Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA EB 09 001
Apply for RFA EB 09 001
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Development and Translation of Medical Technologies that Reduce Health Disparities (SBIR R43/R44)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants 93.286 Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health 93.307 Minority Health and Health Disparities Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 16, 2008 and posted on Dec 16, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 7, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,450,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity "Development and Translation of Medical Technologies that Reduce Health Disparities (SBIR R43/R44)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA EB 09 001) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) solicitation focused on pushing practical medical technologies from early development into real-world use, specifically when those technologies can reduce health disparities. The core idea is to support small businesses that are building tools, devices, diagnostics, software, or other medical technologies that measurably improve healthcare access and health outcomes for populations that have historically experienced worse outcomes or reduced access to quality care. The program is not just looking for novel inventions; it is looking for technologies with a clear path to translation, meaning they can realistically be adopted in the settings and communities that need them most.
A key feature of this FOA is the emphasis on technologies that are effective, affordable, culturally acceptable, and deliverable. In practice, that means applicants are expected to design with constraints in mind rather than assuming ideal conditions. Projects should demonstrate that the proposed solution works (or can be shown to work through Phase I and Phase II development), can be produced and deployed at a cost that does not create a new barrier, fits within the cultural and practical realities of the intended users, and can be delivered through real care pathways. The deliverability requirement implicitly points to considerations like usability, training burden, maintenance, supply chains, infrastructure limitations, and compatibility with clinical workflows in resource-limited or underserved environments.
The funding mechanism is SBIR, using the NIH R43/R44 pathways. This includes Phase I awards (generally oriented toward feasibility, proof of concept, and early prototyping), Phase II awards (more advanced R&D, validation, and steps toward commercialization or broader deployment), and Fast Track applications (a combined Phase I/Phase II approach intended to accelerate progress for projects that can justify a seamless transition between phases). Because the mechanism is SBIR, eligibility is limited to small business concerns, and the program is structured around the standard SBIR expectation that federally funded R&D should move toward commercialization and public impact.
Financially, NIH estimated a total of $3.45 million available in fiscal year 2009 to support an anticipated 7 to 12 awards under this announcement, with future funding dependent on annual appropriations. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching funds, which can be significant for early-stage companies that may not have substantial non-dilutive capital available. The activity category is health, and the CFDA numbers listed include 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants), 93.286 (Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health), and 93.307 (Minority Health and Health Disparities Research), reflecting the cross-cutting nature of the topic and its alignment with both technology innovation and disparity-focused research priorities.
From an administrative timeline standpoint, the FOA was posted on December 16, 2008, with an original and current closing date of January 7, 2010, and an archive date of February 7, 2010. That means it was a time-limited solicitation during that period rather than an open-ended, permanently recurring announcement. The sponsoring agency is NIH, and the full announcement was hosted through the NIH grants guide (link provided in the source). For access issues, the contact listed is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster email.
Overall, this FOA is best understood as NIH using the SBIR program to encourage small businesses to build and translate healthcare technologies that do not just advance medicine in general, but specifically close gaps in care and outcomes. Competitive projects under this type of announcement typically make a strong case that the technology addresses a real disparity-driven problem, that the solution is engineered to be adopted in the intended settings, and that the development plan (Phase I to Phase II, or Fast Track) is credible from both a technical and implementation standpoint.
FAQs: Development and Translation of Medical Technologies that Reduce Health Disparities (SBIR R43/R44) - RFA EB 09 001
What is the purpose of this grant opportunity?
This NIH SBIR funding opportunity supports small businesses developing and translating practical medical technologies into real-world use when those technologies can measurably reduce health disparities. The focus is on solutions that improve healthcare access and outcomes for populations that have historically experienced worse outcomes or reduced access to quality care.
Who is the sponsoring agency for this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the funding opportunity name and number?
The opportunity is titled "Development and Translation of Medical Technologies that Reduce Health Disparities (SBIR R43/R44)" and the Funding Opportunity Number is RFA EB 09 001.
What type of funding mechanism is used?
This solicitation uses the NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) mechanism under the R43/R44 pathways.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to small business concerns, consistent with SBIR program requirements.
What types of projects or technologies does NIH want to support under this FOA?
The FOA is focused on medical technologies with a clear path to translation, including tools, devices, diagnostics, software, or other medical technologies. The key requirement is that the technology can measurably improve healthcare access and health outcomes for underserved or disparity-affected populations.
Is this FOA only interested in novel inventions?
No. While innovation can be part of a strong application, the FOA emphasizes translation into real-world use. Projects are expected to show a realistic path to adoption in the settings and communities that need the technology most.
What does "translation" mean in the context of this opportunity?
Translation means the technology can realistically be adopted in real care settings, not just demonstrated in ideal or highly resourced environments. The expectation is practical movement from early development toward broader deployment and public impact.
What design expectations are emphasized for the proposed technologies?
The FOA emphasizes technologies that are effective, affordable, culturally acceptable, and deliverable. Applicants are expected to design with real-world constraints in mind rather than assuming ideal conditions.
What does "deliverable" imply for a technology supported by this FOA?
Deliverability implicitly points to practical implementation considerations such as usability, training burden, maintenance needs, supply chains, infrastructure limitations, and compatibility with clinical workflows in resource-limited or underserved environments.
What SBIR phases are supported under R43/R44?
The FOA supports Phase I awards (feasibility, proof of concept, early prototyping) and Phase II awards (more advanced R&D, validation, and steps toward commercialization or broader deployment). It also supports Fast Track applications that combine Phase I and Phase II for projects that can justify a seamless transition between phases.
What is a Fast Track application in this FOA?
A Fast Track application is a combined Phase I/Phase II approach intended to accelerate progress for projects that can support a continuous development plan from feasibility through more advanced validation and translation activities.
How much total funding did NIH estimate for this FOA?
NIH estimated a total of $3.45 million available in fiscal year 2009 for this announcement.
How many awards did NIH anticipate making?
NIH anticipated making approximately 7 to 12 awards under this announcement.
Is future funding guaranteed beyond the stated fiscal year?
No. The FOA notes that future funding depends on annual appropriations.
Does this opportunity require cost sharing or matching funds?
No. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching funds.
What is the activity category associated with this opportunity?
The activity category listed is health.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this FOA?
The CFDA numbers listed include 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants), 93.286 (Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health), and 93.307 (Minority Health and Health Disparities Research).
When was the FOA posted?
The FOA was posted on December 16, 2008.
What were the closing date and archive date?
The original and current closing date was January 7, 2010, and the archive date was February 7, 2010.
Is this a permanent, ongoing grant program?
No. Based on the provided dates, this was a time-limited solicitation during the stated period rather than an open-ended, permanently recurring announcement.
Where was the full announcement hosted?
The full announcement was hosted through the NIH grants guide (link referenced in the source information).
Who is the listed contact for access issues related to the announcement?
For access issues, the listed contact is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster email.
What kinds of proposals are likely to be competitive under this FOA?
Competitive projects typically make a strong case that: (1) the technology addresses a real disparity-driven problem, (2) the solution is engineered for adoption in the intended settings and communities, and (3) the Phase I to Phase II (or Fast Track) development plan is credible from both a technical and implementation standpoint.
What is the overarching goal of NIH in issuing this SBIR solicitation?
The overarching goal is to use the SBIR program to encourage small businesses to build and translate healthcare technologies that specifically help close gaps in care and outcomes, not just advance medicine in general.
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