Apply for NCATS SBIR and STTR Funding Through the 2018 Omnibus Solicitation

TheNational Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)is offeringSmall Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)funding through the 2018Omnibus Solicitation. NCATS invites representatives of small businesses and research organizations focused on commercializing innovative medical technologies to submit applications byJan. 7, 2019.

• SBIR: PA-18-574
• STTR: PA-18-575

NCATS encourages applications that address research areas relevant to any stage of translation, from target validation through pre-clinical and clinical evaluation, to intervention implementation and dissemination, including:

• Drug Discovery and Development
• Biomedical, Clinical and Health Research Informatics
• Clinical, Dissemination and Implementation Research

The deadline to apply is Jan. 7, 2019, 5:00 p.m. local time.

SBIR and STTR applicants can apply for Phase I and Phase II funding, and SBIR applicants can also now opt to apply for Direct-to-Phase II Funding. This award allows small business concerns to submit Direct-to-Phase II SBIR applications if the small business had performed the Phase I stage-type research through other funding sources. An updated SBIR/STTR Application Guide with additional instructions for the newly reinstated SBIR Direct Phase II application preparation and submission will be posted by Nov. 26, 2018.

Benefits of SBIR and STTR Funding:

• Funding is stable, predictable and not a loan
• Capital is non-dilutive
• Small businesses and research organizations retain intellectual property rights
• SBIR and STTR grants confer eligibility to use other NIH and NCATS support programs and resources
• NIH's rigorous peer-review provides recognition, validation and visibility to early-stage companies
• Prestige associated with these awards can help attract more funding or other support (e.g., venture capital, strategic partners)

Tips for Applying:

1. Clear all administrative requirements: Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements and must complete all required registrations prior to submission. Register your small business with Grants.gov, SAM.gov, and the NIH eRA Commons as soon as possible. Principal Investigators must also individually register with NIH eRA Commons. Those eligible to certify as a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)should obtain the WOSB designation.
2. Build and submit a strong application: Follow the SBIR/STTR Application Guide to ensure proper grant application content and format. You can also find examples of successful applications on a variety of topics on the NIH website.
3. Submit before the deadline: Completing all the required steps can take a month or two, so don't wait until the last minute: Plan ahead to help ensure your application moves forward successfully.

NCATS-SBIRSTTR@mail.nih.govto discuss potential project ideas and related questions.