Apply for NCATS Small Business Funding

Next Due Dates 9/7/21 & 1/5/22 for SBIR and STTR

The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) , part of the National Institutes of Health, is improving health through smarter science. NCATS invites small businesses and research organizations involved in commercializing innovative health medical technologies to apply for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)  funding through the following investigator-initiated and targeted grants and contracts. NCATS seeks to increase small business participation in federally supported research and development (R&D), as well as private-sector commercialization of technology developed with federal support. NCATS is also interested in the application of clinical technology, instruments, devices and related methodologies that may have broad application to clinical research and patient care. 

PHS 2021-2022 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH

The 2021-2022 Omnibus Solicitation is open to small business researchers and entrepreneurs working on innovative technologies in translational sciences. Standard deadlines apply. The next due date is September 7, 2021, at 5:00 pm EDT. 

NCATS is particularly interested in 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: 

Please note: NCATS will not accept SBIR/STTR applications that include clinical trials under the current Omnibus Solicitation. Learn more. 

Additional Funding Opportunities 

NCATS has several other targeted funding opportunities available through the SBIR and STTR programs for entrepreneurs aiming to commercialize innovations in translational science. Standard application due dates apply. The next due date is September 7, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Small Business Initiatives for Innovative Diagnostic Technology for Improving Outcomes for Maternal Health Now Available

(NOT-EB-21-001).  Standard due dates apply.

NOTE: For applications submitted to this NOSI that propose clinical trials, NCATS does not support applications proposing any clinical trials in the submitted application. Applicants are encouraged to contact NCATS staff at NCATS-SBIRSTTR@mail.nih.gov  prior to submitting their application in order to ensure it is aligned with NCATS’s SBIR/STTR research interests. 

Basket Clinical Trials of Drugs Targeting Shared Molecular Etiologies in Multiple Rare Diseases

  • SBIR: RFA-TR-21-010  (U44 - Clinical Trial Required) 
  • NOT-TR-21-023 : Notice of Correction to Application  
  • Next Deadline: Sept. 13, 2021 

Non-Viral Technologies for In Vivo Delivery of Genome Editors (clinical trial not allowed)

Development of Highly Innovative Tools and Technology for Analysis of Single Cells (clinical trial not allowed) 

Commercializing Understudied Proteins from the Illuminating the Druggable Genome Project 

SBIR and STTR applicants can apply for Phase I and Phase II funding . SBIR applicants can also now opt to apply for Direct-to-Phase II Funding . This award allows small businesses to submit Direct-to-Phase II SBIR applications if the small business has performed the Phase I stage-type research through other funding sources. The SF424 SBIR/STTR Application Guide  with additional instructions for the SBIR Direct-to-Phase II application preparation and submission is also available.

Why Apply?

  • Funding is stable, predictable and not a loan 
  • Capital is non-dilutive 
  • Small businesses and research organizations retain intellectual property rights 
  • 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 DUNS , Grants.gov , SAM.gov , SBA Company Registry  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, and those eligible to certify as a Minority-Owned Small Business  should obtain certification. 
  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 for consideration successfully.

Questions? NCATS encourages applicants to email 

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

Are you interested in support for your application from the CCTS? Please contact Dr. Tanya Mathew, CCTS Translational Innovation Program.