Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MD 19 001

Innovations for Healthy Living - Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities (R43/R44 - Clinical Trial Optional) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding opportunity that supports U.S. small businesses developing commercially viable innovations aimed at improving minority health and reducing or eliminating health disparities. The program is designed for projects that move beyond basic research into the creation and advancement of a specific product, tool, technology, process, or service that can realistically be commercialized and used in real-world settings to improve health outcomes.

The core focus is on innovations that address inequities affecting specific priority populations. These include socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, underserved rural populations, and sexual and gender minority populations, as well as efforts that improve health in racial and ethnic minority populations. In practice, this means applicants should be proposing solutions that are responsive to well-documented gaps in access, quality of care, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or long-term health management that disproportionately burden these communities. The announcement explicitly frames innovation as a pathway to measurable impact, so projects are expected to show a credible connection between the proposed innovation and the reduction of disparities or improvement in minority health, not just general improvements in healthcare.

This opportunity uses the SBIR phased mechanism under R43/R44, which typically supports early-stage feasibility work followed by a larger development and commercialization-oriented phase. While the detailed phase structure, budgets, and timelines are defined in the full FOA, the general expectation is that Phase I (R43) establishes technical merit and feasibility, and Phase II (R44) supports more advanced research and development steps needed to move the innovation toward market readiness. The listing notes that clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants may propose studies involving human participants when appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required for every project. That flexibility allows applicants to pursue a range of activities, from prototype development and validation to implementation-oriented testing, depending on what is necessary to advance the product or service.

Eligibility is restricted primarily to eligible United States small business concerns, consistent with SBIR rules. Foreign institutions (non-U.S. entities) are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations. However, the opportunity notes that certain foreign components may be allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which typically refers to limited, well-justified foreign involvement that is essential to the project (for example, unique expertise or resources), subject to NIH approval and compliance requirements. The FOA advises applicants to review the official eligibility details in the full announcement to ensure their organizational structure and any proposed subcontracting or project components meet NIH policy.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity from NIH, categorized under Health, with CFDA number 93.307. The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-MD-19-001, and the original closing date listed is April 1, 2019, with a creation date of January 18, 2019. The source information does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the excerpt provided, so those details would need to be confirmed in the full FOA and any associated NIH funding policy documents or budget tables.

Overall, the opportunity is best suited for U.S. small businesses that have a clearly defined innovation and a realistic commercialization pathway, and that can articulate how their solution targets the specific barriers, conditions, or system-level factors driving health disparities in the named populations. A strong application would typically align the proposed technology or service with an identified disparity, explain why existing solutions are insufficient for the target community, and outline a development plan that leads to adoption, scalability, and real-world impact.

  • The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovations for Healthy Living - Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities (R43/R44 - Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.307.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2019-01-18.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-04-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
Apply for RFA MD 19 001

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the "Innovations for Healthy Living - Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities (R43/R44 - Clinical Trial Optional)" opportunity?

This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding opportunity that supports U.S. small businesses developing innovations intended to improve minority health and reduce or eliminate health disparities. The emphasis is on moving beyond basic research to advance a specific product, tool, technology, process, or service that can realistically be commercialized and used in real-world settings.

Which agency is offering this funding?

The funding is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What type of funding mechanism does this opportunity use?

It uses the SBIR phased mechanism under R43/R44. In general terms, Phase I (R43) focuses on establishing technical merit and feasibility, while Phase II (R44) supports more advanced research and development aimed at moving the innovation toward commercialization and market readiness.

What is the main goal of this SBIR program?

The goal is to support commercially viable innovations that can produce measurable improvements in minority health and/or reduce or eliminate health disparities. Projects are expected to show a credible link between the proposed innovation and disparity reduction, not just general improvements to healthcare.

What kinds of projects are a good fit?

Projects that advance a defined innovation (product, tool, technology, process, or service) with a realistic pathway to commercialization and real-world use. The opportunity is framed for solutions that address well-documented gaps or inequities in access, quality of care, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or long-term health management that disproportionately affect priority populations.

Does the project need to be beyond basic research?

Yes. The description indicates the program is designed for projects that move beyond basic research into creating and advancing a specific innovation that can be commercialized and deployed in real-world settings.

Which populations are specifically highlighted as priority populations?

The opportunity highlights innovations addressing inequities affecting: socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, underserved rural populations, sexual and gender minority populations, and efforts that improve health in racial and ethnic minority populations.

What does NIH mean by "innovation" in this context?

Based on the description provided, "innovation" is framed as a pathway to measurable impact on minority health and health disparities. Applicants are expected to propose solutions that directly respond to documented gaps and show a credible connection between the innovation and improved outcomes for the populations of focus.

Is a clinical trial required?

No. Clinical trials are optional. Applicants may propose studies involving human participants when appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required for every project.

What kinds of activities might be supported if clinical trials are optional?

The description suggests flexibility for a range of activities needed to advance commercialization, such as prototype development, validation, and implementation-oriented testing, depending on what is necessary to move the product or service forward.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is restricted primarily to eligible United States small business concerns, consistent with SBIR rules.

Are foreign organizations eligible to apply as the applicant?

No. Foreign institutions (non-U.S. entities) are not eligible to apply.

Can a U.S. small business include a non-U.S. component as part of its application?

Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations. However, the opportunity notes that certain foreign components may be allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, typically when the foreign involvement is limited, well-justified, and essential (for example, unique expertise or resources), and subject to NIH approval and compliance requirements.

What should applicants do to confirm eligibility details?

Applicants are advised to review the official eligibility details in the full funding opportunity announcement (FOA), including how NIH policies apply to organizational structure, subcontracting, and any proposed project components.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-MD-19-001.

What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 93.307.

What is the program area or category?

The opportunity is categorized under Health.

What are the listed dates for this opportunity?

The creation date listed is January 18, 2019. The original closing date listed is April 1, 2019.

Is the award amount ceiling provided in the excerpt?

No. The source information provided does not specify an award ceiling in the excerpt.

Does the excerpt state the expected number of awards?

No. The excerpt does not include the expected number of awards.

Where can applicants find details about budgets, timelines, and the phase structure?

The excerpt indicates that detailed phase structure, budgets, and timelines are defined in the full FOA and associated NIH funding policy documents or budget tables.

What makes an application "strong" for this opportunity, based on the description?

A strong application would typically: align the proposed innovation with an identified health disparity; explain why existing solutions are insufficient for the target community; and outline a development plan leading to adoption, scalability, commercialization, and real-world impact in the named populations.

How should an applicant demonstrate relevance to minority health and health disparities?

The description emphasizes that proposals should be responsive to well-documented gaps and should show a credible connection between the innovation and disparity reduction or improvement in minority health, rather than only general healthcare improvements.

Who is this opportunity best suited for?

It is best suited for U.S. small businesses with a clearly defined innovation, a realistic commercialization pathway, and the ability to explain how their solution targets barriers or system-level factors driving health disparities in the priority populations listed.

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