Technologies for Healthy Independent Living (SBIR/STTR)

Technologies for Healthy Independent Living (SBIR/STTR) is sponsored by National Institutes of Health (NIH) - National Institute on Aging (NIA). Supports small businesses and research institutions developing assistive technologies, home monitoring systems, and health management tools for aging populations.

National Institute on Aging (NIA) | Grants & Funding U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health National Institute on Aging (NIA) ICO Funding Policies and Considerations Additional Information by Funding Category The National Institute on Aging (NIA) conducts and supports research to understand the nature of aging and extend healthy, active years of life.

NIA supports genetic, biological, clinical, behavioral, social, and economic research on aging and geroscience, with significant investment in Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (AD/ADRD). Advance scientific knowledge of aging mechanisms to promote healthy longevity. Expand understanding of aging across the life course at the biological, clinical, behavioral, and societal levels.

Advance Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) research on disease mechanisms, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care. Translate discoveries into strategies to prevent, treat, and reduce the burden of age-related diseases and conditions. Support innovation through interdisciplinary and translational science.

Promote generalizable and verifiable research and open science principles. Strengthen the aging and AD/ADRD research workforce. Support research to inform evidence-based policies and practices to improve public health.

Investigate cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms underlying aging and longevity. Clarify how aging biology influences the prevention, progression, and outcomes of disease and decline of function. Deepen knowledge of social, behavioral, environmental, and economic processes influencing aging and resilience.

Support translational and clinical studies to advance prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of AD/ADRD. Advance knowledge of the aging brain, age-related cognitive change, and neurodegenerative diseases including AD/ADRD. Develop interventions that improve the health, well-being, and independence of adults as they age.

Develop strategies to improve healthcare delivery in aging populations. Foster career development, training and mentoring across career stages. Develop small business innovations and commercialization of therapeutics, diagnostics, devices, and digital health solutions that enhance the health, care, and well-being of older adults.

Assistance listings are detailed public descriptions of federal programs used across government agencies that provide grants, loans, scholarships, insurance, and other types of assistance awards. They are maintained in the System for Award Management (SAM) and can be used to search for opportunities in Grants. gov .

View NIA Assistance Listing Numbers Highlighted Topics identify timely or emerging research priorities across one or more NIH Institutes, Centers, or Offices (ICOs). Use Parent Announcements or other broad NIH opportunities to submit investigator-initiated applications on a topic. While Highlighted Topics do not affect referral or review, some include dedicated funding.

See the Highlighted Topic FAQs NIA Grant Funding Opportunity Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts ICO Funding Policies and Considerations Visit NIH Fiscal Policies for NIH-wide information on appropriations and other budgetary information (salary limits, stipends, tuition/fees) and Funding Decisions to learn about NIH's consistent and unified approach for making funding decisions.

NIA Funding Policies and Considerations builds on that general information. Additional Information by Funding Category Administrative Supplements In addition to our Administrative Supplements overview, consider the following NIA-specific information.

Administrative Supplement Interest Areas: NIA will accept for consideration supplement applications that include: Aging, AD/ADRD, and HIV research: Ethical and responsible research practices Bridge awards to maintain continuity of core activities and research team during a gap in funding Research continuity of mentored K awardees or first-time recipients of research project grants due to critical life events Childcare costs for NRSA Individual Fellowships, Institutional Training grants (T32 only) and F99 recipients Collectively, supplements preserve momentum, maximize prior investment, and support a resilient aging research enterprise.

Supplements are not appropriate when there is a large (>50%) Unobligated Balance. Administrative Supplement Due Dates: Requests for non-training awards should be submitted by July 1st to be considered for funding in the current fiscal year. Training Supplements requests seeking consideration before September 30 should be received by May 1.

Requests received after May 1 generally will be considered for funding after October 1, pending approval of the NIH budget. Administrative Supplement Contact: To discuss unforeseen circumstances and whether an administrative supplement is appropriate contact the grants management and program officials listed on the parent grant Notice of Award .

When contacting NIA for guidance on training-related supplements, please include [email protected] on all correspondence. In addition to our Conferences and Meetings overview, consider the following NIA-specific information. Conferences and Meetings Interest Areas: NIA supports scientific meetings that advance research on aging and the health and well-being of older adults.

NIA prioritizes conferences that focus on: Fundamental biology of aging and geroscience Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) biology and pathogenesis Translational (preclinical and clinical) and population aging and AD/ADRD research Data science and innovative methodological advances Social, behavioral, psychological, and economic research on aging and AD/ADRD Health systems research on access, cost, and quality for older adults Neuroscience or basic biology meetings without a clear aging or AD link Basic biology meetings not framed in aging context Advocacy or policy meetings without scientific framework Small, local institutional retreats Applicants who anticipate the need for substantial involvement from NIA staff are strongly encouraged to contact NIA prior to submission.

Conferences and Meetings Budget Considerations: NIA may support scientific meetings for up to 5 years, provided they align with the NIA mission. NIA typically supports budget requests under $50,000 per year in direct costs. Applications requesting more than $50,000 in direct costs per year require a separate internal review, which may delay award.

Applicants should plan accordingly and are encouraged to consult with NIA staff in advance. Conferences and Meetings Key Date Considerations: Applications must be submitted at least 6 months before the conference/meeting date(s) to allow sufficient time for review and award processing.

Conferences and Meetings Contacts: For Scientific/Research Contact(s) : [email protected] Please include the NOFO number, formatted with hyphens, in the email subject line to ensure the message is routed to the appropriate contact. For Financial/Grants Management Contact(s) : [email protected] Please include the NOFO number, formatted with hyphens, in the email subject line to ensure the message is routed to the appropriate contact.

Individual Career Development In addition to our Individual Career Development , consider the following NIA-specific information. Individual Career Development Interest Areas: NIA is interested in applications that are consistent with its mission and current research priorities. Examples include but are not limited to: Investigating cellular, molecular, genetic, social, and behavioral mechanisms underlying aging and longevity.

Expanding understanding of aging across the life course at the biological, clinical, behavioral, and societal levels, including social, environmental, and economic processes influencing aging and resilience. Advancing knowledge of the aging brain, age-related cognitive change, and neurodegenerative diseases, including AD/ADRD disease mechanisms, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care.

Translating discoveries into strategies and interventions that prevent, treat, and reduce the burden of age-related diseases and conditions, and improve the health, well-being, and independence of adults as they age. Developing strategies to improve healthcare delivery in aging populations.

NIA participates in the following programs: Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01) Research Scientist Development Award - Research (K02) Academic/Teacher Award (ATA) (K07) Clinical Investigator Award (K08) Career Transition Award (K22) Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24) Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award (K25) Career Transition Award (K99) Individual Career Development Project Period Considerations: NIA may limit project periods as follows: The NIA K22 award has a project period of up three years.

All other individual career development awards have project periods of up to five years. Individual Career Development Salary Fringe Benefits: NIA individual career development awards provide up to the following annual salary amounts: These awards also cover fringe benefits.

Individual Career Development Other Program Related Expenses: NIA Individual career development awards provide the following Program Related Expenses: The K76 provides a total direct cost limit of $225,000 per year. Individual Career Development Research Effort Considerations: NIA mentored career development awards require a minimum of 75% effort by the PI.

For non-mentored individual career development awards, the following requirements apply: Individual Career Development Contacts: In addition to our Individual Fellowships Overview, consider the following NIA-specific information.

Individual Fellowships Interest Areas: NIA is interested in applications that are consistent with its mission and current research priorities, including: Investigating cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms underlying aging and longevity.

Expanding understanding of aging across the life course at the biological, clinical, behavioral, and societal levels, including social, environmental, and economic processes influencing aging and resilience.

Advancing knowledge of the aging brain, age-related cognitive change, and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) disease mechanisms, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care.

Translating discoveries into strategies and interventions that prevent, treat, and reduce the burden of age-related diseases and conditions, and improve the health, well-being, and independence of adults as they age. Developing strategies to improve healthcare delivery in aging populations.

Individual Fellowships Project Period Considerations: NIA may limit project periods for specific education activities, as follows: NIA supports fellowships for: 1) dual-degree students at institutions with or without NIH-funded dual degree programs; 2) predoctoral students; and 3) postdoctoral researchers.

NRSA support is limited to 5 years for predoctoral students (6 years for dual-degree training), and 3 years for postdoctoral fellows, including combined support from institutional training grants and individual fellowships. Individual Fellowships Budget Considerations: Current NRSA stipends, tuition/fees, and budgetary levels apply.

Individual Fellowships Contacts: If you would like feedback on the appropriateness of your research topic for NIA, please submit a one-page overview of your specific aims to the NIA Training Team: In addition to our Institutional Training , consider the following NIA-specific information.

Institutional Training Interest Areas: NIA is interested in applications that develop a rigorously trained, interdisciplinary workforce to advance NIA’s mission and current research priorities. Examples include but are not limited to: Investigating cellular, molecular, genetic, social, and behavioral mechanisms underlying aging and longevity.

Expanding understanding of aging across the life course at the biological, clinical, behavioral, and societal levels, including social, environmental, and economic processes influencing aging and resilience. Advancing knowledge of the aging brain, age-related cognitive change, and neurodegenerative diseases, including AD/ADRD disease mechanisms, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care.

Translating discoveries into strategies and interventions that prevent, treat, and reduce the burden of age-related diseases and conditions, and improve the health, well-being, and independence of adults as they age. Developing strategies to improve healthcare delivery in aging populations.

New training programs, which are particularly essential to build the aging research workforce at the cutting edge of aging science, expand the pipeline across institutions and career pathways, and ensure the next generation of researchers is equipped to execute NIA's mission. Programs that capitalize on NIA’s current investments in research infrastructure, including centers, networks, and data resources.

Programs that integrate team science, data science, reproducibility, cross-sector collaboration, and translational approaches into core training emphases. Programs that address persistent gaps in access to robust training environments, mentorship quality, and exposure to a wide array of research experiences (e.g., programs at resource-limited institutions, in IDeA states, etc.).

Institutional Training Participants: NIA prioritizes funding for the following trainees: Institutional Training Key Date Considerations: NIA will consider institutional training applications during Cycle II. As a result, all applications, regardless of submission date, will be assigned to the January Advisory Council Round for funding consideration with earliest project start dates in April of each year.

Institutional Training Project Period Considerations: NIA may limit project periods as follows: Project periods are up to 5 years. Appointed trainees are expected to pursue their research training full-time, typically for a period of 1-2 years, but no less than 9 months.

NRSA support is limited to 5 years for predoctoral students (6 years for dual-degree training), and 3 years for postdoctoral fellows, including combined support from institutional training grants and individual fellowships. Institutional Training Budget Considerations: NRSA Institutional Training Award budgets are composed of stipends, tuition and fees, childcare (T32 only), and training related expenses (TRE).

See NIH NRSA Stipends Summary . NIA allows travel costs at the amounts of $750 per predoctoral and $1,500 per postdoctoral trainee per year. NIH distinguishes between trainee expenses (stipends, tuition and fees) and other expenses (TRE, travel costs).

Funds may not be moved out of the trainee or childcare expense categories without NIA approval. However, TRE or travel costs may be moved into the trainee expenses category and TRE and travel costs may be lumped together. NIA's policy is not to allow carryover requests to obligate funds in the following year, except in rare cases.

Institutional Training Contacts: In addition to our Research Education overview, consider the following NIA-specific information. Research Education Interest Areas: NIA sponsors educational activities with a primary focus on either research experiences or courses and curricula for skills and methods development to expand the aging and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) research workforce.

These can include but are not limited to programs that focus on geroscience, basic aging biology processes, geriatrics-related translational and clinical science, interdisciplinary behavioral and social sciences research, palliative care, and co-occurring conditions across the life span to understand Down Syndrome. Supports one-to-two-year intensive research experiences in AD/ADRD for recent baccalaureates.

NIA expects participants to work as research postbaccalaureates at nine person-months (75% full-time) effort, with the other three person-months (25% full-time effort) devoted to further academic and professional development. Supports 8–14-week hands-on summer research experiences in AD/ADRD for high school students, undergraduates, or science teachers.

NIA expects participants to be provided with salary and fringe benefits for the duration of the program and educational enrichment activities that support their scientific development. Supports 1-12 week innovative short courses to train the next generation of AD/ADRD clinical trialists in state-of-the-art clinical research skills in AD/ADRD.

Course participants are limited to graduate/medical students, medical residents, postdoctoral scholars, and/or early-career faculty.

Supports intensive, mentored, hands-on practical research and exploratory development immersion experiences (e.g., internships, shadowing, etc.) in NIA mission-relevant areas including but not limited to regulatory science, intellectual property, scientific communication, market analysis, biomedical product development, and entrepreneurship for early career scientists (undergraduate, graduate, postdoc) working in aging and/or AD/ADRD research.

NIA expects experiences to occur during the academic year, the summer, or a combination, for a minimum of 8 weeks per unique experience. Research Education Key Date Considerations: Research Experiences and Research and Exploratory Development Immersion Programs: NIA only considers applications during January council.

Research Education Participants: NIA prioritizes funding for participants in the following areas: Other Postbaccalaureates, high school students, science teachers Research Education Project Period Considerations: NIA may limit project periods for specific education activities, as follows: Research Experiences and Research and Exploratory Development Immersion Experiences: 3-5 years. Courses: Project period is 3-5 years.

Research Education Budget Considerations: NIA may limit budgets for specific education activities, as follows: Will consider postbaccalaureate research experience programs up to $400,000 in direct costs and 8% indirect costs per year Will consider summer research experience programs up to $200,000 in direct costs and 8% indirect costs per year Will consider research and exploratory development immersion programs up to $400,000 in direct costs and 8% indirect costs per year Will consider AD/ADRD clinical trials short course programs up to $400,000 in direct costs and 8% indirect costs per year Research Education Personnel, Participant, and Other Program-Related Costs: NIA may limit awarded budgets for personnel, participant, and other costs, as follows: All Research Education Programs permit: Consultant, equipment, supplies, and key personnel travel costs Participant travel to research sites or domestic conferences Limited program evaluation costs Salary and fringe benefits for program directors/staff Postbaccalaureate Research Programs: Participant compensation includes salary, wages, fringe benefits, and tuition remission and fees Employee-employer relationship between the participant and the institution required Summer Research Education Programs: High school and undergraduate students receive salary and fringe benefits Science teacher salary and fringe benefits are capped at $20,000 per year Housing support allowed; registration/tuition fees prohibited Travel must occur during the participant’s period of appointment Research and Exploratory Development Immersion Programs : Participant compensation, partial tuition and education-related expenses allowed with justification Mentor costs not allowed if already part of regular academic duties Research Education Funding Instruments: NIA does not award Research Education Cooperative Agreements (UE5) NIA awards Research Education Grant Projects (R25) Research Education Contacts: Postbaccalaureate and Summer Research Experience Programs Research and Exploratory Development Immersion Program [email protected] , [email protected] In addition to our Small Business overview, consider the following NIA-specific information.

Small Business Interest Areas: The NIA is interested in proposals to develop and validate technologies that enhance the health and wellbeing of older adults.

Areas of high interest include technologies intended to address unmet needs and have clear competitive advantages, development of commercialized solutions that are cost-effective and widely available, projects that include strong scientific rigor in the approach, projects that address gaps in NIA-funded research, and small businesses that are new to SBIR/STTR funding.

Scientific areas of interest include but are not limited to : Alzheimer's Disease (AD), AD-Related Dementias (ADRD), and Age-Related Cognitive Decline: Development of innovative tools, technologies, and interventions to prevent, diagnose, treat, monitor, or slow progression of AD/ADRD, cognitive decline, age-related sleep disorders, and delirium, including: Biomarkers, research tools, diagnostics, imaging technologies, and AI/ML methods for early detection and monitoring.

Treatments, including cell and gene therapies, exosome-based therapeutics, behavioral and digital interventions as well as other novel approaches.

Aging Biology and Age-Related Diseases: Development of technologies, therapeutics, biomarkers, and tools to measure, prevent, treat, or slow progression of age-related biobehavioral decline and conditions, including: Therapeutics targeting aging biology mechanisms and personalized medicine approaches. Research tools and data science technologies to understand aging and predict health outcomes.

Aging in Place of Choice and Care Delivery: Development of technologies and interventions that promote healthy aging, support aging in place of choice, improve care delivery, or reduce caregiving burden, including: Assistive devices, robotics, sensors, digital health products, and technologies to enhance care.

Approved Topics for Awards Over Statutory Budget Guidelines: Development of innovative tools, technologies, biomarkers, data science methods, and personalized and therapeutic approaches including but not limited to imaging, diagnostics, AI/ML, exosome-based therapeutics, and cell and gene therapies to measure, prevent, treat, or slow the progression of age-related diseases and conditions, including Alzheimer's disease and AD-related dementias.

Development and evaluation of technologies, devices, tools, and innovative measures including minimally intrusive sensors, assistive devices, robotics, digital health products, and interventions targeting social, behavioral, economic, environmental, and regional factors to promote healthy aging, support aging in place, improve care coordination and management, enhance quality of life, or reduce caregiving burden.

Development and validation of research tools, technologies, and approaches that identify or predict age-related biobehavioral decline, dysfunction, diseases, and conditions, including Alzheimer's disease and AD-related Phase IIB & Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP): NIA accepts Phase IIB SBIR projects NIA accepts Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) projects NIA accepts clinical trials through the SBIR programs NIA accepts clinical trials through the STTR programs NIA accepts clinical trials through the Phase IIB SBIR program NIA accepts clinical trials through the Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) NIA encourages SBIR and STTR projects addressing Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) and may provide funding up to $700,000 in Phase I and $3 Million in Phase II.

For all other SBIR and STTR projects within the NIA mission space, NIA will support projects up to $500,000 in Phase I and $2. 5 Million in Phase II. All limits are in total costs per project.

Project Period Considerations: The NIA will support Phase I project periods up to 2 years and Phase II project periods up to 3 years. NIA Scientific/Research Contact: NIA Small Business Programs: [email protected] Financial/Grants Management Contact: NIA Grants Management: [email protected] Please include the NOFO number, formatted with hyphens, in the email subject line to ensure the message is routed to the appropriate contact.

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