National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute – Small Business

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, blood, and sleep conditions and enhance the health of all individuals so that they can live longer and more fulfilling lives. 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 emerging and undercapitalized small business concerns; 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.

Local (includes State-designated Indian Tribes; excludes institutions of higher education and hospitals), Public nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals), Individual/Family, Small business (less than 500 employees), Private nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals). Any nonprofit organization engaged in biomedical research and institutions or companies organized for profit may apply for almost any kind of grant. SBIR grants can be awarded only to domestic small businesses (entities that are independently owned and operated for profit, or owned by another small business that itself is independently owned and operated for profit, are not dominant in the field in which research is proposed, 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. and its possessions. 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. 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 domestic small business concerns (entities that are independently owned and operated for profit, are not dominant in the field in which research is proposed and have no more that 500 employees which "partner" with a research institution in cooperative research and development. At least 40 percent of the project is to be performed by the small business concern and at least 30 percent by the research institution. In both Phase I and Phase II, the research must be performed in the U.S. and its possessions. 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.

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 inform applicants of the results of the review. If support is contemplated, staff initiate 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.