NIH, CDC and FDA Small Business Innovation Research Grant (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Optional) - PA-27-100

Executive Summary:

The NIH, CDC, and FDA jointly award up to $2.1 million per company through the SBIR Program (NIH additionally runs the parallel STTR Program) to support U.S. small businesses developing innovative health, biomedical, and life science technologies. Companies can apply for Phase I (proof-of-concept), Phase II (R&D and commercialization), Fast-Track, Phase IIB (follow-on), or the Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) for late-stage commercialization support. Applications are due January 5, April 5, and September 5 each year, with funding typically beginning 9 months after submission. Companies should begin preparing applications at least 12 weeks before a due date to complete required federal registrations.

Note: CDC does not accept STTR, Fast-Track, Direct-to-Phase II, Phase IIB, or CRP applications. FDA does not participate in STTR at all and does not accept Fast-Track, Direct-to-Phase II, Phase IIB, CRP, or clinical trial applications through either program.

How much funding would I receive?

Standard guidelines provide up to $323,090 for Phase I (typically 1–2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II (typically 2–3 years). Many NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) have approval to exceed these caps for specific research priorities. For example:

  • NIA allows up to $700,000 (Phase I) and $3 million (Phase II) for Alzheimer's disease and AD-related dementia (AD/ADRD) projects, and up to $500,000/$2.5 million for other projects in its mission space.

  • NIGMS allows Phase IIB budgets up to $3 million, or $4 million for Strategic Breakthrough awards involving clinical trials.

  • NCI supports CRP projects (including clinical trials and validation studies) up to the SBA statutory maximum of $4,191,495, plus up to $500,000 for technical assistance.

  • NIEHS caps its Superfund Research Program topics at $200,000 (Phase I) / $1.25 million (Phase II) / $300,000 (CRP), and its Worker Training Program topics at $100,000 (Phase I only).

Fast-Track and Phase IIB options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II, though acceptance of Phase IIB and CRP applications varies by Institute or Center (see below).

What could I use the funding for?

Funds support research and development toward a commercially viable product or service aligned with the mission of a specific NIH Institute or Center, CDC program, or FDA center. Eligible costs include personnel, materials, prototypes, testing, IP protection, and other R&D expenses. Phase II, Phase IIB, and CRP funds may also cover scale-up, clinical validation, regulatory preparation (including IND/IDE-enabling studies), and commercialization activities.

Does NIH SBIR/STTR fund clinical trials?

It depends on the Institute or Center. Most ICs with a direct clinical mission (NCI, NHLBI, NIA, NICHD, NIDA, NIMH, NINDS, NIMHD, NIDDK, and others) accept clinical trials through their SBIR and/or STTR programs, and several (NCI, NHLBI, NIA, NICHD, NIGMS, NIMH, NINDS, NIMHD) accept them through Phase IIB as well. A smaller number of ICs, including NIAMS, NIDCR, and NIBIB (limited to early-stage, feasibility-only trials), do not accept clinical trials or restrict them significantly. CDC accepts clinical trials through its SBIR program; FDA does not accept clinical trials through either program. Applicants planning human subjects research, including IDE- or IND-enabling studies, should confirm their target IC's specific policy and connect with program staff before submission, since sequencing (e.g., IDE/IRB timing relative to Phase I/II milestones) varies significantly by IC.

What is the Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP)?

CRP is a late-stage, milestone-driven award intended for companies that are close to market and need targeted, non-dilutive funding to complete specific commercialization steps, such as clinical trials, manufacturing scale-up, or regulatory submissions. Most (but not all) NIH ICs participate; CDC and FDA do not. Where offered, CRP budgets and eligible use cases vary considerably by IC, as shown above.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the award itself, recipients gain:

  • Government validation and credibility that builds investor and partner confidence.

  • Enhanced visibility through NIH and HHS award announcements.

  • Access to the federal innovation ecosystem, including potential collaboration with NIH labs and federal health programs.

  • Stronger commercial and exit potential, since non-dilutive funding matures technology, de-risks commercialization, and increases attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): August 05, 2026.

Application Deadlines (all due by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization):

  • September 05, 2026

  • January 05, 2027

  • April 05, 2027

For the September 05, 2026 submission cycle:

  • Scientific Merit Review: November 2026

  • Advisory Council Review: January 2027

  • Earliest Start Date: April 2027

For the January 05, 2027 submission cycle:

  • Scientific Merit Review: March 2027

  • Advisory Council Review: May 2027

  • Earliest Start Date: July 2027

For the April 05, 2027 submission cycle:

  • Scientific Merit Review: July 2027

  • Advisory Council Review: August 2027

  • Earliest Start Date: December 2027

The first application deadline is September 05, 2026 by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. No late applications will be accepted.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through participating organizations including:

  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The SBIR program is a congressionally mandated program that supports commercialization of innovative technologies developed by U.S. small businesses. NIH, CDC, and FDA set aside a portion of their extramural research budgets to fund SBIR awards.

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?

The NOFO states that reviewers evaluate applications based on:

  • Significance

  • Investigator(s)

  • Innovation

  • Approach

  • Environment

Strong applications are likely to:

  • Address an important unmet health, scientific, or public health need

  • Demonstrate strong scientific and technical merit

  • Present a compelling commercialization opportunity

  • Show a clear path toward product development and market adoption

  • Align closely with the mission and priorities of the target NIH Institute, CDC Center, or FDA Center

  • Be led by a qualified team with the expertise needed to execute the proposed work

For Phase II and Fast-Track applications, commercialization potential and market opportunity are specifically evaluated.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

  • Only U.S. small businesses are eligible.

  • Foreign organizations are not eligible.

  • Applications involving foreign subawards or subcontracts will not be considered for funding.

  • Clinical trials are not accepted by certain participating Institutes and Centers, including NIAMS, NIDCR, NCATS, ORIP, and all participating FDA Centers under this NOFO.

  • Cost sharing is not required.

  • Companies must satisfy applicable SBA performance benchmark requirements.

  • Duplicate or highly overlapping applications are not permitted.

  • Phase I projects generally require at least 67% of research effort to be performed by the small business.

  • Phase II projects generally require at least 50% of research effort to be performed by the small business.

Additional national security, foreign relationship, and foreign ownership restrictions apply and may result in denial of award.

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.

  • Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations.

  • Identify the right IC and mechanism (Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track, Phase IIB, or CRP) for your project's stage and clinical trial needs, and position your company for long-term growth.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.



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