Lung Diseases Research

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) provides global leadership for a research, training, and education program to promote the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, and blood diseases and enhance the health of all individuals so that they can live longer and more fulfilling lives. The Division of Lung Diseases supports research and research training on the causes, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of lung diseases and sleep disorders. Research is funded through investigator-initiated and Institute-initiated grant programs and through contract programs in areas including asthma, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, respiratory neurobiology, sleep and circadian biology, sleep-disordered breathing, critical care and acute lung injury, developmental biology and pediatric pulmonary diseases, immunologic and fibrotic pulmonary disease, rare lung disorders, pulmonary vascular disease, and pulmonary complications of AIDS and tuberculosis. The Division is responsible for monitoring the latest research developments in the extramural scientific community as well as identifying research gaps and needs, obtaining advice from experts in the field, and implementing programs to address new opportunities. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program: To stimulate technological innovation; use small business to meet Federal research and development needs; foster and encourage participation in innovation and entrepreneurship by socially and economically disadvantaged persons; and increase private-sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development funding. Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program: To stimulate technological innovation; foster technology transfer through cooperative R&D between small businesses and research institutions, and increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from federal R&D.

Any nonprofit organization engaged in biomedical research and institutions or companies organized for profit may apply for almost any kind of grant. Only domestic, non-profit, private or public institutions may apply for NRSA Institutional Research Training Grants. An individual may apply for an NRSA or, in some cases, for a research grant if adequate facilities to perform the research are available. SBIR grants can be awarded only to United States small business concerns (entities that are independently owned and operated for profit or owned by another small business that itself is independently owned and operated for profit, or owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, private equity firms, or any combination of these and have no more than 500 employees including affiliates). Primary employment (more than one-half time) of the principal investigator must be with the small business at the time of award and during the conduct of the proposed project. In both Phase I and Phase II, the research must be performed in the U.S. or its possessions except under rare and unique circumstances where foreign components are thoroughly justified and necessary to the overall completion of the project. To be eligible for funding, a grant application must be approved for scientific merit and program relevance by a scientific review group and a national advisory council. Normally, SBIR projects must be performed at least 67% by the applicant small business in Phase I and at least 50% of the Project in Phase II. STTR grants can be awarded only to United States small business concerns (entities that are independently owned and operated for profit and have no more than 500 employees) that formally collaborate with a university or other non-profit research institution in cooperative research and development. The principal investigator of an STTR award may be employed with either the small business concern or collaborating non-profit research institution as long as s/he has a formal appointment with or commitment to the applicant small business concern and is willing to devote at least 10% effort (1.2 calendar months) to the project. At least 40% of the project is to be performed by the small business concern and at least 30% by the non-profit research institution. In both Phase I and Phase II, the research must be performed in the U.S. and its possessions except under rare and unique circumstances where foreign components are thoroughly justified and necessary to the overall completion of the project.

Any nonprofit or for-profit organization, company or institution engaged in biomedical research. Only domestic for-profit small business firms may apply for SBIR and STTR programs.

All accepted applications are evaluated by an appropriate initial review group (study section). All grant applications receive a final secondary review by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council. Staff informs applicants of the results of the review. If support is contemplated, staff initiates preparation of awards for grants. All accepted SBIR/STTR applications are evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate scientific peer review panel and by a national advisory council or board. All applications receiving a priority score compete for available SBIR/STTR set-aside funds on the basis of scientific and technical merit and commercial potential of the proposed research, program relevance, and program balance among the areas of research.

Regular Grants: From 7 to 9 months. SBIR/STTR Grants: About 7-1/2 to 9 months.