Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs
The NCCAM SBIR/STTR program is a set-aside program designed to support innovative research conducted by small businesses (SBIR) or small businesses in partnership with a research institution (STTR). Scientific merit, innovation and the potential for commercialization are important factors in the review criteria used in the scientific and technical evaluation process. NCCAM supports innovative research on complementary and alternative healing practices within the context of rigorous science.
Topics of Interest to NCCAM
NCCAM encourages innovative technological research and development of commercializable CAM products that would fulfill the mission of NCCAM. The application may include basic, pre-clinical, and early phase clinical studies that can ultimately lead to a commercial CAM product. The areas of interest to NCCAM include but are not limited to:
- Develop and validate methods for standardization and characterization of active ingredients in natural products;
- Develop and validate methods for standardization and characterization of active components of mind-body interventions;
- Develop and validate devices for measurements of putative healing energies;
- Develop and validate innovative biomarkers for measurement of stress for studying efficacy of mind-body therapies;
- Develop and validate standardized, reliable, and economical surrogate markers of brain states that correlate with brain imaging;
- Develop and validate technical imaging tools or instruments for studying manual therapies;
- Develop tools for pain management that are not accepted conventionally;
- Develop and validate innovative devices for CAM diagnosis and treatment; and
- Develop standardized complex botanical reference materials that will allow for comparison of research study products and validation of methodologies. Applicants should pay particular attention to the NCCAM Policy on biologically active agents.
Topics that are of Less Interest to NCCAM
The NCCAM Office of Communications is responsible for disseminating CAM information to the public. Therefore applications addressing software development or educational materials and courses (including Continuing Medical Education courses or CD's) will not be considered relevant to the NCCAM SBIR/STTR program. Also not eligible for support are applications seeking to develop cookbooks for special diets or instructional materials for clinical practice. NCCAM does not fund clinical practice other than as a component of funded clinical research.
Although applications to support the development of databases are not widely encouraged, these proposals will be considered if they are limited to aiding the taxonomic and phytochemical characterization of medicinal plants/fungi. Applicants are encouraged to contact the appropriate NCCAM Program Officer before submitting any SBIR proposals related to database development.
Unsolicited applications on topics other than those described here will be considered unresponsive and are likely to be returned without review.
Resources
- Active NCCAM Small Business Opportunities
- NIH's Small Business Funding Opportunities includes forms, deadlines, conferences, partnering, etc.
- NIH SBIR/STTR Policy and Grantsmanship Information includes advice on preparing grants, indirect costs, etc.
- Advice on SBIR/STTR applications in a narrated PowerPoint presentation; developed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
- Sample applications with annotations
Contact Information
To discuss a specific research area, please contact:David Craig Hopp, Ph.D.
Program Officer
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
6707 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 401
Bethesda, MD 20892-5475
Phone: 301-496-5825
Fax: 301-480-3621
E-mail: hoppdc@mail.nih.gov
Mr. George Tucker
Grants Management Officer
6707 Democracy Boulevard
Suite 401, MSC 5475
Bethesda, MD 20892-5475
Phone: 301-594-9102
Fax: 301-480-1552
E-mail: gt35v@nih.gov
