NHGRI Small Business Program

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) Small Business Program awards Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants for projects that fit our mission and vision.

NHGRI strives to improve the health of all humans through advances in genomics research.

As a leading authority in the field of genomics, our mission is to accelerate scientific and medical breakthroughs that improve human health. We do this by driving cutting-edge research, developing new technologies, and studying the impact of genomics on society.

Overview

For applications that align with a range of specific topics in genomics (see page 29), NHGRI application caps (total costs not including technical and business assistance) allow requests of up to $400,000 for Phase I and up to $2,150,000 for Phase II.

The NHGRI Small Business Program is interested in a wide breadth of work in genomics, including:

Genomic Technology Development
Computational Genomics and Data Science
Genomic Medicine

Learn more about the ins and outs of the NHGRI Small Business Program from the following presentation featured at the 102nd Meeting of the National Advisory Council for Human Genome Research:

If you think your research aligns with our institute, you are strongly recommended to contact program staff in the developmental stages of your application to ensure your proposed research aligns with NHGRI’s mission, vision, and interests.

NIH SBIR and STTR Programs

Many government agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), fund small businesses through congressionally mandated set-aside funds. Each Institute and Center (IC) within the NIH has its own small business program and funds SBIR and STTR grants to encourage research and the development of innovative technologies that improve health and have a strong potential for commercialization.

NIH has a central Small Business Education and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) office that develops and implements strategies and policies related to the NIH-wide small business program and provides support for the small business community. The SEED team manages the NIH SBIR-STTR Listserv, which provides relevant information about opportunities and updates for those interested in NIH small business opportunities.

Sign up for the Central NIH Small Business listserv.

Program Structure

SBIR and STTR programs have similar goals, but STTR projects occur at an earlier stage in technology transfer and are more closely connected to the research institution, while SBIRs occur at a later stage in technology transfer and are more closely connected to the small business.

	Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) (R43 & R44)	Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) (R41 & R42)
Project leadership	The principal investigator must be primarily employed by the small business.	The principal investigator can be employed by the small business or the academic institution.
Non-profit research partner	A partnership with a non-profit research partner is not required.	A formal agreement with a non-profit research institution is required.

Learn more about the differences between SBIR and STTR grants.

These programs are divided into 3 phases:

Phases of the Small Business Programs: Phase 1 - Concept Development; Phase 2 - Prototype Development; and Phase 3 - Commercialization (Not Eligible for NIH Funding)

There are also opportunities for:

Fast Track Applications where the Phase I and Phase II are submitted together and reviewed in one application.
Direct to Phase II Applications for proposed Phase II work where proof of principle results were funded by means other than SBIR or STTR funding.

Learn more about the different types of applications (Phase I, Phase II, Fast-track, and Direct to Phase II).

Program Structure

SBIR and STTR programs have similar goals, but STTR projects occur at an earlier stage in technology transfer and are more closely connected to the research institution, while SBIRs occur at a later stage in technology transfer and are more closely connected to the small business.

	Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) (R43 & R44)	Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) (R41 & R42)
Project leadership	The principal investigator must be primarily employed by the small business.	The principal investigator can be employed by the small business or the academic institution.
Non-profit research partner	A partnership with a non-profit research partner is not required.	A formal agreement with a non-profit research institution is required.

Learn more about the differences between SBIR and STTR grants.

These programs are divided into 3 phases:

There are also opportunities for:

Fast Track Applications where the Phase I and Phase II are submitted together and reviewed in one application.
Direct to Phase II Applications for proposed Phase II work where proof of principle results were funded by means other than SBIR or STTR funding.

Learn more about the different types of applications (Phase I, Phase II, Fast-track, and Direct to Phase II).

Funding Opportunities

An Omnibus Solicitation extends across multiple agencies including the NIH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Applicants can submit applications for Omnibus opportunities at standard dates. NHGRI is always interested in responses to the Omnibus Solicitation, also known as the Parent Funding Opportunity Announcement, that relate to our mission.

Targeted NHGRI Solicitations

PAR-24-131: Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
PAR-24-132: Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Required)
PAR-24-133: Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
PAR-24-134: Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Required)
PAR-23-219: SBIR/STTR Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program Technical Assistance and Late Stage Development (SB1, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
PAR-24-262: STTR Solutions to Enable Population Genomic Screening (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Optional)
PAR-24-263: SBIR Solutions to Enable Population Genomic Screening (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Optional)

Notices of Special Interest (NOSIs)

A NOSI is an announcement that describes a specific topic an IC is interested in supporting, such as a particular area of research or program. The NOSI then directs applicants to one or more active Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) to which they can submit applications on that topic.

NOT-HG-24-002: Notice of Special Interest: Advancing Genomic Medicine Research through Small Businesses
NOT-HG-22-007: Methods Development for Genomic Studies of Genetic Variation, Function, and Disease
NOT-HG-22-011: Notice of Special Interest: Development and Implementation of Clinical Informatics Tools to Enhance Patients Use of Genomic Information
NOT-HG-21-038: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Genomics Education Interactive Digital Media Resources (SBIR/STTR)
NOT-HG-24-036: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Advancing Genomic Technology Development for Research and Clinical Application
NOT-OD-23-179: Notice of Special Interest: Encouraging Small Businesses to Partner with Resource-Limited Institutions (RLIs) on Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program Applications
NOT-HG-24-016: Notice of Special Interest: Advancing Genomic Medicine Research through Small Businesses
NOT-HG-24-040: Notice of Special Interest: Small Business Solutions to Assist Genomics-Enabled Learning Health Systems (gLHS)
NOT-HG-24-041: Notice of Special Interest: Small Business Solutions to Enable Regional Genomic Medicine eConsult Services

Supplements

NOT-OD-24-077: Notice of Special Interest: Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) Funding May be Added to an SBIR/STTR Award by Administrative Supplement

Helpful Resources

NIH SBIR/STTR Resources

Sample SBIR/STTR Applications

Eligibility and Application Process Resources

Research Involving Human Subjects

Research Involving Vertebrate Animals

Resources from Hubs

Modular Learning about Biotech operations, functions, and skills (DRIVEN Accelerator Hub)
SBIR For Newbies (XLERATOR hub)
STTR Regional Technology Transfer Accelerator Hubs for IDeA States

Contact

Send questions to nhgri_smallbusiness@nih.gov.

Listserv

Subscribe to the NHGRI-SB-INFO Listserv for program updates and announcements on funding opportunities.

Follow the link above and click "Subscribe or Unsubscribe" on the right side of the webpage. Then enter your preferred email and click "Subscribe".

Program Staff

Program Leads

Ian C. Nova, Ph.D.

Program Lead
NHGRI Small Business Program

Renee Rider, M.S., J.D., LCGC

Program Lead
NHGRI Small Business Program

Program Directors

Stephanie A. Morris, Ph.D.

Program Director
Division of Genome Sciences

Lisa H. Chadwick, Ph.D.

Deputy Director
Division of Genome Sciences

Temesgen D. Fufa, Ph.D.

Program Director
Division of Genome Sciences

Program Analysts

Ben Cubert, M.S.

Scientific Program Analyst
Division of Genome Sciences

Last updated: March 11, 2025