Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 14 028
Apply for RFA HD 14 028
- The National Institutes of Health in the health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Orthotics for Healthy Development (STTR) (R41)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 25, 2013 and posted on Feb 25, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 31, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Orthotics for Healthy Development (STTR) (R41) funding opportunity (RFA-HD-14-028) was a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I grant initiative released by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Its central goal was to push innovation in pediatric orthotics by supporting early-stage research and development that could lead to better-designed devices for children and youth with disabilities. The emphasis was not on incremental tweaks to existing braces, but on creating and testing novel orthotic concepts that take advantage of how a child s body changes during growth, specifically the plasticity of neuromuscular and skeletal systems. In practical terms, the program was looking for orthotics that could help reduce or prevent musculoskeletal abnormalities over time and measurably improve function, rather than simply providing short-term support.
This FOA targeted orthotics for pediatric populations spanning birth through 21 years of age, reflecting an interest in the full developmental arc from infancy through adolescence and young adulthood. Projects were expected to incorporate state-of-the-art biomechanical modeling and advanced materials, signaling that NICHD wanted applicants to bring modern engineering approaches to a field that has often relied on traditional fabrication methods. That could include computational modeling of gait and joint loading, simulations to predict how an orthosis affects developing bones and soft tissues, and use of newer materials or manufacturing methods that enable lighter weight, improved energy return, better fit, or adaptive and tunable stiffness. The overall intent was to help revolutionize pediatric orthotics by merging clinical needs with cutting-edge design, modeling, and prototyping capabilities.
As an STTR Phase I mechanism, the opportunity was aimed specifically at small businesses and required the STTR style partnership between a small business concern and a nonprofit research institution, supporting feasibility and proof-of-concept work. Phase I typically focuses on demonstrating that an idea is technically viable, that a prototype or early design can be built, and that initial bench, lab, or small-scale user testing can show promise. In the context of this FOA, that meant designing, building, and testing new orthotic devices with credible engineering rationale and early evidence that the approach could improve function or influence musculoskeletal development in a beneficial way for children with disabilities.
Administratively, this was a discretionary grant opportunity under the broad federal category of Health (and related social service areas), listed under CFDA 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research). It did not require cost sharing or matching funds, which generally lowers the barrier for small businesses to participate. The FOA was posted February 25, 2013, with an original and current closing date of July 31, 2013, and it was archived August 31, 2013, meaning it was a time-limited solicitation rather than an always-open program announcement. The estimated total funding amount was $1,500,000, indicating NICHD anticipated supporting multiple Phase I awards depending on budget and application quality.
For applicants and interested parties, the full announcement was hosted through the NIH grants guide (linked in the source data). The contact pathway listed for access or linking issues was the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster, which is typical for technical problems with the posting rather than scientific questions about scope. Overall, the opportunity can be summarized as a focused NIH NICHD investment in early-stage, small-business-led translational engineering to create next-generation pediatric orthotics designed around developmental biomechanics, with the explicit aim of improving long-term musculoskeletal outcomes and functional abilities for children and young people with disabilities.
FAQs: Orthotics for Healthy Development (STTR) (R41) - RFA-HD-14-028
What is the Orthotics for Healthy Development (STTR) (R41) opportunity?
Orthotics for Healthy Development (STTR) (R41), RFA-HD-14-028, was a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I grant initiative released by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). It supported early-stage research and development to create better-designed orthotic devices for children and youth with disabilities.
Which NIH institute released this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity was released by NICHD (the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development), which is part of NIH.
What was the main goal of this FOA?
The central goal was to push innovation in pediatric orthotics by supporting feasibility and proof-of-concept work that could lead to novel devices designed around how a child's body changes during growth, including neuromuscular and skeletal plasticity.
What kinds of orthotic projects were encouraged?
The FOA emphasized creating and testing novel orthotic concepts rather than making incremental tweaks to existing braces. It aimed for devices that could reduce or prevent musculoskeletal abnormalities over time and measurably improve function, not just provide short-term support.
What age range did the FOA focus on?
The targeted pediatric population spanned from birth through 21 years of age, covering infancy, childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood.
What outcomes or impacts was NICHD looking for in proposed orthotics?
The program sought orthotics with the potential to improve function and to beneficially influence musculoskeletal development over time, including reducing or preventing musculoskeletal abnormalities.
Did the FOA expect applicants to use specific technical approaches?
Yes. Projects were expected to incorporate state-of-the-art biomechanical modeling and advanced materials, reflecting an interest in modern engineering approaches to orthotic design, testing, and prototyping.
What are examples of "state-of-the-art biomechanical modeling" mentioned in the FOA description?
Examples included computational modeling of gait and joint loading, simulations predicting how an orthosis affects developing bones and soft tissues, and other modeling approaches that provide a credible engineering rationale for design decisions.
What kinds of materials or fabrication advances were relevant to this opportunity?
The FOA highlighted the use of newer materials or manufacturing methods that could enable lighter weight devices, improved energy return, better fit, or adaptive and tunable stiffness.
What funding mechanism was used?
This opportunity used the NIH STTR Phase I mechanism, identified as R41.
Who was the intended applicant type?
The opportunity was aimed at small businesses and required an STTR-style partnership between a small business concern and a nonprofit research institution.
What does STTR Phase I typically support in this context?
STTR Phase I typically supports feasibility and proof-of-concept work. In this FOA's context, that meant designing, building, and testing new orthotic devices with credible engineering rationale and early evidence (for example, bench, lab, or small-scale user testing) that the approach could improve function or influence musculoskeletal development in a beneficial way.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching funds.
What federal program category and CFDA number applied to this opportunity?
It was a discretionary grant opportunity under the broad federal category of Health (and related social service areas) and was listed under CFDA 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research).
What were the key dates for this FOA?
The FOA was posted on February 25, 2013. The original and current closing date was July 31, 2013. It was archived on August 31, 2013, indicating it was time-limited rather than always open.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. Based on the provided information, it had a closing date of July 31, 2013 and was archived on August 31, 2013.
How much funding was estimated to be available?
The estimated total funding amount was $1,500,000, suggesting NICHD anticipated supporting multiple Phase I awards depending on budget and application quality.
Where was the full announcement hosted?
The full announcement was hosted through the NIH grants guide (as referenced in the source data).
Who was listed as the contact for access or linking issues?
The contact pathway listed for technical access or linking issues was the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster.
What was the overall intent of the program in plain terms?
The overall intent was to help revolutionize pediatric orthotics by merging clinical needs with cutting-edge design, modeling, and prototyping capabilities, with a focus on long-term developmental biomechanics and improved functional outcomes for children and young people with disabilities.
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