NIH Highlighted Topic: Research on the Transition from Pediatric to Adult Health Care
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 seeking innovative research proposals through the SBIR Program focused on improving the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN). NIH is particularly interested in technologies, interventions, and care models that improve health outcomes, continuity of care, patient engagement, and long-term well-being for adolescents and young adults managing chronic medical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions.
As advances in medicine continue to improve survival rates for childhood-onset conditions, increasing numbers of youth require complex transitions into adult healthcare systems. However, significant gaps remain in transition planning, evidence-based interventions, care coordination, and outcome measurement. NIH is encouraging projects that develop scalable, patient-centered, and real-world approaches to healthcare transition (HCT) that improve measurable health and quality-of-life outcomes. Companies developing digital health platforms, care coordination technologies, AI-enabled analytics tools, behavioral health solutions, patient engagement systems, remote monitoring technologies, or community-based care models may be strong candidates for funding.
NIH is especially interested in projects focused on meaningful health outcome measurement, transition intervention design, patient and caregiver engagement, implementation science, behavioral health, chronic disease management, healthcare accessibility, and multidisciplinary care coordination. Research incorporating lived experiences, community engagement, innovative trial designs, and whole-person care approaches is strongly encouraged.
Through the NIH SBIR Program, U.S. small businesses may apply for up to $323,090 in Phase I funding and up to $2,153,927 in Phase II funding to support research, development, validation, and commercialization activities. Applications are accepted on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th annually, with funding typically beginning approximately 9 months after submission.
This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and other participating NIH offices, all of which may give special consideration to high-impact applications advancing pediatric transition care, chronic disease management, behavioral health, and integrated healthcare delivery systems.
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, and commercialization of technologies and healthcare solutions designed to improve transitions from pediatric to adult healthcare systems for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN).
Eligible activities may include:
Digital health platforms supporting healthcare transition planning, coordination, and patient engagement
AI and machine learning tools analyzing transition outcomes, risk factors, or care gaps
Development and validation of meaningful healthcare transition outcome measures
Care navigation systems and patient support technologies for chronic disease management
Behavioral health and mental health transition interventions for adolescents and emerging adults
Community-based and school-based healthcare transition models
Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions supporting continuity of care
Family-centered and caregiver-engaged healthcare transition interventions
Technologies improving medication adherence, self-efficacy, and treatment continuity
Healthcare transition solutions for conditions such as congenital heart disease, asthma, sickle cell disease, hemophilia, diabetes, mental illness, autism spectrum disorders, substance use disorders, and developmental disabilities
Research-informed interventions supporting youth recovery services and overdose prevention
Innovative clinical trial methods, synthetic control arms, and in silico healthcare transition studies
Data collection systems and patient-reported outcome tools for transition research
Implementation science and real-world healthcare integration strategies
Validation studies, translational research, prototype development, and regulatory preparation activities
Commercialization planning and scale-up activities for healthcare transition technologies and care delivery systems
Funding may also support personnel, software development, clinical data analysis, prototype fabrication, patient engagement infrastructure, intellectual property protection, commercialization strategy development, and other research and development activities necessary to advance a commercially viable 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:
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