Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 17 011
Apply for RFA DA 17 011
- The HHS-NIH11 in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Improved Technologies and Ligands for Non-invasive Brain Imaging (R43/R44)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279,.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 12, 2016 and posted on Apr 12, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 17, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Improved Technologies and Ligands for Non-invasive Brain Imaging (R43/R44)" is a U.S. government Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding announcement from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It is identified by the funding opportunity number RFA-DA-17-011 and was posted on April 12, 2016, with an application closing date of August 17, 2016. The opportunity is offered as a discretionary grant and is limited to eligible small business applicants, aligning with the SBIR program's purpose of supporting early-stage, commercially relevant R&D led by U.S. small companies.
The focus of the announcement is on advancing non-invasive brain imaging by supporting the development of improved imaging technologies and better ligands used in brain imaging. In practical terms, this includes innovations that help researchers and clinicians visualize brain structure, chemistry, and function more effectively without invasive procedures. A central emphasis is placed on approaches that can be used in human participants, which signals a strong interest in translation beyond bench research into tools that can work in real-world clinical or human research settings.
Scientifically, the FOA highlights two major application areas: substance use disorders (SUD) and HIV/AIDS. The intent is to improve how brain imaging can be used to investigate brain function relevant to these conditions and to enhance diagnosis and treatment. For SUD, better imaging tools and ligands can support more accurate measurement of neural circuits involved in craving, reward, stress, and relapse, and can help evaluate whether treatments are engaging the intended brain targets. For HIV/AIDS, the announcement reflects the need to better understand and detect brain-related complications, including neurocognitive impacts and other central nervous system effects that can occur even with treatment. Improved imaging could help characterize disease mechanisms, monitor progression, and assess responses to interventions.
Because the funding mechanism is R43/R44, it follows the typical SBIR phased structure. The R43 phase is generally used to establish feasibility and generate early proof-of-concept results, while the R44 phase supports more advanced development, refinement, and steps toward a robust product or platform. Taken together, the structure suggests NIH is looking for projects that start with a clear technical innovation and have a credible path toward a usable imaging technology, ligand, or enabling tool that could ultimately benefit researchers, clinicians, and patients.
Administratively, the announcement is categorized under Education and Health funding activity areas and is associated with CFDA numbers 93.279 (and also listed alongside 93). While the source excerpt does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, the overall scope is clearly oriented toward stimulating small business-led innovation that advances the state of the art in non-invasive brain imaging, particularly where improvements can meaningfully move the needle for understanding, diagnosing, or treating SUD and HIV/AIDS in humans.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Improved Technologies and Ligands for Non-invasive Brain Imaging (R43/R44)."
Which agency is offering this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. government funding announcement from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
What type of program is this grant under?
This funding opportunity is offered under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.
What is the funding opportunity number (FOA number)?
The funding opportunity number is RFA-DA-17-011.
When was the opportunity posted?
The announcement was posted on April 12, 2016.
What is the application closing date?
The application closing date is August 17, 2016.
What kind of award is this (grant type)?
The opportunity is offered as a discretionary grant.
Who is eligible to apply?
The opportunity is limited to eligible small business applicants, consistent with the SBIR program's focus on U.S. small companies leading early-stage, commercially relevant research and development.
What is the overall goal of this SBIR announcement?
The goal is to advance non-invasive brain imaging by supporting development of improved imaging technologies and improved ligands used in brain imaging.
What does "non-invasive brain imaging" mean in the context of this opportunity?
In this context, it refers to innovations that help researchers and clinicians visualize brain structure, chemistry, and function more effectively without invasive procedures.
What kinds of projects are encouraged (technologies vs. ligands)?
The FOA emphasizes two broad categories: (1) improved imaging technologies and (2) better ligands used in brain imaging, with the aim of enabling more effective human brain imaging.
Is there an emphasis on human use or clinical translation?
Yes. A central emphasis is placed on approaches that can be used in human participants, indicating strong interest in translation beyond bench research into tools that can work in real-world clinical or human research settings.
What scientific areas does the FOA highlight?
The FOA highlights two major application areas: substance use disorders (SUD) and HIV/AIDS.
How is this opportunity relevant to substance use disorders (SUD)?
Improved imaging tools and ligands can help measure neural circuits involved in craving, reward, stress, and relapse, and can also help evaluate whether treatments are engaging intended brain targets.
How is this opportunity relevant to HIV/AIDS?
The FOA emphasizes improving understanding and detection of brain-related complications of HIV/AIDS, including neurocognitive impacts and other central nervous system effects that can occur even with treatment. Improved imaging could help characterize mechanisms, monitor progression, and assess responses to interventions.
What do R43 and R44 mean?
R43 and R44 refer to the typical SBIR phased structure. The R43 phase is generally used to establish feasibility and generate early proof-of-concept results, while the R44 phase supports more advanced development, refinement, and steps toward a robust product or platform.
What kind of project maturity does NIH appear to be looking for?
The phased structure suggests interest in projects that begin with a clear technical innovation and present a credible path toward a usable imaging technology, ligand, or enabling tool that can ultimately benefit researchers, clinicians, and patients.
What are the funding activity areas associated with this announcement?
The announcement is categorized under Education and Health funding activity areas.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 93.279 (and it is also listed alongside 93).
Does the provided information include an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The provided excerpt does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
What is the intended impact of the funded work?
The scope is oriented toward stimulating small business-led innovation that improves the state of the art in non-invasive brain imaging, especially where improvements can meaningfully advance research and clinical understanding, diagnosis, or treatment for SUD and HIV/AIDS in humans.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education, Health
Next opportunity: Next Generation Energy Technologies for Connected and Auotmated On-Road Vehicles (NEXTCAR)
Previous opportunity: Strategies for the Improvement of HIV Envelope Protein Expression and Yield (R41/R42)
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RFA DA 17 011
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA DA 17 011) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Improved Technologies and Ligands for Non-invasive Brain Imaging (R41/R42) Apply for RFA DA 17 010 Funding Number: RFA DA 17 010 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Paul Calabresi Career Development Award for Clinical Oncology (K12) Apply for PAR 16 189 Funding Number: PAR 16 189 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Tools for Cell Line Identification (R43/R44) Apply for PA 16 186 Funding Number: PA 16 186 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Laboratory and Diagnostic Tools to Advance Microbiome-Brain Research (R43/R44) Apply for RFA DA 17 017 Funding Number: RFA DA 17 017 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Laboratory and Diagnostic Tools to Advance Microbiome-Brain Research (R41) Apply for RFA DA 17 016 Funding Number: RFA DA 17 016 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Improving Smoking Cessation in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Populations via Scalable Interventions (R01) Apply for PAR 16 202 Funding Number: PAR 16 202 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Improving Smoking Cessation in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Populations via Scalable Interventions (R21) Apply for PAR 16 201 Funding Number: PAR 16 201 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Growing Great Ideas: Research Education Course in Product Development and Entrepreneurship for Life Science Researchers (R25) Apply for RFA DA 17 007 Funding Number: RFA DA 17 007 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| NLM Career Development Award in Biomedical Informatics and Data Science (K01) Apply for PAR 16 204 Funding Number: PAR 16 204 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Leveraging Cognitive Neuroscience to Improve Assessment of Cancer Treatment-Related Cognitive Impairment (R21) Apply for PAR 16 213 Funding Number: PAR 16 213 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Leveraging Cognitive Neuroscience Research to Improve Assessment of Cancer Treatment Related Cognitive Impairment (R01) Apply for PAR 16 212 Funding Number: PAR 16 212 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Extracellular Vesicle Tools, Technologies, and Products for Neuroscience Research (R43/R44) Apply for RFA DA 17 009 Funding Number: RFA DA 17 009 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Extracellular Vesicle Tools, Technologies, and Products for Neuroscience Research (R41/R42) Apply for RFA DA 17 008 Funding Number: RFA DA 17 008 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Research Answers to NCIs Pediatric Provocative Questions (R21) Apply for PAR 16 217 Funding Number: PAR 16 217 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Research Answers to NCIs Pediatric Provocative Questions (R01) Apply for PAR 16 218 Funding Number: PAR 16 218 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Health Services Research on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R21) Apply for PAR 16 222 Funding Number: PAR 16 222 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Health Services Research on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01) Apply for PAR 16 221 Funding Number: PAR 16 221 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| The Role of Mobile Genetic Elements in Cancer (R21) Apply for PAR 16 226 Funding Number: PAR 16 226 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| NIDA Research Education Program for Clinical Researchers and Clinicians (R25) Apply for PAR 16 224 Funding Number: PAR 16 224 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| The Role of Mobile Genetic Elements in Cancer (R01) Apply for PAR 16 227 Funding Number: PAR 16 227 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants

Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RFA DA 17 011", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.
