Technologies for Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities (R41/R42- Clinical Trial Optional)

Background
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its components, including the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), and National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), are issuing a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to engage and support small businesses in providing seed funding for developing technologies, services, and products that aim to improve minority health and reduce health disparities in NIH-designated populations. The mission is to lead scientific research aimed at the development of innovative diagnostics, treatments, and prevention strategies to improve minority health and reduce health disparities in the United States and its territories.

Grant Details
The NOFO invites eligible United States small business concerns (SBCs) to submit Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant applications that propose to develop a product, process or service for commercialization with the aim of improving minority health and/or reducing and ultimately eliminating health disparities in one or more NIH-defined populations that experience health disparities. The technologies, services, and products should be effective, affordable, culturally acceptable, and should focus on various aspects such as disease self-management, patient-healthcare provider communication, care coordination, behavioral interventions, detection and assessment of social and environmental exposures, community-based research engagement, digital health technologies, precision medicine strategies, clinical trials technologies, disaster response technologies, among others. The NOFO also provides specific areas of research interest for each participating organization within NIH.

Eligibility Requirements
Only United States small business concerns (SBCs) are eligible to submit applications for this opportunity. A small business concern is one that is organized for profit with a place of business located in the United States or which makes a significant contribution to the United States economy through payment of taxes or use of American products, materials or labor. The concern must have not more than 500 employees. Additionally, SBCs must meet other regulatory requirements found in 13 C.F.R. Part 121.

Period of Performance
The period of performance will vary depending on the specific project proposed by the applicant but award periods normally may not exceed 1 year for Phase I awards and 2 years for Phase II awards.

Grant Value
The following NIH components intend to commit the following amounts in FY 2025, FY 2026, and FY 2027: NIMHD up to $1,000,000 total costs with 3-4 awards; NIDCR up to $250,000 total costs with 1 award; NCATS up to $1,000,000 total costs with 1-3 awards; NIBIB up to $300,000 total costs with 1 award. Total funding support normally may not exceed $306,872 for Phase I awards and $2,045,816 for Phase II awards.