Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase II

Novel Tools and Devices for Animal Research Facilities and to Support Care of Animal Models (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Active

Department of Health and Human Services

The Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health, is seeking proposals for the development of novel tools and devices for animal research facilities and to support the care of animal models. The Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) is encouraging applications from small business concerns (SBCs) for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects in this area. The goal of this solicitation is to improve animal welfare, ease the management of individual animals and animal colonies, and enhance the monitoring and control of environmental conditions that affect outcomes and reproducibility in animal model research. The variation of extrinsic factors between different animal facilities has been cited as a source of irreproducibility in animal research, and this solicitation aims to address this issue. The solicitation specifically calls for the development and implementation of novel tools and devices to monitor environmental conditions, identify pathogens and contaminants, and enable noninvasive or minimally invasive monitoring of animal behavior and bodily functions. The devices should be discreet, robust, easy to apply, and mobile. Additionally, the solicitation seeks new software that can combine data from different monitoring devices and be compatible with different data formats. The solicitation emphasizes the importance of innovation and encourages the adaptation of technologies from other fields to improve animal research. It applies to a broad range of animal models, including invertebrate and vertebrate animals, and excludes disease-specific devices, reagents, and experimental protocols. Examples of specific tools and devices that can be developed include portable software for managing and evaluating animal colonies, noninvasive tracking and monitoring technology, automated feeding systems, devices for drug delivery and measurement, improved systems for data collection and analysis, better phenotyping devices, improved holding and transfer devices, and enhanced air and water filters for animal facilities. The solicitation is open for applications until September 6, 2024, and applicants are advised to discuss their projects with the Scientific/Research contacts before submitting an application. More information can be found on the grants.gov website.

NIAID SBIR Phase II Clinical Trial Implementation Cooperative Agreement (U44 Clinical Trial Required)

Active

Department of Health and Human Services

The Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health, is seeking proposals for the NIAID SBIR Phase II Clinical Trial Implementation Cooperative Agreement (U44 Clinical Trial Required). This solicitation encourages Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant applications from small business concerns (SBCs) that propose to implement investigator-initiated clinical trials, including mechanistic studies associated with clinical trials. The program supports milestone-driven, hypothesis-driven clinical trials related to the research mission of the NIAID that address high-priority research areas. The solicitation encourages high-risk clinical studies, which involve non-routine interventions, administration of unlicensed products, or administration of licensed products for unapproved indications. Mechanistic studies are also encouraged. The funding supports the conduct, completion, and analysis of a single clinical trial, including activities such as training of study personnel, enrollment and recruitment of study subjects, data collection and management, laboratory work, study management and oversight, safety monitoring, and regulatory activities. The project duration is not specified, but the solicitation is open until January 14, 2027. The funding specifics can be found on the grants.nih.gov website.

NINDS Exploratory Clinical Trials for Small Business (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Required)

Active

Department of Health and Human Services

The Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health, is seeking proposals for the NINDS Exploratory Clinical Trials for Small Business (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Required) topic. This solicitation aims to support small business concerns (SBCs) in conducting exploratory clinical trials that contribute to the justification for future trials to establish definitive efficacy. The trials can include Phase 1 and 2 studies of drugs and biologics, feasibility and preliminary efficacy studies of devices, as well as early studies of surgical, behavioral, or rehabilitation therapies. The trials can be single-site or multi-site with up to three clinical sites. The applications must generate data that inform further clinical development of the proposed intervention or diagnostic, and FDA approval is required for FDA-regulated clinical trials. The goal is to advance products/technologies that require federal regulatory approval or bring complex research tools to market. The solicitation is open until September 6, 2026, and more information can be found at the provided links.

Novel Tools and Devices for Animal Research Facilities and to Support Care of Animal Models (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Active

Department of Health and Human Services

The Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health, is seeking proposals for the development of novel tools and devices to improve animal welfare and support care of animal models in research facilities. The Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) is particularly interested in applications from small business concerns (SBCs) for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects. The goal of this solicitation is to address the issue of poor reproducibility in experiments that use animal models, which has negatively impacted biomedical research. The variation of intrinsic and extrinsic factors that can affect the physiological and biological response of animals has been identified as a source of irreproducibility. Therefore, there is a need for devices that can accurately monitor and control environmental conditions in animal facilities, such as temperature, humidity, vibrations, and ultrasonic noise. Additionally, devices that can identify pathogens, allergens, and other pollutants in animal research environments are desired. Noninvasive or minimally invasive bio-logging devices for real-time monitoring of animal behavior, food/water consumption, and bodily functions are also needed. These devices should be discreet, robust, and easy to apply. Furthermore, tools and devices that can ease the handling and restraining of animals, reduce stress, and improve the efficiency of animal-handling practices and experimental procedures are sought. Connecting diet, environmental conditions, and physiological measurements is also important for understanding the effects of extrinsic factors on experimental outcomes. The solicitation emphasizes that innovation is crucial for designing useful tools and devices. The development and implementation of novel tools and devices, as well as the enhancement of existing equipment, are encouraged. Examples of specific areas of interest include portable software for managing and evaluating animal colonies, noninvasive technology for tracking and monitoring animals, automated feeding systems, devices for drug delivery and measurement, and improved systems for data collection and analysis. The solicitation is open for applications, with multiple due dates throughout the year. The project duration and funding specifics can be found in the solicitation document available at the provided links. Applicants are advised to discuss their projects with the Scientific/Research contacts before submitting an application.

Novel Tools and Devices for Animal Research Facilities and to Support Care of Animal Models (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Active

Department of Health and Human Services

The Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health, is seeking proposals for the development and implementation of novel tools and devices to improve animal welfare and support animal model research. The goal is to enhance the management of individual animals and animal colonies, as well as improve the monitoring and control of environmental conditions that affect research outcomes and reproducibility. The variation in environmental conditions between different animal facilities has been identified as a source of irreproducibility in animal research. Therefore, the agency is looking for devices that can accurately monitor challenging environmental factors such as humidity, vibrations, odors, and ultrasonic noise. Additionally, there is a need for devices that can identify pathogens, allergens, and pollutants in animal research environments. Noninvasive or minimally invasive bio-logging devices for real-time monitoring of animal behavior and bodily functions are also desired. The agency emphasizes the importance of innovation and encourages the adaptation of technologies from other fields to improve animal research. The solicitation is open for Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) projects, and the application due dates are on a rolling basis until September 6, 2024. For more information, interested parties can visit the SBIR topic link (https://www.sbir.gov/node/1972475) or the solicitation agency URL (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/PA-files/PAR-21-226.html).

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