Complementary and Integrative Health - SBIR/STTR

NCCIH is the lead Federal agency for scientific research on the fundamental science, usefulness, and safety of complementary and integrative treatments and practices. NCCIH seeks to build knowledge across disciplines, focusing on the whole person, an

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) provides funding for research into complementary and integrative health approaches. Eligible entities (including, but not limited to: research and academic institutions, private companies) may submit research grant applications using the Grants.gov website. All applications undergo a rigorous, 2-stage, peer-review system, and funding decisions are made based on the review of applications that are most meritorious and responsive to the mission of NCCIH.

Small business organizations are eligible to apply.

Any small business company engaged in biomedical research.

SBIR: Normally, Phase I awards are for 6 months; normally, Phase II awards are for 2 years. STTR: Normally, Phase I awards are for 1 year; normally, Phase II awards are for 2 years. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: The Notice of Award (NoA) is the legal document issued to notify the grantee that an award has been made and that funds may be requested from the designated HHS payment system or office. A NoA is issued for the initial budget period. If subsequent budget periods are also approved, the NoA will include a reference to those budgetary commitments. Funding for subsequent budget periods are generally provided in annual increments following the annual assessment of progress. This funding is also contingent on the availability of funds. The NoA includes all applicable terms of award either by reference or specific statements. It provides contact information for the assigned program officer and grants management specialist. The grantee accepts an NIH award and its associated terms and conditions by drawing or requesting funds from the Payment Management System, or upon the endorsement of a check from the US Treasury for foreign awardees. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum

For SBIR and STTR grants, the applicant organization (small business concern) must present in a research plan an idea that has potential for commercialization and furnish evidence that scientific competence, experimental methods, facilities, equipment, and funds requested are appropriate to carry out the plan. Grant form PHS 398 is used to apply for SBIR and STTR Phase I Phase II and Phase I/Phase II Fast Track. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles.

Small businesses are eligible to submit applications for grant support of research by a named principal investigator. SBIR grants can be awarded only to domestic small businesses (entities that are independently owned and operated for profit, are not dominant in the field in which research is being proposed and have no more than 500 employees). 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. 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 researches proposed and have no more than 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.

> 180 Days. Overall from 180 to 300 days. Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements: approximately 6-10 months

Research grants: renewals by competitive application and review. Extension by request and administrative action

An applicant institution (including the Authorized Organization Representative and the Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI)) may question the substantive or procedural aspects of the review of their application by submitting an appeal. An appeal is a written communication from the applicant that meets the following three criteria: 1) is received after issuance of the summary statement and up to 30 calendar days after the second level of peer review, 2) describes a flaw or perceived flaw in the review process for a particular application, 3) is based on one or more of four allowable issues (described below). The four allowable issues are: (1) evidence of bias on the part of one or more peer reviewers; (2) conflict of interest, as specified in regulation at 42 CFR 52h.5."Scientific Peer Review of Research Grant Applications and Research and Development Contract Projects", on the part of one or more peer reviewers; (3) lack of appropriate expertise within the scientific review group (which performed the peer review); and (4) factual error(s) made by one or more reviewers that could have substantially altered the outcome of review. A description of the NIH Peer Review Policy and Procedures is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-11-064.html.