NIH Highlighted Topic: Training and Career Development in Dissemination and Implementation Science
Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
Executive Summary:
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research training and career development proposals focused on dissemination and implementation (D&I) science. This highlighted topic supports projects designed to strengthen the biomedical and public health workforce by building expertise in how evidence-based innovations (EBIs) are effectively adopted, integrated, scaled, and sustained across clinical, community, and healthcare settings.
NIH recognizes that many proven healthcare interventions fail to achieve broad real-world impact due to barriers in implementation, adoption, scalability, and sustainability. This initiative seeks to advance D&I science through training programs, career development pathways, methodological innovation, and interdisciplinary research capacity building across a wide range of health specialties and populations.
Companies and organizations developing implementation science platforms, healthcare workforce training technologies, AI-enabled research tools, digital learning systems, clinical analytics platforms, healthcare quality improvement technologies, community engagement systems, or implementation evaluation software may be strong candidates for funding.
Areas of interest include dissemination and implementation frameworks, hybrid effectiveness-implementation trials, community-engaged research, pragmatic clinical trial design, qualitative and mixed methods research, human-centered design, adaptation measurement, implementation analytics, healthcare scalability models, and health disparities reduction strategies. NIH is also encouraging projects focused on implementation science for mental health, substance use, genomics, chronic disease management, HIV care, sensory disorders, neurological disease, and complementary health interventions.
Funding is available through multiple NIH training and career development mechanisms, including Fellowships, Career Development Awards, Institutional Training Grants, and Education Projects, with opportunities for translational and workforce-focused implementation science support depending on project scope and alignment.
This highlighted topic is supported by numerous NIH Institutes and Offices including NIDCD, NCCIH, NHGRI, NIDA, NIDDK, NIMH, NINDS, NINR, NCI, OAR, ODP, and others, all of which are seeking scalable innovations that strengthen dissemination and implementation science capacity, workforce development, and evidence-based healthcare adoption.
How much funding would I receive?
Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.
What could I use the funding for?
Funding may support the research, development, validation, implementation, and commercialization of dissemination and implementation (D&I) science training platforms, workforce development technologies, healthcare adoption systems, and implementation analytics tools.
Eligible activities may include:
Digital training and workforce development platforms for D&I science
AI and machine learning systems for implementation analytics and healthcare adoption
Community-engaged research and stakeholder collaboration technologies
Hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial infrastructure
Human-centered design and healthcare implementation tools
Qualitative and mixed methods research platforms
Clinical decision support and evidence-based practice integration systems
Healthcare scalability, sustainability, and adoption analytics
Research-practice partnership and collaboration platforms
Dissemination strategy development and communication technologies
Implementation outcome measurement and fidelity tracking systems
Health disparities reduction and equitable care implementation tools
Telehealth and digital health implementation research platforms
Genomics, mental health, HIV, neurology, and chronic disease implementation technologies
Healthcare quality improvement and organizational change management systems
Community-based intervention delivery and engagement technologies
Prototype development, pilot implementation studies, and translational research
Commercialization planning, implementation scaling, and dissemination activities
Funding may also support personnel, software engineering, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, healthcare systems integration, implementation research, training curriculum development, data analytics, community engagement, intellectual property protection, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable healthcare, education, or implementation science solution aligned with NIH priorities.
Are there any additional benefits I would receive?
Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:
Government Validation and Credibility:
Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.
What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?
Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.
Where does this funding come from?
Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:
Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.
Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.
Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.
What companies and projects are likely to win?
Projects that demonstrate:
A clear unmet medical or public-health need,
Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,
High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and
Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).
Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.
Are there any restrictions I should know about?
Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.
Foreign entities are not eligible.
Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.
How long will it take me to prepare an application?
For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.
How can BW&CO help?
Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:
Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development
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Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.
