digital Mental Health Treatment: Introduction of Digital Therapeutics Codes

The CMS is proposing Medicare payments to billing practitioners for digital mental health treatment (DMHT) devices that are essential to professional behavioral health services and used in conjunction with ongoing treatment under a behavioral health treatment plan. CMS is planning to introduce three new HCPCS codes for DMHT devices, inspired by coding for remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) services. Starting in CY 2025, physicians and practitioners authorized to provide mental illness diagnosis and treatment can bill using a new HCPCS code:

• GMBT1.  Supply of digital mental health treatment device and initial education and onboarding, per course of treatment that augments a behavioral therapy plan.

CMS also is proposing two additional new codes:

• GMBT2.  First 20 minutes of monthly treatment management services related to the therapeutic use of the DMHT device, including data review from patient observations and specific inputs, requiring at least one interactive communication with the patient/caregiver each month.
• GMBT3.  Each additional 20 minutes of monthly treatment management services.

CMS is also seeking comments on whether physicians should receive reimbursements for devices not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for mental health treatment, but approved for other uses, and on potential limits on reimbursable devices per month per patient.

CMS is proposing several policy changes that impact coding and payment for the virtual elements of care delivery. Notably, CMS continues to maintain its lack of statutory authority to extend COVID-19 telehealth waivers. Without congressional action, the major Medicare telehealth waivers will expire on Dec. 31, 2024, and return to pre-COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) policies.

Requests to Add Services to the Medicare Telehealth Services List for CY 2025

In the CY 2024 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, CMS changed the process for making additions, deletions and changes to the Medicare Telehealth Services List, replacing the old categorization with a new five-step process (beginning in CY 2025). As part of this change, each telehealth service is assigned either a "permanent" or "provisional" status. A telehealth service receives "provisional" status if there is not enough evidence to demonstrate the clinical benefit of the service but enough evidence that further study may demonstrate such benefit . 

CMS has received several requests to permanently add various services to the Medicare Telehealth Services List effective CY 2025. The requested services are listed in Table 7 of the proposed rule, and the services CMS is proposing to add to the Medicare Telehealth Services List are listed in Table 8. CMS is not making final decisions on recategorizing provisional codes until a comprehensive analysis can be completed.

CMS Discussion on Select Requests

• Continuous Glucose Monitoring (Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code 95251). This is not proposed to be added, as it does not meet the criteria for face-to-face services.
• Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (CPT codes 93797, 93798; 94625, 94626). These codes will remain provisional for CY 2025 pending comprehensive review.
• Psychological and Developmental Testing (CPT codes 96112, 96113, 96130, 96136, 96137). CMS is not proposing any changes to these codes' status.
• General Behavioral Health Integration (CPT code 99484) and Principal Care Management (CPT codes 99424-99427). These are not considered telehealth services and will not be added to the telehealth list.
• Radiation Treatment Management (CPT code 77427). This is proposed to be removed due to safety concerns.
• Home International Normalized Ratio (INR) Monitoring (HCPCS code G0248). This is proposed for provisional addition to the telehealth list.
• Caregiver Training (HCPCS code 97550). This is proposed for provisional addition to allow for further evidence development.
• PrEP of HIV. This is proposed for permanent addition, pending finalization of the National Coverage Determination (NCD).

Direct Supervision Extension and Permanent Definition

During the PHE, CMS amended the definition of "direct supervision" to permit a supervising physician/practitioner to be considered "immediately available" through virtual presence using two-way, real-time audio/visual technology for certain services. CMS originally extended this definition through Dec. 31, 2024, and, in the Proposed Rule, this definition would be extended through Dec. 31, 2025. Although CMS notes that it remains concerned about situations in which complications arise and the true availability for a supervising physician/practitioner to intervene, CMS recognizes the importance of maintaining this flexibility, which increases patient access to care. CMS also proposes to permanently define "direct supervision" that allows "immediate availability" of the supervising physician/practitioner using audio/video real-time communications technology for a subset of incident-to services, which it views as lower risk given that these services are typically performed in their entirety by auxiliary personnel. These services include 1) services furnished incident-to a physician or other practitioner's service when provided by auxiliary personnel employed by the billing practitioner and working under direct supervision and for which the underlying HCPCS code has been assigned a professional component and technical component indicator of "5," and 2) services described by CPT code 99211. For all other services required to be furnished under direct supervision, CMS proposes to continue to define "immediate availability" to include real-time audio and visual interactive telecommunications technology only through Dec. 31, 2025.

Teaching Physician Billing for Services Involving Residents with Virtual Presence

CMS proposes continuing the current policy that allows teaching physicians to virtually supervise services involving residents in all teaching settings, applicable through Dec. 31, 2025, for telehealth services.

Definition of "Telecommunications System"

In response to the PHE, CMS allowed the use of audio-only communications technology to furnish audio-only telephone evaluation and management services, behavioral health counseling and educational services. CMS is now proposing to revise the definition of "interactive telecommunications system" to include two-way, real-time audio-only communication technology for any telehealth service furnished to a beneficiary in their home if the distant site physician or practitioner is technically capable of using an interactive telecommunications system (multimedia communications equipment that includes audio and video equipment permitting two-way, real-time interactive communication), but the patient is not capable of, or does not consent to, the use of video technology. In this proposal, CMS recognizes that broadband access varies for patients and that not all patients want to engage with a practitioner in their home using interactive audio and video.

Frequency Limitations

CMS proposes to remove the frequency limitations for Critical Care Consultation Services HCPCS codes G0508 (requires telehealth consultation, critical care, initial visit; physicians typically spend 60 minutes communicating with the patient and providers via telehealth) and G0509 (telehealth consultation, critical care, subsequent; physicians typically spend 50 minutes communicating with the patient and providers via telehealth) for CY 2025. Additionally, CMS proposes to delay implementation of the telehealth frequency limitations for subsequent nursing facility and inpatient hospital visits for an additional year to include two-way, real-time audio-only communication technology for any telehealth service furnished to a beneficiary in their home and to continue to permit the distant site practitioner to use their currently enrolled practice location instead of their home address when providing telehealth services from their home.

Distant/Originating Site Requirements

CMS noted expiration of certain Medicare telehealth flexibilities related to the COVID-19 PHE, including the removal of statutory geographic and location limitations of most Medicare telehealth services. However, CMS asserts that the beneficiary's home continues to be a permissible originating site for certain types of services, including those furnished for the diagnosis, evaluation or treatment of a mental health disorder, including a Substance Use Disorder (SUD), and for monthly clinical assessments related to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) described in Section 1881(b)(3)(B). Additionally, CMS asserts that the expiration of certain flexibilities for Medicare telehealth services is not expected to impact broader utilization of these services because reasonable and necessary services for the diagnosis or treatment of an illness or injury continue to be covered.

Medicare Telehealth Originating Site Facility Fee

The Medicare telehealth originating site facility fee for telehealth services furnished from Oct. 1, 2001, through Dec. 31, 2002, at $20 specifies that for telehealth services furnished on or after Jan. 1 of each subsequent calendar year, the telehealth originating site facility fee is increased by the percentage increase in the MEI. The proposed MEI increase for CY 2025 is 3.6 percent and is based on the expected historical percentage increase of the 2017-based MEI. For CY 2025, CMS proposes to update the MEI to $31.04 based on historical data through the second quarter of 2024.

Potentially Misvalued Codes

CMS received five public nominations for misvalued codes/code sets. These include:

• CMS concurred, recommends RUC reevaluation
• CMS does not concur, seeks comments and additional studies
• CMS does not concur, seeks comments
• CMS does not concur
• CMS is seeking comment on potentially establishing additional coding and payment for these services

CAR-T Therapy and PrEP Services

The CPT Editorial Panel has introduced four new codes (3X018 to 3X021) for CAR-T therapy services, replacing four previously deleted Category III codes. CMS is proposing to adopt these RVU Update Committee-recommended work RVUs for all four codes. For CPT code 3X021, CMS is proposing to adopt the RVS Update Committee (RUC)-recommended direct practice expense inputs. This proposal aims to accurately value the physician work and practice expenses associated with the various steps of CAR-T therapy, reflecting the complexity and resource requirements of this advanced treatment modality. In 2023, CMS released a Proposed National Coverage Determination (NCD) for PrEP for HIV prevention. This proposal aims to cover and pay for PrEP drugs under the additional preventive services authority. A final decision on this NCD is still pending. For CY 2025, CMS is proposing national rates for several HCPCS codes related to PrEP services, reflecting the costs associated with counseling and drug administration. CMS is seeking feedback from stakeholders on the accuracy of these proposed valuations to establish appropriate reimbursement rates for PrEP-related services and specialized drug administration.

Skin Substitutes

In the CY 2023 PFS proposed rule, CMS outlined several objectives related to refining skin substitute policies under Medicare, including: 1) ensuring a consistent payment approach for skin substitute products across the physician office and hospital outpatient department settings, 2) ensuring that appropriate HCPCS codes describe skin substitute products, 3) using a uniform benefit category across products within the physician office setting, regardless of whether the product is synthetic or comprises human or animal-based material, to incorporate more consistent payment methodologies, and 4) maintaining clarity for interested parties on CMS skin substitutes policies and procedures. In the CY 2023 Final Rule, CMS solicited comments on different approaches CMS could use to identify appropriate practice expense (PE) direct costs for skin substitute products such as reviewing various sources for price information, including performing market research and reviewing invoices submitted by interested parties or cost information on Medicare claims.

CMS is proposing that billing and payment codes that describe products currently referred to as skin substitutes would not be counted for purposes of identifying refundable drugs for calendar quarters in 2025. CMS plans to revisit discarded drug refund obligations for skin substitutes in future rulemaking.

Additionally, CMS is proposing to establish national pricing for HCPCS code G0465 (autologous platelet-rich plasma) for CY 2025, valued at $1.50 based upon the direct PE inputs included with CPT code 15271, with the additional inclusion of the 3C patch system (SD343) supply, priced in CY 2023. CMS specifies that payment includes debridement, which may involve a wound reaching the bone. Therefore, debridement may not be billed separately. In addition, CMS is seeking comments on other available crosswalks from interested parties.

Mandated Manufacturer Refunds for Discarded Amounts of Refundable Drugs

CMS continues to provide operational updates on this policy. Products approved by the FDA after Nov. 15, 2021, are excluded from rebate susceptibility for 18 months from the first Part B sale. CMS proposes clarifying that for products in which the date of CMS-reported first sale does not appropriately identify the first date of payment under Part B due to an NCD, CMS will instead use the actual date on which the drug is first paid under Part B. The rule also proposes to revise the term "single-dose containers" in defining a product that is eligible for this policy. CMS proposes to include products packaged in single-dose or single-use packages, injectable drugs with labeled volume less than or equal to 2 mL, and for drugs contained in ampules with no discard statement in the definition. CMS is also proposing to explicitly require the use of the JW modifier if a drug is discarded during the preparation process in addition to the administration process. If no amount is discarded during preparation, the JZ modifier would be required on the claim. CMS is seeking comments on this proposal. Finally, CMS notes that one application for an increased applicable percentage was submitted for CY 2025. Based on the data submitted, CMS did not propose applying an increased applicable percentage to this product.

Payment Limit Calculation When Manufacturers Report Negative or Zero Average Sales

CMS proposes specifying that negative or zero average sales price data will be classified as "not available" when calculating the payment limit and provides scenarios for products in which this may be the case.

Payment of Radiopharmaceuticals in Physician Offices

CMS proposes codifying in Section 414.904(e)(6) that for radiopharmaceuticals furnished outside hospital outpatient departments, Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) should determine payment limits based on methodologies in place before November 2003.

Immunosuppressive Therapy

CMS proposes modifying regulations to include orally or enterally administered compounded formulations of FDA-approved drugs with approved immunosuppressive indications, or those deemed reasonable and necessary by a MAC for specific immunosuppressive treatments.

Blood Clotting Factors

CMS notes that gene therapies have recently been FDA-approved for hemophilia treatment. CMS proposes updating regulatory text to clarify that blood clotting factors must be self-administered to qualify for the furnishing fee under existing CMS policy.

Prepaid Shared Savings

CMS is proposing to establish a new prepaid shared savings option for qualifying Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), which include those participating in Levels C to E of the BASIC track or the ENHANCED track with consistent demonstration of shared savings. At least 50 percent of the earned shared savings would be required to be spent on direct beneficiary services that have a reasonable expectation of improving or maintaining the health or overall functioning of the beneficiary. Additionally, up to 50 percent can be spent on staffing and infrastructure costs. Applications would be accepted during the annual application cycle, with expectations of a Jan. 1, 2026, start date.

Health Equity Benchmark Adjustment

Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, CMS proposes to adjust an ACO's historical benchmark using the Health Equity Benchmark Adjustment (HEBA), based upon the proportion of assigned beneficiaries enrolled in Part D LIS or dual-eligibility in Medicare and Medicaid. The adjustment would be based on the highest of three values: HEBA, a positive regional adjustment or the prior savings adjustment.

The APP+ quality measure set is proposed to align with the Universal Foundation measure set. As proposed, beginning in performance year 2025, CMS would require MSSP ACOs to report on this measure set. The APP quality measure set would neglect to be an available reporting option. In the time-scaled proposal, the measure set would grow to include 11 measures, including five newly proposed measures and six previously utilized measures. MIPS Clinical Quality Measures (CQMs) would not be an available measure type. CMS expressed its intent to use Medicare CQMs as a transition step to adopt digital quality measurement. The MSSP electronic CQM (eCQM) incentive would be extended for an unspecified number of years but would apply only to APP+ participants that report all eCQMs in the newly proposed measure set and meet all data completeness requirements for those eCQMs.

CMS proposed to adjust the definition of "primary care services" under MSSP. Additions to the definition include Safety Planning Interventions, Post-Discharge Telephonic Follow-up, Virtual Check-in, Advanced Primary Care Management Services, Cardiovascular Risk Assessment, and Management, Interprofessional Consultation, Direct Caregiver Training and Individual Behavior Management Caregiver Training.

Medicare Part B Payment for Preventive Vaccine Administration Services

CMS proposes allow RHCs and FQHCs to bill or Part B preventive vaccines and the administration at the time of service. Furthermore, CMS proposes that payments for these claims will be made according to Part B preventive vaccine payment rates in other settings, to be annually reconciled with the facilities' actual vaccine costs on their cost reports. In acknowledgment of necessary operational changes necessary, CMS proposes that Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) begin billing for preventive vaccines and their administration at the time of service, for dates of service on or after July 1, 2025.

Updates to the Quality Payment Program (QPP)

CMS proposes no changes to the performance threshold, which will be set at 75 points for the 2025 performance year. The threshold allows MIPS-eligible clinicians to receive bonus payments or penalties based on scoring above or below the threshold. Finally, CMS proposes to hold 75 percent data completeness through the 2028 performance year for eCQMs, MIPS CQMs, Medicare CQMs, Medicare Part B claims measures and Qualified Clinical Data Registry measures.

Program Enhancements. CMS proposes updates to drive improvement in clinicians' performance and healthcare quality through payment policy. Six new MVPs are proposed for ophthalmology, dermatology, gastroenterology, urology, pulmonology and surgical care.

Advanced Primary Care Management (APCM). CMS proposes payment for APCM services provided by a physician or qualified healthcare professional responsible for all primary care during a calendar month. This would include a bundle of specific care management and communication technology-based services with a performance measurement requirement, reportable via the Value in Primary Care MVP.

Additionally, CMS proposes modification to currently finalized MVPs, including the consolidation of two currently finalized neurology-focused MVPs into a singular neurological MVP.

MVP Reporting. CMS estimates 80 percent of specialties will have applicable MVPs available. Non-MIPS eligible practitioners would not need to report the MVP to furnish and bill for APCM services.

MVP and Subgroup Reporting. CMS is implementing MVPs and subgroup reporting to allow clinicians to report measures that directly reflect their clinical practice. Though traditional MIPS remains an option, CMS plans to fully adopt MVPs and eventually sunset traditional MIPS.

Low Titer O+ Whole Blood Transfusion Therapy During Ground Ambulance Transport

CMS proposes to expand the ALS2 definition to include low titer O+ whole blood transfusions (WBT), making WBT an ALS2 level skill under the Medicare Ambulance Fee Schedule. The current definition includes the administration of one or more of seven specified advanced interventions.

If the rule is finalized as proposed, the regulation would read as follows:

42 CFR § 414.605, ALS2 means either transportation by ground ambulance vehicle, medically necessary supplies and services, and the administration of at least three medications by intravenous push/bolus or by continuous infusion, excluding crystalloid, hypotonic, isotonic, and hypertonic solutions (Dextrose, Normal Saline, Ringer's Lactate); or transportation, medically necessary supplies and services, and the provision of at least one of the following ALS procedures:

(1) Manual defibrillation/cardioversion.

(2) Endotracheal intubation.

(3) Central venous line.

(4) Cardiac pacing.

(5) Chest decompression.

(6) Surgical airway.

(7) Intraosseous line.

(8) Administration of low titer O+ whole blood transfusion.

Additionally, CMS did not address alternative blood products in the proposed rule. However, CMS is seeking comment on whether it should add the administration of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) or plasma to the list of ALS2 procedures.

According to the proposal, the change would likely go into effect in January 2025.

Medicare Part A and B Payment for Dental Services

CMS has partnered with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in order to conduct a literature review on the potential connection between sickle cell disease and hemophilia and dental services. Additionally, CMS proposes to codify certain policies to permit payment for certain dental services that are inextricably linked to other covered services (certain dental services for patients receiving dialysis services to treat ESRD.

CMS proposes to add an additional clinical scenario to the examples of clinical scenarios under which payment can be made for certain dental services under Section 411.15(i)(3)(i)(A). Specifically, CMS proposes to amend the regulation at paragraph A to include "dental or oral examination performed as part of a comprehensive workup in either the inpatient or outpatient setting prior to Medicare-covered dialysis services when used in the treatment of ESRD; and medically necessary diagnostic and treatment services to eliminate an oral or dental infection prior to, or contemporaneously with Medicare-covered dialysis services when used in the treatment of ESRD." CMS seeks comments on this proposal. Additionally, CMS seeks comments from the public on what dental services are integral to specific covered services to treat diabetes.

Expanding Colorectal Cancer Screening

CMS is updating and expanding colorectal cancer (CRC) screening to advance health equity by addressing health disparities. CMS believes computed tomography colonography (CTC) is reasonable and necessary as a CRC screening test, especially for those preferring a less invasive option than a screening colonoscopy. The goal is for patients and clinicians to make informed choices considering the risks and benefits of each test.

Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program

Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), drug companies must pay inflation rebates if they raise prices for certain Part B and Part D drugs faster than the rate of inflation. CMS states that it is using rulemaking to modify the Inflation Rebate Program in 2025 because the IRA permits implementation of the Medicare Part D Drug Inflation Rebate Program through program instruction or other forms of guidance only through 2024. CMS seeks to establish policies for both Part B and Part D inflation rebates in regulations.

In this rule, CMS proposes to codify policies previously established in guidance for the Medicare Prescription Part B Drug Inflation Rebate Program and Part D Inflation Rebate Revised Guidance . Unless otherwise specified, CMS proposes that the provisions with respect to Part B rebatable drugs would apply for all calendar quarters beginning with Jan. 1, 2023, and, with respect to Part D rebatable drugs, for all applicable periods beginning with Oct. 1, 2022. CMS also proposes new policies.

For Part B Inflation Rebates, CMS proposes:

• It will compare payment amounts in the quarterly pricing files published by the agency to the inflation-adjusted payment amounts for the respective quarters to determine if the criteria for a coinsurance adjustment are met.
• For a Part B rebatable drug first approved or licensed by the FDA on or before Dec. 1, 2020, but first marketed after Dec. 1, 2020, the payment amount benchmark quarter will be the third full calendar quarter after the drug's first marketed date. For a Part B rebatable drug billed under a not otherwise classified (NOC) code during the calendar quarter starting July 1, 2021, or the third full calendar quarter after the drug's first marketed date, whichever is later, the payment amount benchmark quarter will be the third full calendar quarter following the assignment of a billing and payment code other than an NOC code.
• It will exclude 340B units from professional claims with dates of service in 2024 (and 2023) submitted by Medicare suppliers listed by the HRSA 340B Office of Pharmacy Affairs Information System as participating in the 340B Program. This will be done by identifying these suppliers and their claims using National Provider Identifiers and/or Medicare Provider numbers. CMS previously planned to rely on modifiers for 2024 exclusions.
• It will exclude units of refundable single-dose container or single-use package drugs subject to discarded drug refunds from the calculation of rebate amounts, generally during the reconciliation process.
• It will perform one reconciliation of rebate amounts within 12 months of sending Rebate Reports if it identifies any agency errors in calculation or manufacturer misreporting.
• It will enforce civil money penalties on manufacturers that fail to pay rebate amounts equal to 125 percent of the rebate amount.

For Part D Inflation Rebates, CMS proposes:

• For a Part D rebatable drug first approved or licensed by the FDA on or before Oct. 1, 2021, that lacks average manufacturer price (AMP) data reported under Section 1927(b)(3) of the IRA for any quarters between Jan. 1, 2021, and Sept. 30, 2021, it will set the payment amount benchmark period as the first calendar year, starting no earlier than 2021, in which the drug has at least one quarter of AMP reported.
• For a subsequently approved Part D rebatable drug (first approved or licensed after Oct. 1, 2021) without reported AMP data for any quarters in the first calendar year following its first marketed date, the payment amount benchmark period will be the first calendar year in which the drug has at least one quarter of AMP reported. CMS is also seeking comments on alternative policies for cases where AMP data is not reported for certain NDC-9s of a Part D rebatable drug.
• For claims with dates of service on or after Jan. 1, 2026, it will exclude from the total 36 units used to calculate the rebate amount for a Part D rebatable drug those units for which a manufacturer provided a discount under the 340B Program. CMS will determine these units using data reflecting the total number of such units dispensed during the applicable period and may apply adjustments as needed. CMS notes it may apply adjustment(s) to these data as needed and is soliciting comments on alternative policies for collecting and using 340B data to calculate rebate amounts for Part D rebatable drugs.
• It will perform one reconciliation of rebate amounts within 12 months of sending Rebate Reports if CMS identifies any agency errors in calculation or manufacturer misreporting, and a second reconciliation approximately 24 months thereafter.

CMS also notes that if any provision of proposed Part 427 (Part B inflation rebates) or Part 428 (Part D inflation rebates) were to be invalidated, they would be considered severable and the remaining sections would remain valid and enforceable.

Medicare Parts A and B Overpayment Provisions of the Affordable Care Act

CMS has not yet finalized its proposals with respect to overpayments under Medicare Parts A and B in the December 2022 Overpayment Proposed Rule. Instead, after considering the public comments it received in connection with the December 2022 Overpayments Proposed Rule, the agency is retaining the Parts A and B proposals published in the December 2022 Overpayment Proposed Rule and will make additional proposals to revise existing regulations regarding the deadline for reporting and returning overpayments.

CMS now proposes to clarify the circumstances under which the deadline for reporting and returning overpayments will be suspended to allow providers time to investigate and calculate overpayment amounts. Specifically, CMS proposes that the 60-day time frame would be suspended if 1) a person identified an overpayment, but has not yet completed a good-faith investigation to determine the existence of related overpayments, with such suspension lasting the earlier of a) the completion of the good-faith investigation and calculation of related overpayments or b) 180 days after the date on which the initial identified overpayment was identified, and 2) a person has made a submission to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Self-Disclosure Protocol or CMS Voluntary Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol or after requests for an extended repayment schedule as defined under regulation. After the suspension, CMS proposes that the requirement to report and return the overpayment will now be the earlier of 1) 60 days after the conclusion of the good-faith investigation and calculation of the overpayment amount or 2) 180 days from the initial discovery of the overpayment.

CMS provides an example that helps illustrate how these timeframes toll. If a provider identifies an overpayment on day one but has reason to suspect that there may be more affected claims, that provider will now have up to 180 days to conduct and conclude a good-faith investigation to determine the extent of related overpayments. This timeframe may be suspended further subject to voluntary submissions made to OIG or CMS, as set forth above. However, CMS states that if the provider decides not to conduct an investigation, then the overpayment must be reported and returned within 60 days from its initial discovery.

Services for Social Needs

For CY 2025, CMS is launching a comprehensive RFI focused on four recently implemented service categories: Community Health Integration, Principal Illness Navigation, Principal Illness Navigation – Peer Support and Social Determinants of Health Risk Assessment. This RFI aims to gather input from stakeholders on potential policy refinements for these services, which were introduced in the previous year. CMS is seeking input on:

• ways to identify specific services within the scope of the new codes
• potential barriers to access for Medicare beneficiaries
• strategies to improve utilization of these high-value services

Full MVP Adoption

CMS seeks comments on achieving full MVP adoption and subgroup participation, advancing the National Quality Strategy. Feedback is requested on:

• clinician readiness to report MVPs
• ensuring applicable MVPs for all clinicians
• parameters needed for multispecialty groups to report MVPs relevant to their scope of care

Ambulatory Specialty Care with MVP Framework

CMS is soliciting comments on several parameters of a potential model, including considering mandatory participation of relevant specialty care providers to overcome challenges such as selection bias and participant attrition, and to ensure the model is reaching a representative group of providers and beneficiaries to facilitate scaling of the model test. If proposed, a mandatory model would undergo notice and comment rulemaking, with implementation expected no earlier than 2026 to allow adequate preparation time.

Request for Information on Digital Therapies

CMS requests information on the opportunities and challenges related to coverage and payment policies for digital therapies, as well as claims processing of remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) and remote physiologic monitoring (RPM). Specifically, CMS asks for real-life examples of digital therapeutics (DTx) in practice models, the industry's standards for safety and privacy, and whether they could be billed under existing remote therapeutic monitoring codes. CMS asks what aspects of DTx for behavioral health it should consider when evaluating whether to design a new Medicare benefit category.

MSSP: Comment Solicitation on Establishing Higher Risk and Potential Reward Under the ENHANCED Track

CMS is seeking comments on financial arrangements that could allow for higher risk and potential reward under a revised ENHANCED track within the Shared Savings Program, including the designs of and tradeoffs between financial model features. CMS asks:

• How should a revised ENHANCED track with higher risk and potential reward also require additional accountability for quality?
• Should ACOs in this revised track be required to report all payer/all patient quality measures?

Information contained in this alert is for the general education and knowledge of our readers. It is not designed to be, and should not be used as, the sole source of information when analyzing and resolving a legal problem, and it should not be substituted for legal advice, which relies on a specific factual analysis. Moreover, the laws of each jurisdiction are different and are constantly changing. This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. If you have specific questions regarding a particular fact situation, we urge you to consult the authors of this publication, your Holland & Knight representative or other competent legal counsel.

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Cost counseling and stewardship need to be part of medical school curricula

By Henry Bair July 31, 2024

I n my third week as a medical intern, I learned a vital lesson about the realities of everyday medicine that textbooks and professors hadn’t taught me: how profoundly the financial cost of care affects patients.

I was caring for a man admitted to the hospital with uncontrolled atrial fibrillation, an irregular and often rapid heartbeat. After much deliberation, I prescribed a new anticoagulant to prevent the formation of blood clots in his heart, instructed him to continue using his current drugs to keep his heart rate steady, and arranged a much-needed appointment with a primary care provider. It was a rather routine proposal; my patient nodded in understanding as I presented it. Nonetheless, I felt a sense of satisfaction at having developed my first comprehensive discharge plan.

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My complacency evaporated the next day when I called him to follow up and he began to berate me. His pharmacy had told him the medications would cost him more than $400 each month, an amount he couldn’t afford. When I asked my patient how he had been managing his past medications, he revealed that he had, for months, been halving the dose of his antiarrhythmic medicines to extend his prescription and save money. It occurred to me then that this practice had likely led to this recent hospitalization.

I was stunned by how ill-equipped I was to offer even a single piece of advice to help my patient navigate the financial barriers to his health care.

Related: Financial counselors help patients navigate costly care

This is far from a unique story. Across the United States, more than 40% of people have avoided some form of medical care , including medications and diagnostic exams, because of their cost. Not filling prescriptions, skipping doses, or, like my patient, halving pills leads to increased risk of complications and death from diseases . The problem is especially acute for those who are uninsured, live in low-income households, or have chronic illnesses. Some people reduce expenditures on food and household necessities to pay for their medications. Contrary to what many might assume, having health insurance doesn’t solve the problem .

Even though a majority of people want to talk with their doctors about the costs of care, fewer than one-third report ever having done so , citing discomfort or uncertainty with broaching the issue. Many attribute their hesitancy to the perception that physicians are unwilling or unable to help.

They aren’t entirely wrong. Surveys consistently show that physicians aren’t always comfortable having conversations about the cost of care, with explanations including lack of time, unfamiliarity with costs and viable solutions, and a physician culture that de-emphasizes cost considerations. The problem isn’t helped by the finding that most physicians have trouble accurately estimating medical costs, even when they have access to a patient’s insurance plans.

The perplexing terminology of health care costs doesn’t help: cost, charge, and price have definitions that are not only distinct, but may differ depending on whose perspective it is. Charge and price refer to the dollar amount appearing on a medical bill. Cost from the patient’s perspective refers to the dollar amount he or she ultimately pays out-of-pocket. From the clinician’s perspective it refers to the expense of providing a given consultation or medical intervention.

Given the critical importance of cost in patients’ medical decision-making and health outcomes, learning how to lead cost conversations should be an important component of medical training. Though the American Medical Association in 2019 called for medical schools to offer additional instruction on the structure and financing of current health care systems, a conceptual overview of health economics is not enough. What’s more, since then, no comprehensive surveys or studies have examined to what extent medical schools have responded accordingly and incorporated the relevant material into their curricula.

To prevent future physicians from finding themselves in the awkward and embarrassing position I was in with my first patient discharge, medical schools should consider implementing in their preclinical curricula at least two modules on cost stewardship and counseling. These are measurable and assessable skills that regularly come into play in patient care.

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Module 1: Understanding medical costs

The first module would cover how costly and unnecessary tests and treatments affect affordability and health care system sustainability by consuming valuable resources, adding administrative burdens, and raising insurance premiums. To help students gain insight into why these problems exist, this module should discuss how the culture and incentives within health care organizations affect the use of resources and decisions regarding medical costs. It should also cover addressable reasons physicians overorder tests, such as general unawareness of cost, pre-emptive ordering (ordering a test in advance or “just in case” before it’s clear a patient needs it), defensive medicine, and perceived patient expectations.

Students should also be taught how to think critically about the usefulness of standardized quality metrics — including patient outcomes, adherence to clinical guidelines, and patient satisfaction — that evaluate the quality of care provided by health care facilities. These metrics can increase accountability by letting clinicians assess their performance objectively and making health care transparent to both clinicians and the public.

Module 2: Counseling patients about medical costs

The second module would teach students to screen their patients for financial burdens due to medical care using standardized, straightforward questions such as “Some patients find it difficult to afford their medications. Will the cost of this medication be a problem for you?” or “Have you ever skipped medication doses due to cost?” At the same time, students should learn to use empathetic and normalizing responses to reduce patient discomfort.

While the costs of medications, tests, and services have traditionally been difficult for clinicians to ascertain, a growing number of health care facilities, in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, are providing tools to increase price transparency. This module should acquaint students with an understanding of how and where to use these tools at their institutions.

This module would culminate in students learning strategies for reducing drug costs. These include using generic medications, performing medication reviews, emphasizing disease prevention, counseling lower-cost alternative therapeutic options, and advising on copay assistance programs. Students should be introduced to evidence-guided patient communication techniques regarding the risks and benefits of tests and treatments, or of forgoing them. The overarching objective here is for students to learn how to create a cost-conscious care plan through an understanding of a patient’s priorities and resources.

Putting it into practice

Medical schools need not develop these course materials from scratch. The American Board of Internal Medicine’s Choosing Wisely initiative and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Cost Conversation Project offer ample instructional resources that medical schools can adapt.

To be sure, creating and implementing this curriculum will have its challenges. Medical schools already have with packed agendas, leaving little time for students to learn new content and attending physicians to teach it. Notwithstanding the aforementioned available course materials, the intricacies of health care costs and insurance are inherently complex and evolving, and teaching them in an effective and straightforward manner will require a degree of expertise. Strategies to overcome these challenges may lie in creatively incorporating cost counseling into existing didactic activities.

For example, instead of creating entirely new courses, cost stewardship and counseling topics can be introduced into existing courses in pharmacology, clinical decision-making, or ethics. Most schools already use case-based learning and standardized patients (actors who simulate patients) to train students in the practical aspects of patient care by working through real-world clinical scenarios in a controlled, supportive environment. These cases can be expanded to incorporate cost considerations. Instructors can collaborate with other departments such as public health and social work to provide more comprehensive coverage of the material while reducing the teaching load.

Opportunities in cost counseling also abound for students in clinical rotations, and these skills should be embedded into clerkship competencies. For example, students can explore patients’ cost considerations through deeper involvement in discharge planning. Attending physicians can incorporate these topics into teaching rounds and hold periodic sessions to review hospital charges for recently discharged patients with the treatment team. Evaluation can be standardized: the Association of American Medical Colleges provides medical student core competencies in cost conversations in its Core Entrustable Professional Activities guide.

The eventual goal would be to make cost stewardship and counseling as natural and essential as screening and counseling for tobacco and alcohol use, skills that are well-integrated into preclinical and clinical education. Equipping medical students with knowledge in cost stewardship and counseling early on will enable them to apply and refine their learnings in residency and beyond, and moreover prime them to tackle the larger cultural and systemic obstacles at play.

In view of the considerable positive impact of cost counseling on alleviating patients’ cost burdens, strengthening patient trust, and even improving outcomes, medical schools ought to recognize that training students in these competencies is integral to developing better physicians for tomorrow.

Henry Bair, M.D., M.B.A., is a resident physician at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia and a medical educator who has taught courses on patient communication strategies at Stanford University School of Medicine.

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